CRA Public Safety & Motoring News
By WomanOnWheels
It is no longer safe to drive anywhere on your own due to the prevalence of hijacking. To help, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has teamed up with SVI Engineering to launch an armoured protection model of the popular Ford Ranger.
The Ford Ranger is one of the best-selling bakkies in South Africa and the introduction of armoured protection positions the Ranger in an entirely new segment, both for private and fleet customers.
Visit CRA’s blog page for more relevant articles.
It has been noted that more than 18 000 vehicle hijackings are being recorded annually in South Africa.
“We see armoured vehicle protection as a next step into a potentially life-saving sector. Ford is leading the way in customer experience by offering this without affecting the Ranger’s full warranty and service plan, which is a first for any OEM in South Africa,” said Neale Hill, managing director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.
SVI Engineering confirmed that it will offer two levels of Ford-approved armoured protection for the Ranger, across all models, powertrains and derivatives.
B4 Armoured Specification
The B4 offers customers bullet-resistant protection against handguns up to a .44 Magnum. It also offers protection against brick-throwing and other hand-held projectiles.
Protection consists of 18-21mm armoured glass, along with kevlar sheets for the body. Weighing only 280kg on the Ranger Double Cab, the lightweight armour will have minimal impact on vehicle acceleration, fuel consumption and dynamic performance.
The build time of a B4 armoured Ranger is around eight weeks.
B6 Armoured Specification
The B6 is the highest level of protection allowed without a special permit. It has been designed to protect against ammunition fired by R1 assault rifles and the AK47. This comprehensive protection comprises 38mm armoured glass and special armoured steel plates.
Weighing 650kg with armour, the suspension of the Ranger is upgraded accordingly. Customers can choose between a discreet appearance, or the cost-effective non-discreet option, called Stopgun V2.0.
The discreet option features upgrades not easily identifiable on the vehicle, versus the more obvious protection on Stopgun option.
The discreet option takes 12 weeks to build, while the Stopgun security option takes only 2 weeks to install.
B4 and B6 armour protection covers the following areas:
- All glazing surrounding the occupants
- A-, B- and C-pillars of the vehicle
- Doors
- Firewall
- Rear of the cabin
- Front fenders to protect engine components and firewall
- Battery
- ABS unit
Additional Ford-approved armouring options for the Ranger include:
- Roof armouring
- Floor armouring
- Bullbar and ballistic grill
- Run-flat ring system for the tyres
- Public announcement system.
Pricing:
Pricing excludes VAT and purchase price of the vehicle.
Ford Ranger | B6 Stop gun V2.0 non-discreet | B4 discreet | B6 discreet |
Single Cab | R234 413 | R338 386 | R527 990 |
Super Cab | R271 163 | R454 371 | R688 225 |
Double Cab | R335 202 | R454 371 | R688 225 |
The all-new Ford Ranger comes standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty.
A six-year/90,000km service plan is included which covers six services. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.
In addition, customers receive a one year/50 000km warranty on the armouring components from SVI Engineering.
Picture: Car Insurance
Read Also Related Article: Big Changes For Drivers Planned For South Africa In 2021 – Including Zero Alcohol Limits
Article Credit to WomenOnWheels.
What is your view on the additional protection amour available for Ford Rangers? Do you think it will set the trend for other high risk models and expand to other manufacturers? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you found our content informative, do like it and share it with your friends.