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The Citizen
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
BYD Shark dethrones Ford Ranger Raptor as fastest bakkie in SA
Plug-in hybrid double cab reaches 100km/h from a standstill in a mere 5.66 seconds. I was really looking forward to driving the BYD Shark. It's South Africa's first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) bakkie. It makes stupid power, and I wanted to see if all the hype was justified. There are videos online showing how it takes out the Ford Ranger Raptor. On the road that is, something I honestly thought I would never see. The BYD Shark has all the tech, luxury and safety any owner could want in a bakkie. But this we have already covered and today is about the highly-anticipated road test. Now, before you say who cares how fast a bakkie is, just remember that every Ford Ranger Raptor that lands here is sold. ALSO READ: BYD Shark banks on credentials to take down Ford Ranger Raptor BYD Shark raises the bar Nobody needs a 300kW bakkie, but seemingly everybody wants a 300kW bakkie. Talking of which, the BYD Shark PHEV produces a combined 321kW and 650Nm from a 135kW/260 Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine up front, plus a 170kW/310Nm electric motor on the front axle and a 150kW/340Nm motor at the rear. The Ford Ranger Raptor makes 292kW and 650Nm for those that want to know. There is a new boss in town. Picture: Mark Jones Racelogic VBOX test equipment loaded. A claim of 5.70 seconds to 100km/h from BYD for the Shark. Which would make it by far the fastest bakkie The Citizen Motoring has tested. And that includes the Ford Ranger Raptor that ran a time of 6.90 seconds. Select Sport Mode. Hit the accelerator, and with just a hint of hesitation as the computers let the hardware know it's go-time, the BYD Shark bolts off the line. Cold-blooded Raptor killer There is no emotion, no sound, no sense of real speed like with the Ford Ranger Raptor. Yet the BYD Shark hit 100km/h in a mere 5.66 seconds. And just like that, the king was gone, and a new king had his crown. BYD claim an electronically limited top speed of 160km/h for the Shark. I got to this speed in just 14 seconds after covering only 400m of road. Then the surprise came, it did not stop pulling. 170km/h came along, then 180km/h, which is where the Ford Ranger Raptor stops. And finally, just before the 800m mark, the speed limiter kicked in at 185km/h, as seen in the chart below. The obvious question now is what happens when the battery goes flat? The BYD Shark is quite clever in that driving in pure EV mode or intelligent HEV Mode, the bakkie won't let the battery go below 25%. You will always have that combined power when you need it. ALSO READ: Sub-R1m BYD Shark becomes South Africa's most powerful bakkie The BYD Shark features an aircraft-like starter button. Picture: Mark Jones Clever battery tech We ran the bakkie for as long as we could flat out in Sport Mode in attempt to try kill the battery. It eventually got it down to 13%, but nothing lower. I would have run out of fuel first and that number would still not have changed. Sure, once you have tried to kill the battery like this, the BYD Shark is then a sitting duck for the Ford Ranger Raptor, but it's still faster than almost all the other bakkies on the market today. And the moment you stop trying to be stupid, it starts charging the battery up again for full performance and increased EV range. Which brings me to the topic of fuel consumption. BYD claim a figure of 9.6 litres per 100km and I averaged 9.8L/100km. Which I thought was more than acceptable. But it could have been way better. I don't have a BYD installed wall charger at home, but if I did, the Shark would almost always be fully charged, and that meant I would have been able to do around 85km on electricity alone. And that for me most days would mean I would not be stopping at a filling station. Value for money The BYD Shark is priced at R959 900. If you look at what's on offer at this price point, this is not a bad deal. If you are still obsessing over this being an out and out war with the Ford Ranger Raptor, it comes in some R300 000 more expensive at R1 270 000. That a big chunk of change. Especially when you consider that the BYD Shark comes with a five-year/100 000km vehicle warranty, eight-year/200 000km battery warranty and five-year maintenance plan. This is something no other manufacturer offers on their bakkies as standard. Clever tech ensures the battery never goes flat. Picture: Mark Jones ALSO READ: VIDEO: BYD Shark leaps into SA, guns for Raptor's crown The BYD Shark is well-appointed with a premium feel interior. The ride quality is okay, if not a bit firm for what is a luxury bakkie. It is faster on road than the Ford Ranger Raptor, and anything else on the market right now. But you can't dismiss the sound and emotion that the Ford Ranger Raptor brings to the table. And if hardcore off-roading, or high-speed dirt is your thing, then it is still the bakkie to beat. You know it, I know it, and BYD knows it too. The Shark is more city slicker than cowboy. It's up to you which one you are. And which bakkie you want. BYD Shark road test data
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
BYD Shark banks on credentials to take down Ford Ranger Raptor
Shark's claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds is more than a second faster than that of the Raptor. This is a debate that has been brewing since the announcement that the BYD Shark bakkie will come to South Africa. The Chinese carmaker Build Your Dream made it very clear right from the get-go that it only had one prey in mind for the BYD Shark and that was the Ford Ranger Raptor. On paper, it would seem like the Shark has the Ranger Raptor beat hands down. Two years ago, when The Citizen Motoring first got to drive the Ford Ranger Raptor, which included high-performance testing at altitude and at sea-level, I was left in no doubt that this Ford will not be beaten. Ever! 300kW bakkies in demand Toyota was the first to laugh off the thought of using their 305kW/650Nm 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine from the Land Cruiser 300 to bring some GR Hilux hurt to the Ford Performance brand. As for the rest of the legacy brands, the likes of the Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton simply slammed the door shut on such a ridiculous idea that anybody would need a 300kW bakkie. How fast do you need to move people from A to B, or some sheep from farm to farm? But what they all underestimated, is how many people would want a 300kW bakkie. Ford SA sell its allocation of Ranger Raptors as fast they arrive. ALSO READ: Sub-R1m BYD Shark becomes South Africa's most powerful bakkie The other thing nobody saw coming at the time, was that the Chinese were secretly eyeing up the Ford Ranger Raptor too and the BYD Shark is now the first of several 300kW bakkies rumoured to be on their way to enter this power war. BYD Shark undercuts Raptor The BYD Shark retails for R959 900, which makes it substantially cheaper than the R1 270 000 Ford Ranger Raptor. And the price of the Shark includes a 7kW wall charger, V2L socket, 2.2kW portable charger and a roll bar and tow bar. The last few will set you back extra if you opt for the Ranger Raptor. Same, same, but different The Shark is covered by a five-year/100 000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/200 000km battery warranty. The Ford Ranger Raptor offers four-year/120 000km vehicle warranty. We could call this one a draw, but what might sway potential buyers is the difference in the service and maintenance plan offerings from BYD and Ford. The Ford Ranger Raptor is the fastest bakkie we have tested. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe Service and maintenance The BYD Shark comes standard with a five-year/100 000km full maintenance plan. Ford SA only recently included a six-year/90 000km service plan into the selling price of their vehicles. Which means that if you want a maintenance plan for your Ranger Raptor, you will need to purchase one. BYD Shark ahead on power Can they be the same in drive and feel? No chance, but for some, the power and torque numbers just might be the heart of the battle. And here the BYD Shark offers a better combined power output of 321kW and 650Nm from its 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor combination, The Ford Ranger Raptor's 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo petrol engine produces 292kW and 583Nm. ALSO READ: What R960k BYD Shark money can buy in other bakkie stables Raptor's title on the line I don't recall Ford SA ever officially releasing a claimed 0-100km/h time for their Ranger Raptor, but we got a time of 6.90 seconds when we tested the bakkie back in 2023. Despite the Shark weighing in at 280kg heavier than the Ranger Raptor, at 2 710kg to 2 430kg, the superior power and torque numbers, and electrical assistance, still see BYD claiming that their bakkie can get to 0-100 km/h in a time of just 5.7 seconds. Which again on paper suggests that it will easily outrun the Ford in an on-road shoot-out. Throw some dirt in the mix, and the tables could well be comprehensively turned. BYD Shark easier on the juice What is not at all in dispute is that the Ford Ranger Raptor is going to hurt you at the filling station and in your pocket. We know this bakkie loves fuel as much as it does a dirt road. Ford claim a combined fuel consumption figure of 11.5-litres per 100km, but we averaged a crazy 17.6 litres per 100km when we had the Ranger Raptor on test. BYD claim 9.6-litres per 100km for their Shark, and simple logic dictates that the more you make use of the 85km pure electric range from the battery, the less you will use fuel, and the lower you monthly running cost bill will be. Even when you factor in the price of electricity.
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Ford Ranger Raptor claims third Finke Desert Race in a row
The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. "Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible," said driver Brad Lovell. "This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck." Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. "To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal," he said. "This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA." Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: "Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. "The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle." MORE: Everything Ford Content originally sourced from: The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. "Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible," said driver Brad Lovell. "This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck." Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. "To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal," he said. "This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA." Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: "Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. "The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle." MORE: Everything Ford Content originally sourced from: The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. "Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible," said driver Brad Lovell. "This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck." Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. "To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal," he said. "This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA." Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: "Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. "The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle." MORE: Everything Ford Content originally sourced from: The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. "Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible," said driver Brad Lovell. "This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck." Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. "To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal," he said. "This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA." Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: "Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. "The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle." MORE: Everything Ford Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Ford Ranger Raptor claims third Finke Desert Race in a row
The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. 'Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible,' said driver Brad Lovell. 'This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck.' Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. 'To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal,' he said. 'This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA.' Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: 'Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. 'The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle.'
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Ford Ranger Raptor claims third Finke Desert Race in a row
The Ford Ranger Raptor has won the Finke Desert Race for the third consecutive year, setting a new Production 4WD class record time in the process. Driven by Brad Lovell and navigated by Adam Lovell, the Ranger Raptor underlined its desert-smashing capability by dominating its class in the 2025 Tatts Finke Desert Race over the long weekend. The experienced Lovell duo set a new category record despite especially challenging conditions this year on the grueling 460km course from Alice Springs to Finke and back. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Finke win extends the Ranger Raptor's undefeated streak in major off-road races, following its class win at the 2022 Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race in 2023 and 2024. 'Getting the third win here at Finke, especially on such a tough track and setting a new class record, is just incredible,' said driver Brad Lovell. 'This Ranger Raptor is an absolute weapon. It handled everything we threw at it, proving its toughness and performance. I couldn't be prouder of the team and this truck.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook said the Australian-developed Ranger Raptor's latest race win highlights its position as the benchmark for high-performance off-road production vehicles. 'To see the Ranger Raptor achieve a three-peat at Finke is phenomenal,' he said. 'This truck is a testament to Ford Performance engineering and its ability to deliver extreme capability and durability in the harshest environments. Its undefeated record across Baja and Finke speaks volumes about its DNA.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Ford Australia Special Vehicle Engineering program manager Justin Capicchiano said: 'Designing a truck that can perform like this in production class racing is what we strive for. 'The Finke Desert Race is the ultimate test, and for the Ranger Raptor to not only win three times in a row but also set a new record shows the strength and resilience built into the race-prepared vehicle.' MORE: Everything Ford
