Latest news with #Ranger
7NEWS
19 hours ago
- 7NEWS
South African man Jonathan Green fighting for life after horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands
A man fighting for life after a head-on crash on a Queensland highway that claimed the lives of four people has suffered a series of horrific injuries — including rupturing the largest artery in the human body. Jonathan Green, 27, and his friend, 28, were in a Toyota Hilux that was hit head-on by a Holden Commodore on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: One of the worst weekends on Queensland roads. All four occupants of the Commodore — Corey Bietzel, 32, his friend Shaun Ranger, 28, and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6 — died at the scene. Green was airlifted to Brisbane, while the 28-year-old was taken to a local hospital in a serious but stable condition. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. Green is originally from Randfontein, Gauteng, in South Africa, but is understood to have lived in Australia for several years. His sister Elizma Van Zyl said her brother has suffered significant injuries and is expected to have ongoing surgeries over the next four to five months as he recovers from the crash. 'He ruptured his aorta and lost all of his stomach muscles,' she said. 'He also has dead tissue and muscle that needed to be removed.' Van Zyl said her brother was 'fortunate' to have survived the accident and her heart 'goes out to the families that lost their loved ones'. She has started a Givealittle fundraiser to help cover the costs of her brother's medical care, recovery costs, and basic necessities once he is stable. The horror crash tore apart a family of five, with Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, now a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. The group in the Holden Commodore had been returning home from a camping trip, with Carla and Saphora travelling behind them in another car. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' On Monday, Bietzel was identified as the fourth deceased victim of the crash as his family shared a touching tribute describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. Following the crash, the Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
7NEWS
20 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Fourth victim of horror crash on Capricorn Hwy in Queensland's Central Highlands identified
The fourth victim of a horrific head-on crash on a Queensland highway has been identified. Corey Bietzel was returning home from a camping trip with his friend Shaun Ranger and Ranger's two children Baylee, 7, and Chandler, 6, when they were involved in a collision on the Capricorn Hwy, between Comet and Blackwater in the state's Central Highlands, just before 11am on Sunday. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The group were travelling in a Holden Commodore towards Blackwater when it struck a Toyota Hilux ute driving in the opposite direction. All four were declared dead at the scene. It is understood Ranger's fiancee, Renee Carla, was travelling in another car behind. Carla has been left a single mother to the couple's youngest daughter, Saphora, 2. Bietzel's family on Monday revealed he was also involved in the crash as they shared a touching tribute, describing him as a 'loving son, grandson, a devoted father, brother, cousin and friend'. His cousin Taya-Marie Harper said he 'touched the hearts of many people and left an irreplaceable void' and the family are 'heartbroken over this unexpected loss'. 'Corey was loved and cherished by many and brought much joy and light to people's lives,' she said. Harper has launched a GoFundMe to help support her family as they prepare to give Bietzel 'the send off he deserves'. The tributes for Bietzel come after it was revealed earlier on Monday a family of five had been torn apart by the deaths of Ranger and his two children. Chantel Semple, a friend of Carla's, said Baylee had a cheeky smile and a love for horses, while Chandler 'was a sweet and kind-hearted little boy' who enjoyed the outdoors. 'Shaun (was) a dedicated and selfless father, supportive friend and loving partner,' Semple said in a fundraiser she set up for the family. 'We are all very heartbroken over this unexpected loss and want to give them the send-off they deserve, a meaningful goodbye, surrounded by the people who love them.' The two men inside the ute were both taken to hospital. A 28-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition, while a 27-year-old man was airlifted to Brisbane and is fighting for life. It is believed the pair had been travelling for work. The Capricorn Hwy was closed in both directions for several hours while police remained at the scene. The Holden was completely destroyed in the crash and the wreckage was left crumpled on the side of the highway while the ute had flipped onto its roof. Inspector Ben Wiltshire said both of the vehicles had caught fire on impact. He said it was a 'high-speed' crash but that the exact circumstances were still being investigated. Wiltshire said the injuries the victims sustained were 'horrific'. 'There is a complex investigation that takes place for every fatal traffic accident and this was no exception,' he said. 'We need to conduct a thorough investigation before we make any decisions about charges.' Wiltshire said the tragedy would reverberate throughout the entire Central Highlands community. As a result of the accident, police will be ramping up traffic enforcement efforts throughout the region. 'This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety,' Wiltshire said. 'These lives were cut short far too soon leaving families and loved ones to grapple with the unimaginable grief.' Eleven people were killed on Queensland's roads over the weekend, including three teens who crashed into another car while trying to overtake a semi-trailer in Mackay on Friday night. Two of the teens have been identified as T-Jay Petrass and Liam Doumergue, both 19, while a 19-year-old girl also travelling in their car was killed. Also on Friday a 21-year-old girl was killed in a head-on collision in the Gympie Region, while a 26-year-old man died falling out of a car in Tamborine. Police are also investigating after a car hit and killed an 18-year-old man lying on the road in the South Burnett region on Saturday morning. Later that morning a 45-year-old motorbike rider died when he crashed into a trailer being towed by a ute in Mackay. Wiltshire urged motorists to drive to the conditions and said a split-second decision could be a matter of life or death. 'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, avoid distractions and ensure that you're well rested before embarking on any long journey,' he said. 'Our families, our friends and our children are depending on you.'
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
We take on Iceland in the Ford Ranger PHEV
If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: If you can survive in Iceland, you can survive anywhere. That applies to people… and cars. So, what better place to launch a go-anywhere dual-cab ute? That's exactly how Ford saw it, as the American manufacturer invited us to fly all the way from Melbourne to Reykjavik, Iceland to experience the new Ranger PHEV. Sold alongside regular diesel versions of the Ranger in Australia, the PHEV makes all the same promises of unrivalled towing capacity, off-road capability and liveability. That's right, Ford says it'll 'still do ute things'. It'll also do plug-in hybrid things, like drive solely on electric power, offer exportable electricity, and consume less fuel than your standard dual-cab. The extent to which it can do those things (particularly the EV thing) is limited, however, by a relatively small 11.8kWh (usable) lithium-ion drive battery. But it can still do ute things! Which brings us back to Iceland, and the day-long drive curated to demonstrate the PHEV's prowess, both on- and off-road. Our starting point was the capital city of Reykjavik, home to a population of roughly 140,000 people. For context, that's less than you'll find in Geelong, Cairns or Newcastle. In other words, it's more of a sleepy coastal town than a sprawling metropolis. Still, it feels positively bustling compared to what lies outside the city limits. The first leg of our drive involved a northbound highway stint on Route 1, the main national road that circles the entire island, and it quickly became clear that Iceland is made up of barely-touched wilderness broken up by small towns, none of which have names that can easily be pronounced by Aussies like you or me. Traffic was minimal and the highway relatively straight, so our attention quickly turned to the Ranger and its new party tricks. Among those is the battery and electric motor pairing, which allow for both hybrid and EV driving. Ford claims that the Ranger PHEV can travel up to 49km on electric power alone. We tested that and fell well short, managing just 33km with two passengers and minimal baggage onboard. However, most of those kilometres were chalked up on the highway – a demanding test of EV range. In Australia, the Ranger PHEV is compared to the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. My takeaway from our little experiment was that if you're planning to circumnavigate Iceland's ring road without expelling any CO2, those plug-in hybrid ute alternatives come up trumps. We also clocked a 0-100km/h sprint of 8.95 seconds – make of that what you will. On-road performance and fuel efficiency is important, but Ford was more interested in proving that the Ranger PHEV is a proper workhorse worthy of the badge, an intent proven during our morning breakfast stop at Kleif Farm. Situated about 40 minutes north of Reykjavik, Kleif Farm is a getaway villa situated among high peaks, flowing water and dirt tracks, the latter providing a perfect opportunity to load up the Ranger PHEV for a quick towing test. Somewhat remarkably this was my first time towing, and while hazards were few and far between, I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the Ranger was up to the task, with enough grunt to drag a trailer full of heavy hay bales around the property. Given my inexperience, we then had a play around with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist feature, which allows you to 'steer' the trailer using the outer ring of the drive mode controller on the centre console. It feels quite unnatural at first, but after some practice I earned a pat on the back for neatly backing the trailer into a creekside parking spot. The Ranger PHEV is rated to tow up to 3.5 tonnes like its diesel-powered siblings, but it's worth noting that we've previously observed the smaller EcoBoost petrol engine feels particularly strained when trying to haul anything above 2.0 tonnes. Ford also used the stop off at Kleif Farm to demonstrate 'Pro Power Onboard', otherwise known as exportable power in the form of two 15A power outlets built into the Ranger PHEV's tub. These can be used to power a wide array of power tools, electronics and camping equipment – in this case a big circular saw. It's a feature that Ford is pushing as part of the Ranger PHEV sales pitch, and it's not the only manufacturer to do so. Just last year I attended the BYD Shark 6 launch in Broken Hill, during which we were served coffee out of the tubs of the test vehicles – a neat touch. Both models can serve as a mobile cafe, but Ford has BYD and GWM covered for output capacity. There's only so much you can do with a stationary ute though, so we hit the highway again in search of a new challenge. Looping around east towards the centre of the island, the natural beauty of Iceland once again took centre stage. June marks the beginning of summer here, and that means the melting of ice, yellowing of grass and seemingly endless 20-hour days. Glaciers and volcanoes also dot the barren landscape, hence why Iceland is known as 'the land of fire and ice'. I spent most of this leg in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with camera in hand, awestruck. However, a quick glance across at the instrument cluster revealed our test vehicle was now running on an empty battery, and consuming upwards of 9.0L/100km as a result. That sort of figure will be familiar to diesel Ranger owners, but it's not quite what you're after from a hybrid. The takeaway here is that PHEVs need a charged battery to make sense, especially when that battery plays a part in so many key vehicle functions. The second leg of our journey wrapped up in 'Springfield'. No, not that Springfield, for all you Simpsons fans out there. Rather, this was a small town at the base of a not-so-small volcano. And, unlike the setting of The Simpsons, here you'll find geothermal hot springs bursting up through the earth. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, as Iceland is the most volcanic island in the world. Eruptions occur roughly every five years, although the frequency of such events has increased in recent years. The Reykjanes Peninsula has seen nine eruptions since 2023, the first of which resulted in the evacuation of 4000 people from the town of Grindavík in the country's south. Most of the town's residents have not returned since, with many homes sold to the state. Thankfully, the Grensdalur Volcano remained sedate during our visit, allowing for some nearby off-roading in the Ranger PHEV. Ford's planned route included a mix of river crossings, gravel tracks, and proper mountain ascents, all of which brought out different characteristics of the Ranger. We cycled through the four-wheel drive drive modes throughout – 4H for flatter sections of dirt, 4L for the steeper, more aggressive climbs, and even turned to Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the way back down the mountain. None of the water crossings we made were particularly treacherous, as you'll probably notice in the images below. However, it was comforting to know the battery is protected by its position above the rear axle. The Ranger PHEV retains all the important kit fitted to standard diesel variants, including a rear differential lock, the aforementioned 4WD modes, and underbody protection. One key difference between the models is that the PHEV is capable of silent EV off-roading, although our depleted battery wasn't really in a state to offer this. Nevertheless, the turbo-petrol engine in the PHEV is quieter than its diesel counterpart, and we were able to reach the final peak without making a distasteful racket. The summit provided an elevated vantage point of a landscape we had only previously seen from ground level, and boy was it an enlightening view. Not because there was plenty to see – quite the opposite, in fact. Our guide shared that arctic foxes were the only creatures to be found on the island when the Vikings first arrived some 12 centuries ago, and not much seems to have changed since. Bar the native horses and a few sheep, wildlife is hard to come by. Because for all its rugged charm, Iceland is still a desolate and harsh place to call home. Its unforgiving nature has given rise to impressive feats of human innovation, including a geothermal energy network made up of large pipelines that transport both hot water and steam, the latter used to generate electricity for the nation. We came across some of these pipes during our descent, but I wouldn't recommend getting too close – the presence of hydrogen sulfide makes the air smell like rotten eggs… no thanks! Moving swiftly onward, a spaghetti-like set of loose gravel trails led us back to the base of the mountain, all cars still in good health. Ford hardly asked us to beat on their brand-new machines, but the Ranger PHEV seems a welcome addition to the dual-cab ute market, and a worthy rival to the two big name plug-in hybrids from China. A final highway stint brought our expedition to an end, no more than eight hours after it begun. Short and sweet, as they say. For me, that meant boarding a plane back to Melbourne the next morning, but the same couldn't be said for our Blue Oval chariots. That's because the Ranger PHEV is set to be a staple of Iceland's ute market, although it won't come cheap – a diesel Ranger Wildtrak retails for the equivalent of A$155,000, as all cars are generally dearer here. Without being an expert on the Icelandic car market, I couldn't tell the locals whether that's decent value. But what I can say is that the Ford Ranger PHEV might be a little different, but it can still do 'ute things'. MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from:
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Ford dealers in South Africa commit nearly R1bn to facility upgrades
'Retail facilities that align with Ford's global design standards consistently outperform non-upgraded sites on key customer-facing metrics.' He added that rather than focusing on outright scale, Ford's strategy will be to right-size facilities, optimise location, improve digital readiness and upgrade aftersales infrastructure to better serve tech-savvy and time-conscious customers. Ford has 118 facilities across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Eswatini, ranking the brand among the top three by size in South Africa. This year 20 new Ford dealer projects and facility upgrades are starting or scheduled for completion, and the network supports more than 10,000 direct jobs in South Africa, said Hill. 'Dealers play a critical role in bringing the brand to life, ensuring Ford's values, service standards and customer promises are upheld across every touchpoint.' Ford is a volume brand with the locally built Ranger holding the position of South Africa's best-selling double cab. Dealer sales across all brands accounted for more than 85% of all new vehicle sales in South Africa during the first half of the year, with the balance split between the rental market (8.2%), corporate fleets (3.2%) and government procurement (2.7%). New-vehicle sales recorded their ninth successive year-on-year improvement in June and there have been 236,914 new vehicles sold in South Africa for the year to date — a 12.9% increase compared to the same period last year. 'Though coming off a low base in 2024, the numbers are not just a rebound, they are a show of force from South African motor dealers,' said Brandon Cohen, chair of the National Automobile Dealers' Association (Nada) after the release of June sales figures. 'When you consider the layered complexity of our operating environment — from domestic politics to global supply pressures — these figures reflect the unmatched responsiveness and customer focus of our dealer networks across the country. 'South African consumers are showing remarkable resolve and our dealer community is matching that with operational excellence and customer-centric innovation. If these trends hold, 2025 may yet prove to be a landmark year for our sector.'
New York Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
New York Rangers 2025-26 tickets: Schedule, prices, dates
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. The rebuild begins now. Following a rough 2024-2025 season where the New York Rangers went a respectable but ultimately disappointing 39-36-7, the franchise cleaned house over the offseason. First, they axed Head Coach Peter Laviolette; shortly after, the club traded star winger Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks where he'll play with former captain Jacob Trouba. In Laviolette's place steps in new coach Mike Sullivan who comes to the Rangers from the Pittsburgh Penguins where he led the team to a 34-36-12 record. As an added bit of intrigue, the 57-year-old was originally drafted by the Blueshirts in 1987 but held out and stayed for another season at Boston University. On the player side, the team shelled out and signed star defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract. He and fellow new signees Derrick Pouliot, Trey Fix-Wolansky and Justin Dowling join the team's remaining nucleus — Vincent Trocheck, Igor Shestyorkin, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad — on the ice. The regular season gets underway with a game against Sullivan's former Pittsburgh Penguins at NYC's Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Other notable MSG home games to keep an eye out for include matchups against Alexander Ovechkin's Washington Capitals (Oct. 12), Connor McDavid's defending NHL Western Conference champs Edmonton Oilers (Oct. 14), former Ranger K'Andre Miller's always-competitive Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 4), an interstate showdown with Bo Horvat's New York Islanders (Nov. 8) and Mikko Rantanen's fearsome Dallas Stars (Dec. 2). Plus, you won't want to miss the return of Kreider and Trouba when their Ducks hit the Garden on Monday, Dec. 15. In 2026, they'll take on the New Jersey Devils twice at home; those games go down Wednesday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 31. Outside of the Garden, Sullivan's squad will face off against the 2025 Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers in the NHL Winter Classic at Miami's loanDepot Park on Friday, Jan. 2. They'll also meet with Aleksander Barkov's world champs at MSG on Sunday, March 29. 'A front-loaded schedule, which features 23 road games of the first 41, will lead into a second half that includes a seven-game home stand at the end of March into early April,' The Post reported in an analysis of the schedule. '…the path back to Stanley Cup relevancy is set for the Rangers, with plenty of familiar faces to serve as frightful reminders and guide the way.' If you want to be there, tickets are available on Vivid Seats for all recently announced home games at Madison Square Garden in 2025 and '26. Not familiar with Vivid Seats? They're a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. Vivid Seats offers a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. New York Rangers 2025-26 home game schedule A complete calendar including all upcoming NY Rangers preseason and regular season home game dates at MSG, start times, opponents and links to tickets can be found below. September 2025 October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 Want to see the Rangers on the road? A complete 2025-26 calendar including all New York Rangers away games can be found here. Madison Square Garden seating chart Never been out to see Trocheck and the team flick the puck in person? To make life easy, check out a map of Madison Square Garden here for a better picture of all the views from the stands. Getty Images Getty Images How to watch/stream Rangers games There is no shortage of ways to watch Rangers games live from the comfort of your own home this season. You can find Sullivan's stacked squad on the MSG Network via cable providers like Xfinity, Spectrum, and Optimum. For those who prefer to stream, DIRECTV is your best bet, with regional sports channels included in base packages. About the New York Rangers 2024-25 season In 2023-24, the Rangers went an impressive 55-23-4 and won the President's Cup before squandering their season in rough and tumble six-game Eastern Conference Championship series against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Pathers. Last year wasn't quite the same. Although they kicked off the year 12-4-1, the Blueshirts hit a lull and went 4-15-0 plummeting them to eighth place in the Metropolitan Division. Subsequent rebounds couldn't quite pull them out of the cellar and the club missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020-21. For more about the team, you can read all of the New York Post's coverage of the New York Rangers here. Huge 2025 concert tours Before the Rangers officially kick off the season, many of the biggest names in music will be playing at arenas and stadiums all over New York. Here are just five we're most excited about headed your way these next few months. • System of a Down • Paul McCartney • Zach Bryan • Eric Clapton • Chris Stapleton Need even more music in your life? Check out this list of all the concerts coming to Madison Square Garden these next few months to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
