It’s finally here, with plenty of fanfare to bring it along. Ford’s new Ranger Raptor looks the part and has lots of trick bits under the body to make it a proper go-fast ute. It’s sporting big (33in) all-terrains, has big ground clearance, and lots of big talk about it’s off-road performance.
The engine is an all-new motor for Ford: a two-litre diesel that uses two turbos to make 157kW and 500Nm. It runs through a 10-speed automatic gearbox, with a part-time 4WD set-up. It also has a Terrain Management System, giving you Normal and Sport, while off-road modes include Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock and Baja.
Suspension is different to your typical Ranger, borrowing the coil-sprung Watts Linkage from the Everest at the rear. It’s the same IFS front, but now the track has been widened, with new aluminium components and trick shock absorbers. These come from the aftermarket (Fox) and use internal floating pistons and bypassing for a combination of smooth on-road and spirited off-road performance.
For those thinking about towing, the tow rating has copped a one-tonne reduction (down to 2500kg), mostly because of the softer-sprung rear end. Braking performance has been improved, with 332mm disc brakes.
Inside, you’ve got some improved seats for dynamic driving, and extra toggles and switches for the off-road modes. Otherwise, it’s pretty similar to the Ranger we all know: SYNC-3, with the same dashboard and heads-up display.
