Born to dominate
APPLYING the Raptor designation to their best-selling international mid-sized pickup wasn’t just a marketing exercise. The Ford Ranger Raptor isn’t just a bunch of stickers. It gets the full makeover from Ford Performance, the people who did the original Ford F-150 Raptor, to make it the fastest way to clear rough terrain in its segment.
Buyers know they’re in for a treat when even the tyres on the Ranger Raptor say Baja Champion, a direct link to the gruelling 1,000mile off-road race. Not that it’s needed since the visual presence of the pickup is a dead giveaway to what the vehicle is about. It’s wider, proudly showing off its bulging fenders and arch extension, and taller by 51mm. From a distance it can be mistaken for its larger brother the F-150 Raptor with the large FORD badge across its front grille and
Raptor graphics adorn the rest of the body panels.
Getting in is a matter of jumping up on the side steps and grabbing a front door handle as keyless entry takes care of the rest. At night, the vehicle provides bright puddle lights and lit front door handles for guidance. The interior is as purposeful as the exterior due to similar makeover. Ford Performance blue stitching is abundant across the soft leather in the cabin. These are at all key touch points. The body hugging Raptor branded sport seats with their suede inserts make a statement of intent. They power adjust to help find the right driving position and are heated for extra comfort. From there, hands reach out to grab the chunky perforated leather wrapped steering wheel, with a red leather section to inform the driver on where the front wheels are pointed, like on rally cars. Behind are paddle shifters for the 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Ranger Raptor keeps the space and practicality of the Ranger, having storage solutions to handle work or play items. Front USB ports are lit, allowing them to found at night. A rear 150w socket plug and numerous 12v sockets are around the cabin. In the bed are the usual tie downs and another power socket. It retains the rear differential lock, the three operational modes, 2H,