X-rated Wildtrak a limited run … but not a runout

Another special edition Ranger has been announced. But don’t misconstrue why it is here. The current model has more life left it in yet.

“WE’RE getting there … but we’re not there yet.”

So goes the line from Ford New Zealand’s communication manager in response to the obvious question in relation to Wildtrak X, the latest special edition Ranger announced today – namely, is it a ‘runout model?’

Categorically, no.

Rather, says Tom Clancy, a dress-up that purportedly adds $7000 worth of gear for a $2000 premium over the model’s regular sticker is “a special edition.” Nothing more, or less.

“It’s not a runout action … just an awesome action.”

Already rolled out into the dealer network, and restricted to 150 units, the Wildtrak X is a $75,490 variant of the biturbo 2.0-litre automatic that, the national distributor says, builds on a Ranger tradition of delivering greater choice and personalisation to Kiwis.

“Ford continues to adapt, grow and expand the Ranger offering, bringing more targeted, specific capabilities and attributes to customers to help them meet any challenges they face; whether at work or on the weekend,” says Ford New Zealand Managing Director Simon Rutherford.

“Now with Ranger Wildtrak X, customers can get even more out of their off-road adventures.”

The donor is the 157kW and 500Nm bi-turbo diesel 10-speed auto version that is the second most popular choice with Ranger fans, beaten only by XLT in monthly sales that consistently keep the type in sector leadership, with an impressive 750 registrations per month average.

The X variant wears unique 18-inch alloy wheels with +35 offset in tough matte black finish, has fender flares - also finished in black, to emphasise the new alloys and give the Wildtrak X an unmistakable on-road presence – and has a black nudge bar, complete with an LED light bar for improved night-time vision, as a work light or to light up a campsite.

Also fitted is an A-pillar-mounted snorkel, which allows the Ranger Wildtrak X’s powertrain to breathe better on dusty roads, while reducing the risk of water entering the engine compartment so that owners can make the most of the Ranger’s best-in-class 800mm water wading capability, Ford says. 

This is the second additional Ranger announced recently, following the FX4 Max that is set to land in early 2021. At $69,990, the Max will effectively offer as a ‘working man’s’ version of the flagship Raptor but with a $15k saving.

It delivers with Fox suspension all-round, 32-inch off-road rubber and plenty of other dirty work upgrades … yet retains a 3500kg tow rating and one-tonne payload, largely through eschewing the Raptor’s fancy independent rear suspension and instead sticking with the standard leaf-sprung set-up.

Clancy has no comment on thought that Ford is going to keep outputting special editions to keep Ranger interest on the boil as the current generation, which released in 2011, heads into a final full year of full production before restarting all over in 2022.

The next Ranger will be a co-development with Volkswagen, though with Ford’s design and engineering base in Melbourne still taking the lead, just as it did with the current generation. 

Thought is that the next Ranger will continue on the current Australian-developed T6 platform, a version of which also underpins the Ford Everest four-wheel-drive wagon and the Ford Bronco built specifically for North America, but potentially yet to be re-engineered for right-hand-drive.

The next gen Ranger is expected to maintain strong styling similarity to what we have now, but will be slightly larger and will continue to be the class leader for technology.

The current generation Ranger’s strength in respect to advanced safety – remember, it was first ute in its class globally to earn a five-star rating from the national safety auditor, ANCAP  – will be built upon, with available safety aids such as blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera implementing to supplement the autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control and speed sign recognition on today’s model.

The model will be likely obliged to adopt a centre airbag in the middle of the two front seats, a feature that has already come to the Isuzu D-Max and its Mazda BT-50 twin. That device is a new requirement to meet increasingly stringent crash safety ratings to prevent contact between the front occupants in a collision. Having it earned the D-Max a five-star under the latest ANCAP testing process, which kicked in at the start of this year.

Ford Puma - five stars but no comet for NZ

Sorry Puma fans – we’re only getting the tame versions, not the wildcat flagship.

GOOD news about the new Ford compact crossover soon on sale here if you’re interested in safety – not so much if sizzle is more your turn-on.

The positive is a top marks safety score for the Puma, decided by an independent crash testing agency whose opinion is most relevant to New Zealand drivers as it is the only organisation that has our Government’s sanction and to be fuelled by NZ tax funding.

The Australasian New Car Assessment Programme’s decision to give the new five-seater a five-star rating has thrilled Ford New Zealand.

It’s a positive for potential buyers, too. ANCAP says the car’s inclusion of autobraking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning and lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, driver impairment monitoring, rear parking sensors, TPM, Isofix and provision of six airbags across the range all weighed into the result.

That kit is available to all versions of the Puma – including one that was announced within a day of the ANCAP score being publicly shared.

The Puma ST, the green car pictured today, is set to stand as the family’s performance flagship, offering a peppier alternate to the one litre model that lands within weeks in two forms.

To refresh your memory, there’s a standard edition going for $29,990 plus ORCs as a launch special. The full RRP is $33,990. The higher specified Puma ST-Line (the blue car) adds adaptive cruise control, sports suspension, seats and body kit, hands-free tailgate, paddle shifters and other gear besides. It will go for $37,990 plus ORCs.

The ST obviously sits above that, being a taller-standing equivalent of the Fiesta ST and Focus ST, which have become popular here though are currently subject to supply disruption.

No good asking about the potential premium, though. As much as it might seem like good addition to the ST push, the performance Puma won’t be coming here any time soon.

The reason why comes down to the transmission. For now the Puma ST only comes with an orthodox, three-pedal manual. Ford NZ doesn’t see it finding it sufficient favour with that choice – they’d prefer it to have the two-pedal automated manual that is solely offered with the Focus ST now. There’s no sign of that happening, sadly.

The decision might leave ST fans a bit confused, given that the Fiesta ST is only available with an orthodox manual and seems to do just fine, regardless.

Ford New Zealand’s comms man, Tom Clancy, steered clear of going into the issue, instead simply stating: “….. no plans for the Puma ST for NZ.”

In respect to Fiesta ST and Focus ST supply, he said both had been affected “initially and again due to hurricanes delaying boats. However, supply is getting back online.

“More Fiesta STs are arriving next month, and dealers have Focus STs available. All of our initial stock of Fiesta ST sold out.”

Focus ST sales ramped up in August, with the type account for more than 30 percent of Focus sales. 

“We’ve seen the hot hatch faithful come in as customers but also new customers.”

The Puma versions signed up for duty here run a 1.0 litre three pot turbo petrol, good for 92kW and 170Nm from 1400rpm and in marriage to a seven-speed auto.

The ST, meantime, has a 1.5-litre three-pot engine with radial-axle turbo and the same 147kW as the Fiesta ST, but with an even beefier 320Nm – up 30Nm.

The extra shove in grunt gives the Puma ST the same 6.7 seconds 0-100kmh time of the Fiesta version, despite a more portly curb mass. 

Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual. It has a mechanical LSD and torque vectoring to reduce understeer and the same force-vectoring springs of the Fiesta ST. The steering rack is also 25 percent quicker, and the brakes larger than standard. Oh yes, and it sits on 19-inch black alloys with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber.

On offer for the driving experience are Normal, Eco, and Sport driving modes and a new Track mode which disables traction control while limited stability control.  Optional is a launch control function. ST Recaro sports seats make their way inside alongside a flat-bottomed steering wheel and ST gearknob.

Surely it looks worthy of a petition, right? 

Meantime, back to the Puma’s ANCAP score. One interesting aspect is that it is was based on the latest examination standard, the barometer the Isuzu D-Max (for example) faced up so well.

Because? Well, while the Puma is only arriving now, the car launched in Europe in 2019 and subsequently went through Euro NCAP crash testing in December that year. 

That same five-star rating has carried over to the Puma here despite ANCAP changing its testing criteria this year to include a more stringent frontal offset crash, side impact crash and far-side impact crash tests.

ANCAP says the ‘Euro’ rating has carried over because it is still applicable to the Puma despite the tweak in local testing.