Ford ready to shake Ranger with new Tremor model

Following the recent launch of the adventure-ready Ranger Wildtrak X, Ford is introducing even greater diversity and customer appeal to the Ranger line-up in South Africa with the launch of the all-new Ranger Tremor.

“The new Ranger raised the bar for comfort, practicality, performance and safety, and we are broadening both its appeal and capability even further with the addition of the Ranger Tremor,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.

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“Although the Tremor has all of the enhanced off-road capabilities shared with the Wildtrak X, it is based on the XLT series which makes it a more affordable option that is ideally suited to the most adventurous exploits and hard-working environments,” Mashinini says.

The Tremor also brings another pioneering new driver assist feature to the Ranger line-up, in the form of Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance which is being introduced as standard on the Tremor, Wildtrak X, the upcoming Ranger Platinum, and the Ranger Raptor.

It will also be offered as an option on the standard Wildtrak models.

Style and substance

In keeping with its adventurous character, the Ranger Tremor is visually distinguished from the XLT series through the addition of a black honeycomb off-road front grille that is equipped with the same LED auxiliary driving lights as the Wildtrak X, along with unique Bolder Grey exterior details for the lower sections of the front bumper and H-bar, fender vents, mirror caps, door handles, and rear bumper.

This is complemented by extended wheelarch mouldings in Bolder Grey that frame the purposeful 265/70 R17 all-terrain General Grabber AT3 tyres with white lettering, mounted on 17-inch Asphalt Black machine-faced alloy rims.

Further distinguishing the Ranger Tremor from its regular siblings is the inclusion of the ‘Tremor’ badge on the rear tailgate and bold ‘Tremor’ decals on the loadbox sides. Another special detail is the use of the black Ford Oval on the front grille and tailgate – an exclusive treatment that is shared only with the Wildtrak X and Ranger Raptor.

Proving that the muscular appearance is a combination of both style and substance, Ranger Tremor’s go-anywhere abilities are reinforced with the standard fitment of a tough enthusiast-rated steel bash plate, steel underbody protection for the engine, transfer case and fuel tank, two front tow hooks, cast aluminium side steps and the distinctive long-leg tubular sports bar.

The tough off-road enhancements incorporate the same reworked suspension with specially developed Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers as used on the Wildtrak X. This unleashes a 24mm increase in ground clearance, accompanied by a 30mm wider track, giving the Tremor even greater control and poise in the toughest driving conditions.

Adding a further touch of exclusivity, the Ranger Tremor is available in Conquer Grey – a colour option which was previously limited to the Ranger Raptor. Additional choices include Agate Black, Carbonized Grey, Frozen White, Lucid Red, Blue Lightning and Iconic Silver which replaces Moondust Silver in the Ranger colour palette.

Off-road Capability

Along with the muscular appearance of the Tremor, there’s a lot going on under the skin to further enhance this unique Ranger’s ‘Built Ford Tough’ off-road capabilities.

It benefits from the same suspension upgrades as the Wildtrak X, including the specially developed Bilstein Position Sensitive Dampers that provide variable levels of damping force based on the prevailing driving conditions.

Combined with the capable all-terrain General Grabber AT3 tyres, this creates a wider track and increased ground clearance that off-road drivers will appreciate – whether negotiating a steep and rocky ascent, a deep mud track or soft desert sand.

Taking on any of these conditions, and a whole lot more, with confidence is as easy as selecting the appropriate Drive Mode via the rotary dial, comprising Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.

Additionally, the Ranger Tremor joins the Wildtrak X as the only 2.0-litre models (using the Bi-Turbo diesel with 154kW/500Nm) available with Ford’s full-time four-wheel drive system, which uses an electromagnetic transfer case (eMTC) mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission with advanced eShifter and electronic parking brake.

An extensive range of driver assistance systems provide enhanced confidence in any terrain, including the new Trail Turn Assist feature that debuted on the Wildtrak X. The system brakes the inside wheel when negotiating tight bends in off-road conditions below 19km/h, reducing the vehicle’s turning radius by up to 25 percent to help navigate around obstacles.

Trail Control is also standard on Ranger Tremor. The driver simply selects a set speed below 32km/h when driving off-road, and the vehicle will manage its acceleration and braking while the driver concentrates on steering through difficult terrain.

What is Pro Trailer Backup Assist?

Continuing the Ranger’s legacy of innovation, Tremor introduces Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Trailer Reverse Guidance, which is standard on this model and now also on the Wildtrak X, the Ranger Raptor and the upcoming Ranger Platinum. It is available as an option on the Wildtrak 4×4 and 4WD models.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro at manoeuvring a trailer, Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps the driver get the trailer positioned where you want it, quickly and easily. It utilizes the rotary Selectable Drive Modes controller on the centre console, along with the steering wheel and a suite of cameras to take the guesswork out of reversing the vehicle with a trailer attached.

After a few measurements have been entered into the Sync screen and the trailer has been calibrated (including its hitch position and length), the camera tracks the trailer while reversing and guides it accordingly. You simply rotate the knob left or right in the direction you want the trailer to go while the system controls the steering wheel.

With Trailer Reverse Guidance, the system provides informational graphics and up to seven camera views to help reverse the trailer while the driver uses the steering wheel to control the direction. This mode displays which direction to turn the wheel to keep the trailer straight.

Up to 10 trailers can be stored in the system for ease of use.