Ford Ranger Stormtrak
Imposing finish
Ford Ranger Stormtrak
© press-inform – the press office
Before the new Ford Ranger is supposed to inspire the pick-up disciples next year, Ford is adding special models of the discontinued model. We took a closer look at the Stormtrak and have a lot of light.
Marketing, the Americans can do it. The name “Ford Ranger Stormtrak” sounds like a whirlwind, a track tool that also works well off paved slopes. However, the successful creation of the word is only partially followed by deeds, as no eight-cylinder steam hammer under the mighty bonnet craves work, not even six pots flash out, but only four. A look at the data sheet reveals: It is the four-cylinder diesel with 156 kW / 213 PS, basically the same drive as the acoustically even more dangerous Ford Ranger Raptor.
So what’s up with the Ranger Stormtrak? Before the new Ford Ranger rolls out to dealers in 2022, Ford is launching a few special models of the flatbed truck. While the Ford Ranger Wolftrak (also congratulations to the word acrobats) gives the tough dog in the field and therefore gets by with 125 kW / 170 PS and a six-speed manual transmission, the Stormtrak is a beefed up version of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak. So the Stormtrak for 55,972 euros offers, among other things, a chic red metallic paint, same-colored applications in the interior, leather seats and an electric roller shutter to cover the loading area.
But even without the splash of color in the front, the Ranger Stromtrak lives up to its name visually and therefore looks quite something. In the USA, the pick-up may look too hot washed next to a Ford F350 or other monsters, but on European roads the 5.28-meter-long high-stilted vehicle is quite formidable. When you’re out and about in a Ford pickup, you feel a bit like the King of the Road. The chassis with a double wishbone axle including coil springs at the front and leaf springs at the rear does not necessarily lure a Porsche Cayenne out of cover. But thanks to the long suspension travel, eating kilometers is not a problem.
As long as you hold back on the accelerator, the four-cylinder diesel engine acts pretty confidently thanks to the maximum torque of 500 Newton meters and pushes the 2,246-kilogram Ranger relaxed. The ten-speed automatic does its job calmly, even if it has to sort the gears every now and then. The turbocharged diesel engine with the pick-up only has a harder time when things have to go a little faster. If you push the automatic lever back to “S” or help with the driving mode switch, things get more sporty. But even the best driving program cannot completely cancel out the physics: After nine seconds from standstill, the road speed is reached and at 180 km / h it is over. On average, 9.2 liters per 100 kilometers flow through the combustion chambers.
The Ford Ranger Stormtrak is more rough than an athlete. That is why it is also important that the pickup can pull 3.5 tons and tow one ton. The 1.57 meter long and 1.56 meter wide loading area is what makes the pick-ups so popular in the USA. The electrical shutters protect the utensils from rain and prying eyes. When the roller blind is closed, around 1,260 liters fit into the luggage compartment. If you can act freely, it is nominally around 2,050 liters.
However, the Ranger is equipped with drum brakes on the rear axle. During our test drive, we did not notice any fading or other deterioration in the deceleration performance. The drive train is unchanged from the other models. So basically the rear axle takes care of the propulsion (2H), up to 120 km / h the all-wheel drive can be activated (4H). If necessary also with reduction (4L), which is intended for more demanding off-road use. In addition, the Ranger also has a differential lock when things get tight off-road. In any case, you should only add the front axle when it is really slippery. Because the Ranger said roughly, a rigid through drive without differential gear. This is why the wheels with all-wheel drive turn at the same speed in curves, which puts a strain on the drive train on dry asphalt.
The double cab also offers enough space in the second row, otherwise the interior of the Ford Ranger offers little surprise. The infotainment is getting on in years and the steering wheel is not adjustable in length. But that doesn’t really matter, because the Stormtrak is not about best times and you can find a comfortable sitting and driving position so quickly.