Ford has changed the launch order of its next-Gen Rangers in the UK, pushing out the high-performance Raptor first.
The regular model range is scheduled to arrive in 2023.
It’s an extraordinary move that has media there wondering whether it’s more about supply chain glitches than a strategy of pushing high performance models first.
The Raptor is on sale now, priced from £57,340 ($NZD111,300). Deliveries start in August-September.
The first Ranger Raptor offered will be the version with the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost petrol V6 producing 211kW (284bhp). The V6 version makes 491Nm.
The engine has an anti-lag system that keeps the turbo spinning when off the throttle, improving response time. That technology was born in rallying.
An active exhaust offers four noise levels too, including a neighbour-appeasing ‘Quiet’ mode and a high performance ‘Baja’ setting which adds more volume and is described as being like a straight-through exhaust system.
The 10-speed auto gearbox is carried over from the first Raptor, but this time there are specific engine boost profiles for each gear to optimise performance. Full-time four-wheel drive is standard and there are seven selectable drive modes along with front and rear locking differentials. Performance figures for the new Ranger Raptor have yet to be confirmed, although Ford’s Australian engineers took great pride in the fact that the new model was a minute faster than the old model over their (unspecified) test course. The new model is expected to weigh around 40kg more than the outgoing model.
Like the outgoing version the new Raptor has a unique chassis/suspension spec compared with the standard Ranger. Ford UK says “everything has been embiggened.” It begins with the frame, which has been reinforced around the C-pillar, spare wheel, load area and most importantly the shock towers. Reinforced components and under-body protection feature throughout, while beefier aluminium control arms and all-new high-performance Fox 2.5-inch ‘live valve’ shock absorbers have been specifically tuned for the Ranger Raptor. The shocks are designed to react to suspension movements, providing stiffer damping when necessary.
Raptor sits on long-travel coil suspension that replaces the standard pick-up’s leaf springs at the rear. The front suspension uses aluminium control arms and there’s a multi-link setup at the rear with a Watt’s link to control horizontal movement.
To make the most of this new set-up, Baja mode optimises the truck’s settings for fast off-road use. In addition there’s Trail Control, an off-road cruise control system that maintains a set speed below 20mph, allowing the driver to concentrate on steering through tough terrain.
Outside, the Ranger Raptor picks up the Ford ‘family’ styling. Its C-shaped daytime running lights are standard issue across the Ranger line-up, while the Raptor adds matrix LED headlights. In case the owner forgets what they have bought, there’s a massive Ford-branded grille, while black bumpers with a silver bash plate are added below. Flared wheel-arches cover the truck’s wider track, while the black 17-inch alloys are fitted with all-terrain tyres with a total diameter of 33 inches. The rear bumper also includes a standard-fit tow bar.
Inside, the Raptor adds sports seats ‘inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet’, and there are ‘Code Orange’ air vent highlights and leather stitching.
Also fitted inside is a vast 12-inch portrait-format touchscreen with SYNC4.