Next Gen Ford Ranger Raptor | First Drive
The new generation Ranger Raptor is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 that develops 292kW/583nm of torque. The power plant now makes the Raptor the most powerful production Ranger ever. It’s mated to a 10-speed select shift automatic transmission with various driving modes that respond to multiple terrains with the infamous Baja mode now with anti-lag technology being a part of that. Ford engineers have also added an Active Valve Exhaust to ensure that the 3.0-litre V6 sounds amazing. The 2.5-inch exhaust pipes also make a visual statement from the rear. Just like the various driving modes, you also get various exhaust modes. Namely;
Quiet
Normal
Sport
Baja
In terms of looks, Ford designers have emphasised the looks and the stance and it has not grown considerably bigger from the model it replaces. The C-Clamp headlights at the front also ensure that consistency is met throughout the range (Ranger and Everest) and also look visually appealing, while the blacked-out grille lettering is now bold and also features functional air vents.
The exterior has been built Ford tough. The metal bash plates ensure are visible and these help with off-roading. The unique wheel arches are another favourite while the matrix-led headlights with the automatic dynamic levelling and glare-free high beam as well as the LeD fog lamps round off the front. At the rear, the new Led headlights look really good and as mentioned, the dual exhaust tips look amazing.
Inside, new seats with code orange accents, ambient lighting as well as air vents have been redesigned to ensure maximum comfort while looking good. The high shoulder bolstering on the seats ensures that regardless of terrain, passengers are always taken care of. Potential owners can also look forward to a premium leather multi-function steering wheel with raptor branding as well as a 12-hr centre mark and the magnesium paddle shifters also remain.
The 12.4-inch digital driver display remains a winner. It’s very customisable and we noticed this in the Ranger we sampled at launch. The infotainment screen also features an off-road sync screen with dedicated off-road buttons that are easily accessible. While On the infotainment, the fact that crucial buttons like the aircon controls, as well as the volume knobs, have been kept, is an amazing feature.
In terms of the drive, the Raptor remains unbeaten in its segment. Albeit a niche market, the vehicle has been tuned to tackle any terrain it’s thrown at. At launch, we tackled National highways as well as unbeaten roads as we travelled into Namibia and we were highly impressed.
The ability to also tune your dampers on the fly as well as how you would like your steering is a winner. The active damper setup as the Ford engineers call it can be felt. The Fox 2.5-live valve shocks adjust the vehicle and ensure ultimate comfort regardless of the terrain. The shocks also reduce 50% of damper friction. The Raptor is particularly impressive on the road less travelled, something Ford has always nailed on the raptor. The vehicle is available with the 3 damper modes. Namely;
Normal
Sport
Baja/off-road.
The steering wheel also features a larger EPAS motor. An electronic motor controls the steering wheel. And it has an improved steering effort and response with four modes. (Normal, Sport, comfort and Baja)
Off-roading- the model features a permanent 4-wheel drive as well with various models while the front diff and rear diff ensure that you do not get stuck. The raptor also features a 2.3mm thick steel undercover body protection that ensures that no rocks can affect the car.
There is also a new mode called trail control which is essentially cruise control for off-roading and will go on until 32km/h.
The chassis has also been reinforced and the front shock tower has been upgraded to ensure rigidity and durability. The vehicle now weighs almost 2.5 tonnes.
Overall, we think that the model will dominate (again) the niche market that it’s in. Those who appreciate the Raptor, and what it can do, will certainly enjoy the new model.
Pricing.
The second generation Ranger Raptor is priced at R1 094 900 and includes a 4-year/120 000 warranty.
The Decal pack will cost you R7 700
