Ford Ranger and Everest plug-in hybrids due in 2024, coming to Australia – report
The new Ford Ranger ute and Everest four-wheel-drive are in line for plug-in hybrid tech in 2024, according to new information sourced by Drive – and they appear to be on their way to Australia.
The new-generation Ford Ranger ute and Ford Everest four-wheel-drive appear on track to gain plug-in hybrid options in 2024, according to new information sourced by Drive – and they’re in line for Australian showrooms.
Publicly-available information unearthed by Drive indicates plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the new Ford Ranger ute and Everest SUV are in development – rather than ‘self-charging’ hybrid or all-electric options – and are slated to launch in late 2023, or in 2024.
Furthermore, the information suggests both the new Ranger and Everest PHEVs are slated to be offered in Australia – arriving in Ford showrooms as 2024 model-year vehicles – making them some of the first electrified offerings in their respective ute and large 4WD segments.
A hybrid version of the Toyota HiLux is not expected to arrive before the next-generation model launches around the middle of the decade, while rivals from Isuzu/Mazda, Nissan and even Ford’s development partner for the new Ranger, Volkswagen, have not announced firm plans for the introduction of hybrid dual-cab utes.
Specifics of the plug-in hybrid Ranger and Everest’s engine and electric motor combination are yet to be announced – and it’s not clear if a petrol or diesel engine will sit underneath the PHEV’s bonnet.
However, given the popularity of petrol over diesel fuel in plug-in hybrid systems globally – and shifting tastes away from diesel in Europe (and non-existent diesel demand in the US) – there is well-placed speculation a petrol engine will power future Ranger and Everest plug-in hybrid models – which will be sold alongside the range of diesel-only offerings.
Given the 167kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder PHEV system in the Escape medium SUV would likely be considered insufficient, and the 336kW 3.0-litre turbo V6 system in the overseas Explorer large SUV too potent, Ford could strike a balance in the Ranger and Everest with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The new Ford Ranger will be offered in the US and other overseas markets with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, expected to develop approximately (or in excess of) 200kW and 420Nm – a suitable fit for a potent petrol plug-in hybrid system.
With the assistance of an electric motor and battery pack, these figures could swell beyond 250kW – outgunning the circa-190kW diesel V6 that’s set to sit atop the standard Ranger and Everest line-ups in Australia when the new models launch later this year (excluding the Ranger Raptor).
News of Ford Ranger and Ford Everest plug-in hybrids for 2024 follows comments late last year from the engineers that developed the models, with one confirming to media: “We have enabled electrification in the platform.
“We’re not going to talk about that in any more detail right now … and when they’re available.
“But, you know, electrification … globally is coming and it’s a global pick-up, so we have many, many customer needs and we have to satisfy those needs.”
Chief engineer of the Ford Ranger, Everest and Volkswagen Amarok’s T6 platform, Ian Foston, told Australian media: “Certainly we’ve spoken to customers all around the world and there’s clearly two big drivers for electrification [including hybrid technology].
“One is through customers who’ve often had ownership experiences in electric vehicles of some variety. And they’re asking about when will pick-ups be available with that technology.
“And there’s also legislative requirements that have been applied in a number of markets around the world. So clearly there’s a big future for [hybrid and electric vehicles] in every segment, trucks being one of them as well.”
The new Ford Ranger and Ford Everest plug-in hybrids are slated to launch in Australia as Model Year 2024 vehicles, suggesting first arrivals in local showrooms in late 2023, or sometime in 2024.
Conventional diesel-powered versions of the new Ford Ranger are due in showrooms in mid-2022, with the Everest slated to follow by the end of the year.
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