Ford has
finally revealed the Ford Ranger Raptor in Thailand where the high-performance off-road truck will be built at the American carmaker's Ford Thailand Manufacturing facility.
Designed by
Ford Performance for the true enthusiast off-roader, the Ford Ranger Raptor strengthens Ford’s commitment to deliver "Built Ford Tough" pickup trucks to customers in Asia Pacific.
"We are so excited and proud to unleash this vehicle to the public, driving it really makes you feel like a hero," said
Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer for Ford Performance. "The Ford Performance team is excited to extend the Raptor name from our flagship off-road performance F-150 to Ranger. Just like the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor builds upon the core capability of the range of vehicles it comes from and carries the unmistakable Ford Performance DNA appearance."
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Based on the current Ford Ranger, the Ranger Raptor takes some styling cues from the Ford F-150 Raptor--the world’s first factory-built, high-performance, off-road truck--with its grille bearing the iconic block 'FORD' lettering in the middle. The bumper is mounted on the frame for durability and installed in it are
LED fog lamps with functional
air-curtain ducts that helps reduce air resistance. The front fenders are made using c
omposite materials to resist dents and dings that are inevitable when the truck goes off-road, with its flared shape designed for its long-travel suspension and oversized tires. Also located in front are
two recovery hooks rated at
4.5 tons.
It's a given that the Ranger Raptor is bigger in every dimension than the vehicle it's based on, measuring
1,873 mm tall,
2,180 mm wide and
5,398 mm long, with wider front and rear tracks at
1,710mm. It also rides taller with a ground clearance of
283 mm, while the approach angle of
32.5 degrees, ramp-over angle of
24 degrees, and departure angle of
24 degrees complete its off-road prowess.
Even the Ranger Raptor's step boards are designed to go off the beaten path as it prevents rock spray from hitting the rear of the truck while the holes are there to drain sand, mud and snow. At the rear, the modified rear bumper comes with an
integrated tow bar and
two recovery hooks rated at
3.8 tons. The back end also has flush sensor bezels, specially-packaged and styled
tow connectors, and a
1560 mm x 1743 mm tray that has been designed with the weekend explorer in mind. Completing the Ranger Raptor's exterior package its its
2,500 kg towing capacity.
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For the interior, the Ranger Raptor has
blue stitching and
leather accents and
technical suede-clad seats that are specially designed for off-road, high-speed performance support while also providing superior on-road comfort with superior lateral support and reduced feel of any chassis vibration through a modified structure that uses bolsters on the seat back for greater support. And while the dashboard is from the Ranger parts bin, some of its bits and pieces are distinct to the Ranger Raptor like an
aggressive gauge cluster, a host of
Driver Assist features, and a steering wheel with
perforated leather hand grip sections on the rim and a
red stripe at the top-middle of the wheel to aid the driver where the center is when operating the vehicle at high speed,
lightweight magnesium paddle shifters, and the
debossed Raptor logo on the spoke bezel.
Powering the Ranger Raptor is a
2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine that produces
210 hp and
500 Nm of torque through a
10-speed automatic transmission--the same one used by the F-150 Raptor--for a a wider ratio-span that results in better acceleration and responsiveness.
The Ranger Raptor rides on race-bred suspension with
Fox Racing Shox dampers with
46.6 mm pistons for the front and rear and
285/70 R 17 BF Goodrich all-terrain tires specially developed for the vehicle with its tough sidewall, a grippy tread, and an aggressive off-road tread pattern that provides grip in wet, mud, sand and snow conditions.
It isn't just the mechanical bits that give the Ranger Raptor is off-road capabilities but its
Terrain Management System as well which has
six selectable drive modes--two for on-road and four for off-road--via a
dedicated five-button switch located on the steering wheel. Of the six modes, what's worth noting is the
'Baja mode' which tunes the vehicle's responsiveness for "high-speed off-road performance."
"The standout experience of the Ranger Raptor, hands down, is how far you can push it off-road versus any other available production road vehicle in our markets, and still ride like a millionaire on-road," said
Damien Ross, the Ranger Raptor's chief program engineer for Ford Motor Company. "Everything about the Ranger Raptor builds on the already outstanding sophisticated feel and functional capability of the Ranger, and then goes further. From a driving dynamic fun standpoint, it is really an exceptionally special vehicle."
"It is amazing to enable this level of performance and create a vehicle that can provide off-road enthusiasts such an adrenaline rush," added Hameedi. "It really is like a motocross bike, snowmobile and an ATV rolled up into a pickup truck--it's an incredible, awesome experience!"
Ford Philippines is expected to announce the price of the Philippine-market Ford Ranger Raptor just before it makes its local launch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svaEXfw-y6U
Powering the Ranger Raptor is a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine that produces 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission--the same one used by the F-150 Raptor--for a a wider ratio-span that results in better acceleration and responsiveness.
The Ranger Raptor rides on race-bred suspension with Fox Racing Shox dampers with 46.6 mm pistons for the front and rear and 285/70 R 17 BF Goodrich all-terrain tires specially developed for the vehicle with its tough sidewall, a grippy tread, and an aggressive off-road tread pattern that provides grip in wet, mud, sand and snow conditions.
It isn't just the mechanical bits that give the Ranger Raptor is off-road capabilities but its Terrain Management System as well which has six selectable drive modes--two for on-road and four for off-road--via a dedicated five-button switch located on the steering wheel. Of the six modes, what's worth noting is the 'Baja mode' which tunes the vehicle's responsiveness for "high-speed off-road performance."
