Ford Ranger PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid EV) confirmed for 2025 Australian release with electric-only capability
New details have been handed down for the incoming 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid EV), marking a key step in electrifying its global pick-up line-up.
The Ranger PHEV is set for Australian deliveries in 2025, bringing hybrid power to a model known for its towing and off-road performance.
New images released today show the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV in its European specification, but little is expected to change when it reaches Australia, including the new Stormtrak ‘launch edition’ shown in this story.
Offered as a limited-run model, the Stormtrak debuts new ‘Chill Grey’ paint, unique to that model, along with new 18-inch alloy wheels, a Wildtrak-style honeycomb grille, and a decal kit.
It will also feature Matrix LED headlamps, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, a 360-degree camera, and Ford’s Flexible Rack System, along with “a luxurious cabin with unique finishes.”
These interior elements include a B&O sound system, and leather-looking seats with a Chill Grey insert and contrast stitching. The new colour also appears as accents in the doors, steering wheel, and centre cubby space. A Stormtrak logo also appears on the passenger side of the dash.
Ford hasn’t said how many examples of the Stormtrak will be available, but the wider range will be made up of Wildtrak, Sport and XLT variants.
Powertrain details
As reported in September 2023, the incoming 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV will combine a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine with a 75kW electric motor, and an 11.8kWh battery.
Ford claims the Ranger PHEV will deliver 690Nm of torque, “the most of any production Ranger model”. The regular 2.3-litre EcoBoost Ranger offers 420Nm on its own, while the 2.0-litre 4cyl diesel and 3.0-litre V6 diesel options list 405Nm and 600Nm respectively.
Lastly, the turbo-petrol Ranger Raptor hero model delivers 583Nm of torque.
Beyond its headline PHEV mode, this new Ranger variant’s plug-in hybrid EV arrangement is also designed to offer electric-only driving for a targeted range of “over 45km”.
🔎 Fine print
In Ford’s own words: “Officially homologated energy efficiency figures including driving range will be published closer to the on-sale date for Australia using ADR 81/02 certification. Over 45km is the targeted range based on manufacturer-tested values and calculations according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).”
“Actual range varies with conditions such as external elements, driving behaviour, vehicle maintenance, payload, towing, battery age and state of health.”
A 10-speed automatic transmission and Ford’s Modular Hybrid Transmission (MHT) complete the package, ensuring a seamless hybrid experience.
As with all plug-in hybrid EVs, the Ranger PHEV will charge slowly. Ford Australia only mentions an overnight charge, but it’s likely around five hours on a standard 240V/10-amp Australian powerpoint.
Ford of Europe claims “less than four hours” on a single-phase 16-amp charger, so an Australian home wall charger – typically a single-phase 7kW / 32-amp design – could reduce this further.
Fuel consumption and electric-only efficiency figures have not yet been announced.
Pro Power Onboard
As any good electrified ute should, the Ranger PHEV will also feature a ‘Pro Power Onboard’ system, allowing users to power tools and appliances directly from the onboard battery.
The system delivers up to a total of 6.9kW across three outlets: a 2.3kW cabin socket and two 3.45kW outlets in the tray.
Ford is careful to note in its materials that the 6.9kW total may drop “depending on variant and configuration, and will be confirmed closer to the on-sale date”. In that configuration, however, Ford says there would be a 2.3kW limit on each cabin outlet and a 3.45kW limit on each outlet in the tray.
Towing & drive modes
Ford has maintained the Ranger’s key attributes, with its towing capacity remaining at 3500kg.
Its 4WD system, dual-range transfer case, and rear differential lock also feature, with Ford keen to assure buyers that off-roading with the Ranger PHEV is still very much on the menu.
Drivers can choose from multiple EV modes, including Auto EV, EV Now, EV Later, and EV Charge, depending on whether they want to prioritise electric driving or reserve battery power for later.
Ford describes the modes as follows:
- Auto EV: keeps Ranger PHEV in the best mode for performance and efficiency
- EV Now: provides all-electric drive
- EV Later: keeps a portion of charge in reserve so that it can be deployed later
- EV Charge: prioritises recharging the battery while driving
Australian availability
Pricing details for the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV are yet to be announced, but the model will sit alongside the existing Wildtrak, Sport, and XLT grades in the Ranger line-up.
The Ranger PHEV will be produced in Silverton, South Africa, with deliveries expected in 2025.
RIVAL: BYD Shark
In Australia, the Ranger PHEV will face off against Chinese giant BYD, with its new BYD Shark PHEV ute due in late 2024 or early 2025.
As a key selling point, the BYD Shark features a ‘Dual Mode Off-Road’ PHEV system, which sees a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine matched to dual electric motors for a huge combined power output of “more than” 320kW, and a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 5.7 seconds.
Other electrified ute rivals will include the LDV eT60 EV and petrol-electric GWM Cannon Alpha hybrid.
Milestone moment
The new 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV also represents a special milestone for Ford in Australia, becoming the 1000th prototype to be assembled at the company’s New Model Programs facility (NMP, formerly Plant 2) in Campbellfield, Melbourne.
As a neat reminder that Ford retains much of the local arm’s design and engineering expertise that it boasted before manufacturing ended in 2016, the NMP team are responsible for a number of prototypes and mules in support of the company’s global product program.
“It’s fitting that the Ranger PHEV is the 1000th prototype for NMP, and shows how Ford remains at the cutting edge of local vehicle development and is putting Australian skills and workers on a global stage,” said Vince Ciocca, NMP Plant Manager, Ford Australia.
Much of the team comes from the facility’s Plant 2 days, and the latest Ranger and Everest models were all prototyped there.
It’s not just prototypes, though: most recently, they collaborated with Herrod Performance to produce all 500 examples of the Australian-exclusive supercharged Ford Mustang R-Spec.
