The Ford Ranger Raptor is unique among South Africans bakkies, for its combination of performance and 4x4 capabilities.
And now this high-speed off-roader is available with B4-level armoured protection through Johannesburg-based manufacturer, SVI Engineering.
The package not only comes with full backing from Ford South Africa, retaining the manufacturer warranty and any optionally selected service plan, but it can also be ordered directly from Ford dealerships.
The suite of armour comes at a cost of R545,121, excluding VAT, and that of course excludes the R1,226,700 asking price attached to the base vehicle.
SVI says its discreet B4 package offers “comprehensive 360-degree protection” against handguns, up to .44 Magnum, for the entire passenger cell.
It includes 21mm armoured glass, curved to original Ranger specification, as well as precisely cut Kevlar sheets for the body and smaller armoured-steel plates for other areas that would have otherwise been deemed vulnerable.
There is also a degree of protection for critical parts of the Raptor’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, which produces 292kW and 583Nm. Although there will be some performance loss, SVI says the weight gain is relatively minimal, and as a result the vehicle’s advanced FOX suspension system has been retained in its standard form.
“In short, our B4-armoured Raptor is the ultimate go-anywhere rapid-response vehicle, combining high-speed off-road capabilities with confidence-inspiring road manners and, of course, our meticulously engineered bullet-resistant package. This, then, is surely both the fastest and the safest rapid-response bakkie out there,” said SVI Business Development Director, Nicol Louw.
SVI also offers a range of additional options, including a PA system, heavy-duty runflat rings for the tyres, a siren and roof armour.
IOL Motoring