Wildtrak 4x2 Wildtrak 4x2

Automotive

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2: Big-boy truck for the family

It’s handsome, techie, and a safe ride

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The moment I was given the keys to the all-new 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2, my first thoughts were of slight disappointment over two things: First, I wished this were a Ranger Raptor. Second, I hoped I had the keys to the 4×4. Little did I know that all those gripes and disappointments would be left behind as soon as I drove away from the facility I picked this up from.

Spoiler Alert: I finally get the appeal of Ford Trucks and why they are up there as one of the biggest sellers of passenger trucks in the market.

What’s new

There are very subtle changes made for the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 from its predecessor. Those very changes set the tone for this truck to become a future best seller in its own right. The exterior now features an upgraded honeycomb grill, giving it a more menacing look and reinforcing its appeal towards the rugged truck market.

Ford calls this color on the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildcatter, Saber and is exclusively available to the Wildtrak variant. Black chrome trimmings now adorn the vehicle’s front skid plate, side mirrors, door handles and those slick 18 inch alloy wheels shod in 265/60/r18 tires. The tires are rated for highway and road use but taking it down the beaten path shouldn’t pose much of a problem

You do have the usual truck paraphernalia such as the functional roof rack up top to accommodate more luggage. That is if the huge bed space up back isn’t enough for you, but the devil is surely in the details. The black sports bar in the rear, with the body colored stripe adds to its macho appeal and the huge, chunky step board proves that macho can also be a gentleman.

Courtesy lights below the side mirrors help you see where you are going as you step out of the vehicle but the best small detail on the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 would be that coveted Black Ford Badge. If some brands have their red badges set aside for the sporty versions of their cars, Ford has dibs on black, and it is glorious.

Wildtrak 4x2

Techie interior

Getting inside the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, easily, I might add thanks to grab handles on the A-Pillar and the aforementioned stepboard, you will be greeted by the plush leather interior with that Saber gold contrast stitching.

The seats also feature the Wildtrak badge embossed into it for good measure. Gone are the days of trucks being solely relegated to more agricultural duties, this truck aims to replace your family sedan.

Thanks to giant cupholders, center console and the high-resolution screen next to the speedometer, which can provide you with all the information that you need at a moment’s notice, this truck is the farthest thing from being a farm tool, and we’re just getting started.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak is as technologically endowed as the best of them and can most definitely be worthy as your next GadgetMatch! Ford Sync 3 technology not only integrates the epic 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with the 6 booming speakers, but it does so in a way ever so seamlessly.

This truck of all things is the easiest to pair with your smartphone thanks to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Wildtrak 4x2

Once you’ve completed the initial setup which takes literally a few seconds, it then automatically detects your phone and uses your navigation and media apps and takes on them like a champ. I tell you, Sync 3 is a revelation and isn’t a nerfed version of just screen mirroring. It totally integrates your connected way of life on the road.

Big-boy truck

After taking in all the tech the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak has to offer, you can’t avoid the fact that you just tower above almost every vehicle on the road. Thanks to the 232mm of ground clearance and the high seating position, visibility is just incredible and gives you more confidence traversing our hazardous roads.

You can always manually adjust the seats and steering wheel to find the perfect driving position for you, but that doesn’t deter from the fact that you now are on a big-boy truck.

The ride quality is definitely fit for a king as the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak features a suspension setting made for one.

In the past, I remember my uncle driving his old, rickety truck around with bags of sand in the back just to improve the ride quality. Not with the Wildtrak! The front, double wishbone suspension, typically found in your favorite sporty compact sedans works well in tandem with the finely tuned leaf springs in the back.

It absolutely felt like I was driving in the clouds during highway cruising as well as stop and go traffic. The suspension is also stiff enough to handle corners, quick evasive maneuvers thanks to the light, electronic steering mechanism.

Plenty of power

All that icing on the cake gives way for the cherry on top of this very capable truck. Ford has given the 2021 Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 the Single-Turbo version of their 2-liter Common Rail Direct Injection Diesel Engine.

Just push on the start button and you’ll start to feel the distinct rumble of the diesel engine. But thanks to powerful sound insulation, nary a noise. You might call this a watered-down version of the Bi-Turbo engine on the Ranger Raptor, however your butt-dyno will prove you otherwise.

There is plenty of power on tap thanks to the 10-Speed automatic transmission and shifts smoothly as the power management system selects the best gear for the situation.

Wildtrak 4x2

This proves beneficial for fuel consumption as city driving nets an average of 9 km/l on an average of 30km/h and highway runs at an astonishing 14 km/l at an 80km/h average. Keep in mind that these numbers can certainly vary, but with all that power at your disposal, it’s easy to keep things sane.

Why drive like a madman when you can take it easy and let others gawk at your own personal handsome-truck!

Safety is a priority

You also get a whole slew of safety features that come standard on the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak. Six (6) Airbags, Anti-lock Brakes with Brake Force Distribution, Parking Sensors, a Rear-View Camera, Iso-Fix Anchors all come as standard. This truck offers so much more under its sleeve that will put executive sedans to shame.

Features such as Autonomous Braking Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keeping Aid with Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Alert, Hill Launch Assist and the magic Active Park Assist feature that takes the anxiety out of parallel parking create the perfect vehicle for safety.

A fantastic overall package

I never got to test the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak’s Towing and Hauling capabilities but that just goes to show you how much trucks have evolved over the years. I am certain that this truck is very much capable of carrying on the tasks of its forebears but that is no longer the point of passenger pick-up trucks these days.

Wildtrak 4x2

It would be nice to have the option when hauling is necessary but for about 99% of this truck’s use, it should stand as the perfect family car. And it definitely does, quite tall and proud in fact!. The Wildtrak Starts at PhP 1,545,000 which, if you ask me, is a total steal considering the overall package.

Is the 2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4×2 your Gadgetmatch? It very well just might be!

Automotive

Electric luxury reimagined: XPENG launches next-gen EV lineup

XPENG’s PH lineup spans the X9 MPV and the L03, with prices starting at PhP 1,548,000

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XPENG has officially entered the Philippine EV market. Over 3,000 guests attended the brand’s grand local debut. During the launch event, the automaker introduced a six-variant lineup.

The lineup features the flagship X9 MPV and the sleek L03 SUV Coupé. Prices start at an accessible PhP 1,548,000.

Brand ambassador Anne Curtis joined the celebration on stage, while XPENG showcased its X2 Flying Car and IRON Humanoid Robot. These futuristic displays highlighted the company’s “Physical AI” vision.

XPENG X9: First-class travel for seven

The XPENG X9 serves as the brand’s flagship seven-seater MPV.

It turns luxury mobility into a private lounge experience. Buyers can choose between two Long Range variants. The base X9 Long Range costs PhP 3,858,000. It features zero-gravity second-row seats with a central aisle. This layout ensures quick access to the third row. The Premium Seat Package costs PhP 4,058,000.

It upgrades the middle row to individual captain’s chairs. These chairs feature four-way powered headrests and 16-point massage.

Both variants share identical mechanical hardware. A front-wheel-drive motor produces 235 kW and 450 Nm of torque. A massive 110 kWh battery provides up to 615 km of range.

A compatible DC fast charger boosts power from 10 to 80 percent in 12 minutes. Active rear-wheel steering delivers a tight 5.4-meter turning radius. Dual-chamber air suspension ensures maximum ride comfort.

A powered third row folds completely flat beneath the floor. Color options include Midnight Black, Arctic White, Matte Gray, and Silver Frost. Inside, buyers can select Meteorite Black or Coffee.

XPENG L03: Sleek versatility meets electric freedom

The L03 SUV Coupé blends striking aesthetics with daily utility. XPENG offers four distinct variants. Three models use pure battery-electric powertrains. One model features a range-extended electric setup (REEV).

The L03 EV Standard Range costs PhP 1,548,000. Its 58.3 kWh battery delivers up to 445 km of range. The L03 EV Long Range costs PhP 1,698,000 and offers up to 520 km.

The top-tier Long Range Ultra costs PhP 2,058,000 with 480 km of range. This Ultra trim adds front-seat massage, upgraded audio, and intelligent driving tech.

The L03 REEV costs PhP 1,598,000. It uses an onboard gas engine as an electric generator. Its 37.2 kWh battery delivers 215 km of pure electric driving. Total WLTP combined range reaches up to 1,017 km.

All L03 models feature rear-wheel drive. Fast charging takes roughly 20 minutes to reach 80 percent. Every model includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen and 539 liters of cargo space.

Available colors include Arctic White, Midnight Black, Rock Gray, Silver Frost, and Phantom Purple.

Ownership packages, reservation details

XPENG pairs each model with generous ownership perks. X9 buyers receive five years of free preventive maintenance. The package includes five years of roadside assistance.

XPENG adds a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. An eight-year warranty covers the battery and motor. X9 buyers also receive a complimentary 7kW wall charger.

L03 buyers receive two years of free preventive maintenance. The L03 includes identical roadside, bumper-to-bumper, and battery warranties. L03 EV buyers get a 7kW wall charger. The REEV variant comes with a 3.5 kW portable charger.

Reservations cost PhP 25,000 for the X9 and PhP 10,000 for the L03. Buyers can reserve through @xpengphilippines on social media.

XPENG showrooms in Greenhills, Makati, North EDSA, and Cebu are accepting reservations now. Local customer deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter.

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Automotive

BYD says that way better EV batteries are coming next year

Solid-state batteries will debut with higher-end models in 2027.

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With gas prices reaching the edges of believability, electric and hybrid vehicles are turning into worthy upgrades. That said, the more casual consumer still has a lot of questions about going electric, primarily about the durability of the battery and range anxiety. Well, a major battery technology upgrade is coming in the next few years, and BYD has just committed to it for next year.

Via the Spanish outlet Carwow, BYD EVP Stella Li confirmed that the company will launch its first vehicle with a solid-state battery in 2027. Now, if you’re a regular consumer, a solid-state battery probably doesn’t make much sense to you. But here’s the basics: it’s smaller, safer, and can last longer on a single charge.

If you’re fine with technical explanations, a solid-state battery uses more solid components, as opposed to the liquid solution used by the current standard of lithium-ion batteries. Because it’s more solid, it has better energy density. Higher energy density means a smaller size is needed to achieve the same battery capacity as modern batteries. In turn, this means that a vehicle can pack more batteries inside, allowing for better capacity. Oh, and let’s not forget that these batteries are generally safer and less prone to incidents.

In the same interview, BYD says that the first model will arrive next year. Unfortunately, because of the battery’s cost to produce, the component will likely debut with the company’s higher-end models. Still, it’s an exciting sight to behold. The electric and hybrid market is already quite the temptation for users, so an even better battery will further push the segment to better heights.

SEE ALSO: BYD adds the facelifted Seal 5 DM-i to its hybrid sedan lineup

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Accessories

70mai launches the A900 series with 4K front, rear recording

Two new 4K dual-channel dash cams, both with 4G

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70mai has launched the A900 Series, led by the flagship 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra, with the 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 joining it in the lineup.

Both models record in 4K from the front and rear cameras, and both support 4G, so your footage stays reachable from your phone even when you’re away from the car.

4K recording from both cameras

The A900 Ultra uses dual Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensors to capture clear 4K footage from both directions. As a result, details like license plates and road signs remain sharp.

Smart HDR balances bright and dark areas under shifting light. Users can also adjust color tones and contrast. To keep feeds synced, the rear camera uses LVDS digital transmission. This tech sends a lossless 4K feed with just 20ms of latency.

Handling changing light

Driving into a tunnel or under the shadow of a tall building changes the lighting quickly, and 70mai built three imaging technologies into the A900 Ultra to deal with it.

MaiColor Vivid+ Solution 2.0 is meant to give more natural colors and finer detail, along with smarter scene adaptation. Night Owl Vision 2.0 reduces noise and glare to help with nighttime clarity.

Lumi Vision is made for parking surveillance in near-total darkness, where it automatically adjusts exposure and gain and applies noise reduction. 70mai says this produces clear, full-color footage in extremely low light.

Parking mode and remote access

Smart Parking Guardian Mode 2.0 protects your vehicle while parked. It combines AI motion detection, dual-channel collision detection with pre-recording, and time-lapse options.

The system draws just 5mA on standby to prevent battery drain. For extended coverage, the optional 70mai Battery Pack Mini powers surveillance for up to 30 days.

In photo: A900

Pairing the camera with the 4G Hardwire Kit unlocks 70mai 4G Cloud+ 2.0 features on the app. Enhanced Buffered Emergency Recording saves up to 190 seconds before an incident and 30 seconds after.

It automatically uploads this footage to the cloud for immediate remote viewing.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900

In photo: A900

The A900 sits alongside the Ultra as the more accessible option. It records True 4K HDR at 30FPS from both the front and rear cameras, and Smart HDR can be scheduled to turn on at set times.

Its f/1.55 aperture is meant to help in low light, and 4G Cloud+ 2.0 keeps the dash cam connected to the 70mai App. It’s the model for drivers who want dual-channel recording and 4G connectivity at a lower price.


The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra retails for US$ 300, available for pre-order at US$ 240. Meanwhile, the A900 is priced at US$ 200, currently 20% off at US$ 170.

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