It is a battle beyond their comfort zone.
Trucks are not built for speed. You can avoid the crazy ones like the RAM TRX or Ford Raptor, which are both different types of pickups catering to different types of customers.
If you’re talking about mid-sized trucks like the Ford Ranger or the Toyota Hilux, you’d realize that these aren’t crazy speed machines designed for racing. South Africa’s Car Magazine hosted a straight-line race between the two trucks. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, though, as we’ve previously seen another version of that matchup taking place on clay. The race took place on the pavement this time.
This drag race features the SiT 4×4 FX4 trim, which is sold in South Africa. It rides on the same platform T6 as the stateside Ford Ranger (see the gallery above). The Ranger has some minor cosmetic tweaks, mainly on its bumper. But it is powered by a 2.0-liter turbodiesel motor that produces 177 horsepower (132 Kilowatts) as well as 310 pound-feet (420 Nms) of torque (see gallery above). The engine is coupled to a 10-speed manual gearbox.
This trim is intended for off-roading, so it would be a little odd to see it in an open-wheel drag race.
The Toyota Hilux is not a US-spec model. It’s more like the global version the US-spec Tacoma. The Hilux produces 148 horsepower (110 kW) as well as 295 lbft (400 Nm), from the slightly out-of-date 2.4-liter turbodiesel. The powerplant is coupled to a six speed automatic, which sends power to all four wheels as needed.
Based on the above numbers and the fact the Ranger was rated faster than the Hilux in a test conducted by Car Magazine which makes it difficult to say who won the Bakkie shootout. Let us know your thoughts below and watch the video.