FROM the Model T to the Mustang Mach-E, innovation, reimagination and reinvention define Ford’s commitment to creating the most desirable products and services globally.
“For 100 years, Ford South Africa has been bringing customers must-have products. We’ve gone beyond just helping people meet their basic transport needs to helping them fulfil their aspirations and dreams,” says Kay Hart, president, Ford International Markets Group.
Ford has manufactured and sold a vast range of trend-setting cars that have shaped the local motor industry and popular culture over the past 10 decades, including the likes of the Fairlane, Anglia, Granada, Capri, Escort, Bantam and Cortina. The pickup version of the popular Cortina sedan was one of South Africa’s unique locally developed models, and effectively created the “bakkie” segment as it’s known locally. Other pioneering products developed in South Africa included the legendary Cortina XR6 and Sierra XR8.
“We’re not resting on our laurels and have a comprehensive new model roadmap for South Africa for the next two years as we deliver an even wider range of vehicles to meet the needs and lifestyles of our customers,” Hart says.
“We will be moving into a new electrified era with the all-electric Mustang Mach-E in 2025 as we deliver on Ford’s commitment to a cleaner, greener, electric future. And, with next year’s launch of our all-new seventh-generation Mustang, and the exhilarating Mustang Dark Horse, we will be enthralling customers with the most exciting and the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 Mustang ever,” Hart says.
The introduction of the all-new Territory in the form of a modern five-seater sport utility vehicle will allow us to compete in the popular compact SUV segment, while the all-new Tourneo Custom multi-activity vehicle and the Transit Custom which have been re-engineered to enable small and medium businesses to achieve new levels of productivity,” she adds.
There will also be two dynamic additions to the Ranger line-up, comprising the off-road oriented Ranger Tremor, and the Ranger Platinum – the most luxurious and comfortable Ranger ever.
Mustang Mach-E
The all-electric Mustang Mach-E – the first production Ford ever developed from the ground-up to deliver pure-electric, zero-emission driving – is coming to South Africa in 2025.
The Mustang Mach-E introduces the freedom, performance, and iconic character of the world’s best-selling sports car to all-electric vehicle customers. Powered by a responsive, energy-efficient, battery-electric drivetrain, the first-ever SUV member of the Mustang family delivers impressive performance and acceleration.
While the local Mustang Mach-E range is yet to be confirmed, globally it is available in Select, Premium and GT specification and performance levels. Propelled by more torque than any production Ford road-vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E GT can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.73 seconds.
A dual-motor, all-wheel drive, battery-electric powertrain, exclusive to GT MagneRide® adaptive suspension and high-performance Brembo braking system combine for sports car responsiveness and agility. The Mustang Mach-E GT also features Ford Performance front sports seats, standard 20-inch alloy wheels and unique body-styling – further differentiating the premium SUV’s sleek and powerful design while retaining the unmistakable signatures of the world’s best-selling sports car.
Standard equipment on all models includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car-to-car, vulnerable road user, junction assist, and back-over functionality. Lane keep assist, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping and an advance speed assistance system are also standard.
Territory
Ford will be bringing a new challenger to the popular sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment during the second quarter of 2024 with the all-new Territory, a spacious five-seater SUV that brings a commanding presence and smart technology to the compact sport utility segment.
It is aimed at young, smart and connected customers, and embodies a modern design with a commanding presence, a spacious cabin and advanced technologies that deliver an exciting and progressive customer experience.
Territory’s front-end is framed coast-to-coast by the integrated grille and LED daytime running lights, creating a signature light effect. Its sculpted body side, combined with the sharp crease that runs under the beltline and the powerful rear haunch, lend a dynamic aesthetic and sense of agility. The panoramic greenhouse is finished off by a floating rear pillar graphic adding to the streamlined look of the vehicle in profile.
For the interior, the designers worked to create a modern and spacious cabin where technology is seamlessly integrated while achieving a sophisticated yet welcoming cabin environment.
At the centre of the all-new Territory experience is a panoramic display that integrates a 12.3-inch high-definition digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The landscape infotainment screen is nestled into the soft-touch instrument panel. It can be operated by the user’s finger or a rotary controller on the centre console and helps to declutter the cabin by moving many vehicle controls into the screen.
The Territory is powered by a 1.8L EcoBoost engine, delivering 140kW and 320Nm, in combination with a seven-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.
Tourneo Custom
Ford’s all-new Tourneo Custom is set to raise the bar in the multi-activity vehicle segment, relying on a new platform engineered for maximum versatility and comfort. The Trend model should arrive in the first quarter of 2024 while the Titanium X and Sport variants will be locally available by mid-year.
Designed to enhance the multi-activity vehicle experience for both personal-use and business customers, Tourneo Custom features an optimised platform that delivers generous cabin space. Standard and long wheelbase models deliver next-level practicality across the range.
The enhanced interior specification starts with a flexible new track-mounted seating system in the second and third seat rows, for maximum adaptability when arranging the cabin for people and luggage.
The vehicle’s all-new architecture also delivers a lower floor height and a new integrated side step to make ingress and loading easier, supported by a class-leading aperture for the sliding side door. The optimised platform has also enabled a reduced overall height of under two metres for many variants, which allows access to garages and multi-storey car parks that are often inaccessible to vehicles in the Tourneo Custom segment, as well as contributing to optimised efficiency and refinement through improved aerodynamics.
Comfort levels are further enhanced by the superior refinement and vehicle dynamics delivered by next-generation vehicle design. The optimised chassis architecture with independent rear suspension offers a new level of ride comfort and stability, supported by the new smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission option and Ford’s proven 2.0-litre Single Turbo diesel engine delivering up to 131kW in the Sport and Titanium X models.
The instrument panel features an ergonomic 13-inch central touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The central screen is complemented by a new digital instrument cluster to create an intuitive, driver-focused cockpit.
Transit Custom
Europe’s top-selling van and last year’s best-selling vehicle overall in the UK, the all-new Transit Custom is heading to South Africa and is designed to enable small and medium businesses to achieve new levels of productivity. The base model is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2024, while the Sport will hit local shores by the middle of next year.
Inspired by customer insights, all-new Transit Custom offers a range of innovative features to help maximise productivity during the working day, including an innovative tilting steering wheel that provides a practical work surface for the driver. The vehicle architecture was optimised to help achieve an overall height of under two metres, to improve access in height-restricted areas such as multi-storey car parks, garages and underground loading bays.
A class‑leading side load door aperture enhances loading, and the side door features a new integrated access step to make entering the load compartment even easier, as well as an optional power sliding side door with hands-free operation to help drivers carrying parcels or equipment. Optimised packaging of the chassis and body structure enable the vehicle’s load floor to be lower than that of the outgoing model to facilitate loading cargo and cab access.
For the first time, all Transit Custom vans are fitted with a new semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension design to contribute towards the lower floor height and to improve steering precision, handling and traction. The front wheels and strut towers have also been repositioned further forward, resulting in much better cross-cab access, improved foot space and footrests for occupants in the front, as well as a shorter front overhang for more confident parking and manoeuvring.
Mustang
The seventh-generation Mustang is the most exhilarating and visceral yet, from its edgier yet timeless exterior design to the fighter jet-inspired digital cockpit and local buyers will be able to get behind the wheel in early 2024.
Modern chiselled looks complement the heritage-inspired design, which sets out to appeal to the broadest Mustang customer mindset yet. Its low, horizontal brow across the front emphasises overall frontal width, while the upper grille design shape is influenced by the original 1960s design.
The Tri-Bar LED headlamps continue the Mustang’s classic lighting signature. Its sleek roofline, broad sprinting stance and shortened rear overhang are also true to the authentic proportions of the first generation, while the widened rear haunches point to the power over the wheels in true Mustang style. An extended rear deck houses a new crisp signature tri-bar lighting and redesigned diffuser for improved aerodynamic balance in the rear.
Behind the chiselled exterior silhouette of the new Mustang lies the most technologically advanced, driver-centric cockpit of any Mustang to date. The fighter jet-inspired cockpit offers the driver two flowing and curved displays that can be quickly customised to show information the driver wants or needs to see.
The Mustang GT is powered by an advanced fourth-generation 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine that delivers 362kW and 567Nm. On a twisty back road or a weekend track day, the driver can quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability control settings through six available Drive Modes to create the perfect Mustang at any time. These are Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, Track plus a customisable setting with up to six individual profiles, tailored to the driver’s view ahead of them.
The Mustang range will be expanded in Q2 of 2024 with the first-ever Mustang Dark Horse. With sinister looks and a specially modified 5.0-litre V8 that produces 372kW of power and a torque peak of 567Nm, Mustang Dark Horse sets a new benchmark for American street and track performance that could only come in a Mustang.
Ford has taken the all-new Mustang, the best of its V8 performance and added power, improved the aero, tyres, steering and provided an interactive cockpit to create a Mustang that goes beyond any 5.0-litre Mustang before it.
The heart of Mustang Dark Horse is its unique 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine, specially modified with piston connecting rods first introduced in the 760-horsepower Ford Performance Mustang Shelby GT500, to deliver the highest level of performance in the all-new Mustang family.
Additional powertrain enhancements were made for performance at the track, along with unique chassis tuning, larger rear sway bars and MagneRide® shocks capable of monitoring wheel and tyre movement 1,000 times per second.
Dark Horse infuses even more performance style and functionality into the Mustang’s technologically advanced, driver-centric cockpit. A thicker, flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in suede and finished with Bright Indigo Blue accent stitching incorporates anodised silver paddle shifters. A dedicated drive mode button is at thumb’s reach, allowing drivers to quickly choose the desired driving setup. This sits in front of a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster with customisable screens including a variety of drive modes.
Ranger Tremor and Platinum
Following the recent launch of the adventure-ready Ranger Wildtrak X, Ford will be introducing even greater diversity and customer appeal to the Ranger line-up in South Africa during the first half of 2024 with two additional new derivatives.
Ranger Tremor follows the same basic recipe as Wildtrak X, targeting customers who require enhanced capability in challenging off-road conditions. Based on the hard-working XLT series, Tremor features a substantially reworked chassis with unique suspension upgrades including specially tuned Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers as standard. Off-road focused driver assistance systems provide enhanced driver confidence in challenging off-road terrain.
While the Tremor is focused on off-road capability, the upcoming Ranger Platinum raises premium luxury and comfort to an entirely new level in the Ranger family – and in the pickup segment in South Africa. It is aimed at customers who appreciate the level of comfort and technology from high-end road cars, but who rely on the toughness and all-round productivity that make Ranger the double cab segment leader in South Africa.
Echoing the premium finishes found on the Everest Platinum, the Ranger Platinum’s exterior creates a striking first impression with upmarket finishes and high-tech features, including a soft-close tailgate, privacy glass and signature daytime running lights matched with Ford’s advanced matrix LED headlamps.
Inside, Ranger Platinum blends a luxurious leather-trimmed cabin with clever tech designed to make life easier. The driver and front passenger benefit from premium perforated and quilted leather seats with 10-way power adjustment, heating and cooling functions, and stylish contrast stitching. Open-grained dark maple wood textures continue the opulent design, and sophisticated ambient interior lighting helps create a calming atmosphere.
In line with its upmarket positioning, the Platinum is equipped with Ford’s silky smooth 3.0L V6 Diesel engine which produces 184kW and 600Nm. Power is delivered through the Ranger’s electronically controlled full-time all-wheel drive system, combined with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift scheduling.
“Ford South Africa’s Centenary is a fantastic celebration of the company’s amazing heritage, but with these dynamic new products we begin a new chapter in delivering distinctive products, always-on relationships with our customers and an ever-improving user experience. We look forward to sharing this exciting journey with our Ford employees, dealers and customers in the years to come,” Hart says.
