Colin-on-Cars - De Villiers cleared to race

Giniel de Villiers is on his way to Jeddah to take part in the Dakar Rally after having initially tested positive for Covid.

Now cleared, he will join the team that sees three all-South African crews will be taking part in the 2022 edition of the Dakar Rally, as part of the four-car Toyota Gazoo Racing team. They will be joined by the newly crowned winners of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, Nasser Al-Attiyah (Qatar) and co-driver Mathieu Baumel.

The South African crews consist of Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dennis Murphy; South African Cross-Country Champions Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings; and Shameer Variawa partnered with Danie Stassen.

Race-proven

All four crews will be fielding the latest iteration of the race-proven Hilux – the new Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+. The new car features the twin turbo V6 petrol engine from the new Toyota Land Cruiser, together with bigger wheels, a new, single-shock suspension system with more travel, and a bold new look.

The car was designed and developed at the team’s HQ in Barbeque Downs near Kyalami. The new car represents the latest version of the proudly South African project, that has seen the team compete at the Dakar Rally since 2012, attaining multiple podiums and one overall victory during the last ten years. Now, the new car is ready to start a new chapter in the team’s Dakar story and beyond.

Begin

Dakar 2022 is set to begin on January 1, with a liaison from the city of Jeddah to Ha’il. The road section covers 815 km, and will be followed by a short, timed section of 19 km, which will be used to determine the starting orders for Stage 1.

The route then moves in a clockwise direction, visiting towns such as Al Artawiyah and Al Qaisumah before reaching the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. Here, the bivouac will remain in place for several days, until the rest day on January 8th. From Riyadh, the race will continue to Al Dawadimi, Wadi Ad Dawasir and Bisha, before concluding in Jeddah on January 14.

CAR NUMBERS:

201 -      Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel

207 -      Giniel de Villiers / Dennis Murphy

223 -      Shameer Variawa / Danie Stassen

225 -      Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings

QUOTES:

Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “The team is fully prepared for the upcoming Dakar, and we are excited to test our new Hilux T1+ against the competition. We’re confident that the new car has put us on an all-new level, but you never know just how good you are until the flag drops for the start of the race. We can’t wait to get going in Hail.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “We are very proud of winning the 2021 World Cup – a third victory for Toyota Gazoo Racing. The car that brought us all the wins in 2021 was extremely reliable and very fast, but the new car is definitely better. We’re ready to attack from the start at the Dakar Rally, as we’ll be aiming for the top step of the podium.”

Giniel de Villiers: “We’ve been plagued by many punctures during the previous few Dakar Rallies, but we hope that the new T1+ specification will give us an opportunity to attack throughout the event. The new car and new engine is a powerful combination, and we are confident that we’ll be able to take the fight to the competition.”

Henk Lategan: “For me, Dakar 2022 is a chance to show what I am truly capable of. Brett and I had an excellent outing at Dakar 2021, but unfortunately our progress was cut short in Stage 5. We are very excited about our prospects for the upcoming event.”

Shameer Variawa: “Last year was my first Dakar finish, but I am confident that 2022 will bring an even better result. This time around, I don’t just want to finish – I want to show what I’m capable of in one of the world’s toughest automotive races. The new Hilux T1+ is an extremely good car, so now the work is up to me and Danie Stassen, who will be racing in his first Dakar Rally.”

https://bit.ly/3EwjdAv

Colin-on-Cars - Insights into the Ford GT40 revealed in new book

One of the true icons of the automotive world, the Ford GT40, has plenty of myth and mystery wrapped up in its history.

Now, a new and unique compilation of stories about the iconic GT40, all accompanied by a host of old and new photographs has been written by John Allen and Graham Endeacott and, while not a traditional history of the GT40, each individual story will give the reader new insights into the car’s design and development, as well as some fascinating racing tales and previously well-kept secrets divulged.

Chapters include an explanation of the mysteries of Appendix J and its impact on the design of the Mirage and MkIV GT40; a detailed scrutineering report on GT40P/1075 at Le Mans; some untold truths behind the 2005 name controversy; and the unrecorded engine swap which enabled a GT40 to race – and finish – at the Le Mans 24 hours.

The book contains information which at last shows that Ford did really install the Indy 4-cam engine in a development of the GT40. It explains in detail how GT40-builder JWAE was structured, and what its accounts looked like: the fascinating facts concerning the financial aspects of the GT40-building business are revealed.

These two highly knowledgeable and experienced authors have collaborated to bring you this great collection of GT40 stories, some of which had previously been published in magazines many years ago, but have now been reworked, and many of which are totally new. 

https://bit.ly/3Jep29q

Colin-on-Cars - New technologies on display

Wild and wacky; clever and useful or just plain futuristic. These are the primary characteristics of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas, Nevada every January.

This year the show starts on January 5 and the Stellantis Group is making a major effort to highlight the technology that powers Stellantis’ global drive to deliver breakthrough technologies and customer-centric solutions that power the future of its 14 brands.

Integral

“Vehicles are an integral part of people’s digital lives and the future of mobility is fuelled by technology,” says Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “Electrification, with our 30 electrified models available including fuel cell vans, connectivity and autonomy are all important facets of that future but each cannot stand alone. Our creativity, engineering and innovative partnerships are accelerating our drive to build the best and most sustainable mobility for our customers.”

Viewers do not need to be in Las Vegas to connect with the Stellantis experience. The Stellantis CES 2022 virtual experience goes live January 5, 2022, at 6 p.m U.K time at: stellantisces2022.com. 

Elements of the Stellantis stand at CES 2022 include:

- Chrysler Airflow: Chrysler debuts the Airflow Concept, leading the brand's transformation to clean mobility and seamlessly connected customer experiences.

- Citroën Skate Mobility Concept: An autonomous and electric transport robot that moves around cities, paired with Pods to offer fluid, shared urban mobility.

- Citroën Ami: An ultra-compact, two-passenger urban EV. In France, the Ami is accessible by users as young as 14, with ‘à la carte’ offerings that target specific uses, a fully online journey, innovative distribution methods and a three-hour charge time.

- DS E-Tense FE21: Two-time defending champion in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the 900 kilogram car (with driver) uses a 900-volt system that includes a 52 kWh battery, powering a 252 kW electric motor. The lightweight design combined with electric torque drives the car from 0-100 km/h in about 2,8 seconds.

- New FIAT 500: The new 500 is the FIAT flagship and stands for New Dolcevita, social relevancy and sustainability. New 500 is connected, has a range of up to 318 km, features 85 kW fast charge and is the first city car with Assisted Driving Level 2. The New 500 is the most sold EV within the Company.

- Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer: The premium extension of the Jeep brand offers 4x4 capability, on-road refinement and technology features, such as Fire TV built in and a front passenger screen experience.

- Jeep Wrangler 4xe: The most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever. Available in Europe, China and the United States, the Wrangler 4xe’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of up to 33 km of nearly silent, zero-emission, electric-only propulsion.

- Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: The first Grand Cherokee to offer a plug-in hybrid electric variant. Its introduction signals the continued pursuit of the brand’s global vision of accomplishing ‘Zero Emission Freedom,’ by offering a fully electric Jeep vehicle in every SUV segment by 2025. The Grand Cherokee 4xe targets an estimated 40 km of all-electric range with 279 kW and 637 Nm of torque and is equipped with the award-winning Uconnect 5, which offers new technology for 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, including a 10,1-inchdisplay, five-times-faster operating speed (when compared to the previous generation) and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
https://bit.ly/3EgS1pq

Colin-on-Cars - Alternative diesel approved by Volkswagen

Even as the world slowly turns to electric power for cars, the search for other methods of reducing the carbon footprint continues and Volkswagen is now approving paraffinic fuels for use in the latest-generation 4-cylinder diesel engines.

These newly developed diesel fuels containing bio-components permit significant CO2 savings of 70%-95%  compared with conventional diesel.

All Volkswagen models with 4-cylinder diesel engines (TDI) delivered since the end of June this year are approved for operation with paraffinic diesel fuels in accordance with European standard EN 15940.

Possible

Professor Thomas Garbe, Head of Petrol and Diesel Fuels at Volkswagen, explains: "Through the use of environmentally friendly fuels in the approved Volkswagen models, we are making it possible for customers throughout Europe to significantly reduce their CO2 emissions as soon as the fuel is locally available. For example, the use of paraffinic fuels is a sensible additional option particularly for companies with a mixed fleet made up of models with electric and conventional drives."

There is a wide range of different paraffinic fuels.

There are fuels that are produced from biological residual and waste materials such as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), for example. These vegetable oils are converted into hydrocarbons by a reaction with hydrogen and can be added to the diesel fuel in any quantities. They can also be used 100% as fuels, however.

Benefit

Vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil can also be used for production of HVO, but the maximum environmental benefit is obtained only through use of biological residual and waste materials such as used cooking oil, sawdust, etc.

Biofuels such as HVO are already available on the market, and it is likely their share could increase to 20% to 30% in the energy market for road transport in Europe within the next 10 years.

In addition, there will also be so-called e-fuels such as PtL (Power-to-Liquid) in future. These are produced from regenerative sources using CO2 and electricity.

XtL or X-to- Liquid, GtL, and PtL make use of the possibility of initially producing a synthesis gas from different raw materials and then converting this to standard-compliant diesel fuel by means of the Fischer-Tropsch process. Excess green energy can be used here in the production process.

Planned

Volkswagen's electric mobility offensive is being significantly speeded up once more as part of its ACCELERATE strategy. By 2030, it is planned to increase the share of all-electric cars sold in Europe to more than 70%.

Parallel to this, the combustion engine fleet will be systematically further developed in order to reduce CO2 emissions and increase efficiency. The company wants to be completely climate-neutral by 2050.

On the ‘Way to Zero’, Volkswagen's goal for 2030 is to reduce emissions per vehicle in Europe by 40% compared with 2018 – which means each Volkswagen vehicle will then emit 17 tonnes less CO2 on average throughout its life-cycle.

https://bit.ly/3dUtCLK

Colin-on-Cars - Special tribute to Stirling Moss

“Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?” This, so the story goes, is what a policeman asked the legendary British racing driver following a particularly ‘daring’ overtaking manoeuvre on the streets of London. “Yes sir, I am” was the honest reply.

There’s a nod to this legendary tale – and a number of other aspects of Moss’s life and career – in ‘The Last Blast., a new short film by Mercedes-Benz Classic.

A police motorcycle outrider admonishes the over-enthusiastic driver of the very Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR made famous by Moss’s win in the 1955 Mille Miglia race. As the camera zooms in on the front wing of the bike, we see a sticker bearing the famous question.

With this, part of a police-escorted drive across central London, ‘The Last Blast’ celebrates the life of Moss, who died on April 12, 2020 at the age of 90. Filming took place at the end of September 2021 in London – where he lived for more than 60 years – yet somewhere the famous Mercedes-Benz racing car, with its legendary Mille Miglia starting number of 722, has never been driven before.

But, while the Silver Arrow is the visible star of the show, there’s an invisible one, too: the late racing driver himself. In this very car, together with navigator Denis Jenkinson, he achieved a famous victory for Mercedes-Benz in the 1955 road race from Brescia to Rome and back.

And it is in Moss’s honour that the company had the straight-eight engine howl for one last blast on a drive across central London before the car is retired, returning to its permanent home in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

The result is a moving three-and-a-half minutes of film. The starting point of the drive, very early one Sunday morning, is The Temple. It then takes in the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Automobile Club and The Ritz hotel. On the way, ‘722’ passes what was Sir Stirling’s very own 300 SL Gullwing – the car in which he travelled from London to the Mille Miglia in 1955.

Its drive through the city ends in front of Moss’s own home in a Mayfair mews. There, his son, Elliot Moss, stands in front of the door and looks at the watch on his wrist, which his father wore for many years. It’s exactly 7:22 am, the original start time of Moss and Jenkinson’s Mille Miglia entry and the reason for the car’s racing number. The 300 SLR rolls to a halt one final time, and its engine is switched off.

 

The unique drive through London ended in Mayfair at the Moss’ family home. At the door: Elliot Moss, Stirling’s son.

This is Mercedes-Benz Classic’s tribute and thanks to Sir Stirling Moss who dedicated decades of service to the brand. And also to his family, for the unwavering support they showed him, and for their personal involvement in this very special film project.

Factsheet for ‘The Last Blast’

- Feature-film cinematography and production- Drive with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W 196 S) through London

- Designed to honour Sir Stirling Moss and ‘his’ 300 SLR number 722 from the 1955 Mille Miglia road race

- Multiple references to the life and work of the British racing driver

- Also a farewell tour for this original 300 SLR racing sports car before it returns to the Mercedes-Benz Museum: it has also made guest appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the British Grand Prix and the Goodwood Revival in 2021

- Elaborate film work- Filmed on a Sunday morning with around 50 cast and crew

- Eight police motorcycle outriders on duty

- Renowned production advisers INP Media Limited and Samuelson Wylie Associates with considerable Hollywood action movie experience

- Helicopter shots by the team best known for their aerial work for the James Bond franchise, as well as for flying under Tower Bridge for the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony film

- Preparation of the 300 SLR by Mercedes-Benz Classic

- Special permits for trucks entering London

 
https://bit.ly/31EdBXi

Colin-on-Cars - Building on tradition

As the world races towards electric vehicles, there is a small corner of England that remains unphased by all the hubbub and The Morgan Motor Company has just released sketches of the design direction planned for an all-new three-wheel model.

Design sketches for new Morgan released

To be powered by a three-cylinder Ford petrol engine, the new car – destined for launch next year – has a bold and eccentric design in keeping with the historic traditions of Morgan and takes inspiration from mid-century jet planes, motorcycles, historic Morgan models and modern industrial product design — images of which adorn the walls of Morgan’s design and engineering offices.

Demonstrate

No single sketch in isolation reveals the exact look of the new model, yet in culmination, they demonstrate some of the key design features that will be revealed in full when the new three-wheeled model is launched.

Sketches show a technical front end trailed by a fluid form, the vehicle ‘visually towed’ by its leading front wheels. The visual mass resides behind the centre line of the front wheels and never on top of them, a theme that has remained prevalent from the earliest sketches. Further design tenets include the celebration of mechanical honestly and the communication of function through design, hallmarks of previous Morgan three-wheelers.

Pillar

Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, says: “Morgan was founded on the production of three-wheeled cars, and when the 3 Wheeler was re-introduced in 2011 it became a firm pillar of the company’s product range.

“We recognise the importance of evolving this bloodline and continuing to provide our growing community of enthusiasts with new, exciting, and unforgettable motoring experiences. Creating the all-new three-wheeled model has been a ground-up project, throughout which safety, durability, and character have been at the forefront of our focus.

“It has been an absolute joy seeing the new vehicle take shape, and we cannot wait to present it to the world next year, continuing the legacy of the model.”

https://bit.ly/3DuyBgp

Colin-on-Cars - World rally opportunity for young drivers

If ‘doing it in the dirt’ is your dream and passion, the Slalom Challenges could become your stepping stone to an international rally career.

A series of Slalom Challenges will be held around the country from December 2021 to March 2022 with the national final selection event in April 2022. 

Finalist

The Slalom Challenges will each see the best male and female competitor in each challenge becoming one of the 32 finalists to participate in the national final selection event, at which competitors will be selected to represent South Africa at the Continental Final.

South Africa’s participation in this programme, the organisation of the various challenges and the national final has been generously funded by a grant from the FIA Sport Grant programme managed by the FIA.

The programme is open to all interested individuals who will be at least 17 years old, but not older than 26, on 01 January 2022. The programme also has a specific focus on gender and racial diversity.

Biggest

The programme offers possibly one of the biggest prizes ever in motor sport, so quite apart from the pleasure of participating in the initial challenges, the potential to take part in the national finals, and for the selected drivers the chance to participate in the Continental Final, the winner of the Continental Final will enjoy participation in an ongoing programme which could kickstart an international rally career.

This would include a training season in 2023 that includes participation in six European rallies, and could extend to participation in the Junior WRC in 2024 and 2025 and ultimately for the winner of the 2025 Junior WRC a fully funded WRC2 drive in the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship.

Individuals that wish to participate in this programme should head to  www.fiarallystar.com to find out how you can participate in this exciting event and #BeTheNextOne.

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) is delighted to welcome MasterDrive as a training partner in the programme and will assist MSA in the safe conduct of events.

Prospect

Adrian Scholtz the CEO of Motorsport South Africa says “I am excited by the prospect of working with MasterDrive on this and other possible future projects. We share a common passion not only for cars and motorcycles, but also for road safety and this partnership is an ideal way to improve the skills and habits of young drivers.” 

MasterDrive has also agreed to reward the 17-year-old winner of MSA’s first digital motorsport championship, the ATK ProSeries, Koketso Pilane, by affording him training towards gaining his driver’s license and preparing him for participation in the national selection event for FIA Rally Star where he was awarded a wild card. 

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says MasterDrive looks forward to working with MSA in this endeavour. “We support initiatives that promote responsible use of motor vehicles in a dynamic environment. Additionally, we appreciate the opportunity to foster an interest amongst younger drivers in a ‘time-honoured’ tradition of coming of age with the acquiring of a licence. It is an opportunity not to be missed.

“We would also like to recognise MSA for the role they play in keeping all aspects of motor sport safe. Their decision to choose MasterDrive to fulfil this role in the Slalom Challenges is but one indication of that. Working together we hope to keep the passion alive and build motor sport’s reputation by prioritising safety,” says Herbert. 

https://bit.ly/3IaIao7

Colin-on-Cars - On track for a title

It was launched only recently but the Kia EV6 has earned itself a nomination for the final round of the 2022 European Car of the Year (ECOTY) awards.

The electric crossover was provisionally listed among 60 new models launched this year and has now been selected by the 61 ECOTY jurors from 23 countries for the seven-strong shortlist. The overall ECOTY winner will be announced in February.

Impact

In just one month since going on sale in Europe, the Kia EV6 has made a big impact, with pre-order books closing early after unprecedented demand for the new model. Thanks to ultra-fast charging and a 528 km range, the EV6 is a mainstream electric vehicle drawing worthy comparison to many premium models.

The Kia brand reinvented itself at the beginning of 2021 with a new name, new logo and revived design ethos named ‘Opposites United’.

Dedicated

The EV6 is the first vehicle launched under this new direction and is Kia’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle based on its all-new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

Jason Jeong, President of Kia Europe, commented: “Kia is proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest examples of modern mobility. After the two nominations of Ceed in its first and third-generation and the one for Stinger, the nomination of the brand new EV6 is recognition of our progress and highlights our commitment to providing sustainable mobility solutions.

https://bit.ly/3EceDIx

Colin-on-Cars - Audi e-tron can be pre-ordered

Colin-on-Cars - Audi e-tron can be pre-ordered

The ‘e’ in Audi is on its way and South Africa buyers looking to go electric can pre-order the e-tron on their choice from any of the 10 e-tron dealerships nationwide.

The official range, consisting of the Audi e-tron SUV, e-tron Sportback and S Sportback , e-tron GT and high performance RS e-tron GT, starts at R1,99-million, although a special launch edition is planned but Audi is keeping the wraps on the specs and pricing for now.

Outlets

There are three outlets in Johannesburg, another three in Pretoria and two dealerships in both Cape Town and Durban. The 10 Audi e-tron Dealerships will also be equipped to allow for fast electric vehicle charging and will be accessible to the public. This charging infrastructure ranges from DC 50 to 75 kW.

As part of an e-tron purchase, Audi customers will get a complimentary home check by an approved service provider to assess the customer’s individual home charging requirements, to determine the necessary upgrades or installations needed.

Accordingly, Audi will also cover the installation of a 32 Amp industrial socket up to the value of R5 000 to allow for convenient integration of single phase power (the most widely available power available in South African households) and the Audi e-tron charger, to deliver around 7,2 kW of power towards a 100% charge in an estimated 13 hour charging time.

Access

Audi South Africa has partnered with Gridcars to allow e-tron customers access to the growing public charging network in South Africa, which currently consists of more than 280 universal charge point connectors.

In addition, Audi will provide :

- A complimentary Audi branded RFID charge card for use with the Gridcars charging network.

- Complimentary first-year membership to Gridcars charging network and charging portal.

- A once-off charging voucher to allow for a convenient first-time charge at a public charging point.

e-tron SUV and Sportback get four zone climate control, adaptive air suspension, contour ambient interior lighting, power front seats with heating, comfort key with sensor controlled luggage compartment release, lane change and rear traffic assist, rear view camera, parking aid plus, Matrix LED lights with dynamic light design and turn signals, Audi connect emergency call, navigation and infotainment, Audi virtual cockpit plus, Audi smartphone interface, Bang and Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound, and MMI navigation plus with touch response as standard.

e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT come with all of the above plus a panoramic glass sunroof, power exterior mirrors with heated, memory and dimming function, windshield with heat insulating and acoustic glass and 400 volt boost converter.

The Audi e-tron range will be available for sale in the first quarter of 2022 and will be priced as follows at launch, inclusive of the Audi Freeway Plan (5 years, 100 000 km) and a battery warranty of 8 years, 160 000 km.

Pricing:

e-tron 55 advanced R1 990 000

e-tron 55 S line R2 045 000

e-tron 55 Sportback S line R2 115 000

e-tron S Sportback R2 425 000

e-tron GT R2 715 000

RS e-tron GT R3 300 000

https://bit.ly/32BRaCN

Colin-on-Cars - New Ford Ranger revealed

The new Ford Ranger to be built at the company’s factory in Silverton, Pretoria from next year has finally had the wraps removed.

“With Ranger, we’ve had a big extended family for decades,” says Jim Farley, president and CEO. “This truck has always been a trusted partner to small business owners, farmers, families, adventurers, commercial fleets and so many more in more than 180 markets around the world. And with the new Ranger, this is our moment to deliver.

"Not just a product our customers will love, but an always-on experience that will help us build strong and lasting relationships with them. This is the midsize truck people will want to own and experience.”

Next-gen

The next-gen Ranger project was led by Ford’s Product Development Center in Australia. Its international team of dedicated designers and engineers worked with teams around the globe to not only incorporate the very latest in Ford technology, capability and safety, but to also engineer and test the Ranger to Ford’s toughest standards.

Visually, the next-generation Ranger gets an exterior that shares Ford’s global truck design DNA. The design features a defined new grille and signature C-clamp headlight treatment at the front while a subtle shoulder line down the sides incorporates bolder wheel-arches. For the first time, Ford Ranger offers matrix LED headlights.

At the back, the taillights are designed in harmony with the graphics on the front.

Inside

Inside, the cabin steps up, using premium soft-touch materials, and a prominent portrait-style centre touchscreen with Ford’s SYNCi 4 connectivity and entertainment system.

The reveal models – the XLT, Sport and Wildtrak – sit on an upgraded chassis riding on a wheelbase 50mm longer and a track 50 mm wider than the prior Ranger.

Customers wanted a choice of more power and torque for towing heavy loads and extreme off-roading, so the team added Ford’s 3,0-litre V6 turbo-diesel and developed it for the Ranger. It is one of three turbo-diesel engine options available at launch, depending on the market.

In addition, it will be available with a 2,3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder.

Transmission

New transmission choices include an updated 10-speed auto or six-speed manual, complementing the current six-speed automatic.

Engineers moved the front wheels forward by 50 mm for a better approach angle and outboard for better off-road articulation, both of which improve the off-roading experience. They also shifted the rear suspension dampers outboard of the frame rails to give drivers and passengers a better ride both on- and off-road, no matter if they’re carrying heavy cargo for work, or just taking the family out for dinner.

The heart of the Ranger’s connective experience is the large 10,1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen in the centre stack. It complements the fully digital instrument panel and is loaded with Ford’s latest SYNC4 system, which comes customer-ready with its voice-activated communications, entertainment and information systems.

Many of the traditional driving mode controls have been moved from the dash and centre console to their own dedicated display on the SYNC screen. With one button press, drivers can go to Ranger’s dedicated screen for all off-road and drive modes where they can monitor the driveline, steering angle, vehicle pitch and roll angles and other controls.

The screen also is linked to a 360-degree camera to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring.

Specific details on the local variants will be confirmed closer to launch next year.

https://bit.ly/3oVCwh7