Both Volkswagen and Ford used the NAMPO Harvest Day Show in Bothaville to launch their new entrants to the bakkie market, the choice of the agricultural show a clear indication both are seriously seeking fleet approval.
The launch of the Single Cab completes the Amarok model range following the launch of the Double Cab in September 2010.
South Africa has the largest single cab bakkie market in the world convincing the Volkswagen Group to make South Africa as the first market globally to launch the Amarok Single Cab.
At launch, the Amarok Single Cab will be available with a chaoice of two common rail diesel engines, the 2,0-litre 90 kW and 2,0-litre 120 kW BiTurbo. The four cylinder 90 kW engine generates 340 Nm of torque between 1 750 r/min and 2 000 r/min whilst the two-stage control bi-turbo charging 120 kW engine has maximum of torque of 400 Nm available at a low 1 500 r/min. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
Similar to the Double Cab,the Single Cab is available with an option of selectable 4Motion all wheel drive as well as 4×2 rear wheel drive.
The Amarok Single Cab’s ladder frame chassis is supported by heavy duty springs that allow it to carry a payload up to 1 279 kg.
Standard active safety features include an anti-lock braking system with Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Off-Road ABS, Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Anti Slip Regulation (ASR).
Ford put its all-new Ranger on display for the first time – the actual vehicle launch only scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.
“The all new Ranger delivers outstanding on and off-road performance, combined with the hauling and towing capability many of our customers need, especially in the agriculture sector,” says Jeffery Nemeth, president and CEO of FMCSA. “The producers and the agriculture community are very important to us, so we built a vehicle especially to show at NAMPO.”
FMCSA’s Silverton Assembly Plant is ramping up production of the all new Ranger, which will be available by the end of the year.
“The launch is on schedule, and we are verifying all our processes and working closely with our supplier partners to make sure we exceed the expectations of our customers by delivering a high quality, fuel-efficient, extremely capable pickup truck,” added Nemeth.
FMCSA is investing R3-billion to transform its Struandale Engine Plant and the Silverton Assembly plant, adding capacity and upgrading technology.
The Silverton Assembly plant will increase its annual capacity to 110 000 vehicles for the production of the all new Ranger. At the Struandale engine plant, the global production hub for the Puma engine, capacity will grow to 220 000 engines to produce Ford’s new diesel engine.
This investment will increase local content from 35% to 65% and will drive a host of additional supplier investment and new jobs in the component supply base for South Africa.
Courtesy: Fleet Magazine
