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Ford intros connected services in new Ford Ranger FX4

Sibahle Malinga
By Sibahle Malinga, ITWeb senior news journalist.
Johannesburg, 24 Feb 2021
The FordPass Connect modem is embedded within the Ford Ranger FX4.
The FordPass Connect modem is embedded within the Ford Ranger FX4.

Ford South Africa says it has added a combination of new style and connected technologies to its latest Ford Ranger, the newly launched Ranger FX4.

Based on the 2.0-litre single turbo XLT double cab, the Ranger FX4 is now available locally in the 4x2 and 4x4 models.

It is interfaced with a range of functional features – such as FordPass Connect, which makes its debut on the FX4, and is now standard fitment on all new pickups, including the Ranger XL, XLS, XLT, Wildtrak and Ranger Raptor models.

FordPass Connect is the American multinational automaker’s connected services platform, which allows users to access and control several vehicle features remotely via the FordPass app.

The FordPass app allows WiFi access, command and control of various vehicle functions remotely once the app has been paired with the Ranger.

The app communicates with the FordPass Connect modem that is embedded within the vehicle, making it possible to lock and unlock the doors, start the engine to activate the climate control system, find the vehicle’s location, and access information such as fuel level and oil life.

“Following the success of the Ford Ranger Thunder, it’s clear there is great demand among South African buyers for value-added derivatives that offer a premium level of style and features, particularly in the important and rapidly-growing leisure-oriented pickup segment,” says Neale Hill, MD of Ford South Africa.

“The FX4 broadens our Ranger line-up, which is produced at our Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria.”

The locally-assembled new Ranger is produced for domestic sales and exported to over 100 markets globally.

Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant forms part of the Tshwane, Silverton-based automotive hub, which will be channelled towards multiple projects, including developing new advanced technologies and systems to modernise and grow the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant, and creating an additional 1 200 jobs to support expanded vehicle production of its Ranger pickup truck range.

Ford recently invested R16 billion in the automotive city, which is expected to increase the automaker’s annual vehicle production capacity to over 200 000 vehicles from 168 000.

The FX4’s standard specification includes dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless passive entry and passive start, a rear-view parking camera, and front and rear sensors to aid manoeuvrability in tight parking spaces.

It also has a Progressive Range Select function which gives the driver the ability to lock out gears from the automatic shifting range – offering greater control to suit specific driving conditions such as when towing or climbing steep gradients.

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