Ford announced a hardcore Raptor version for its baby F-150, aka the Ranger, with an upgraded powertrain and a range of other improvements!
Currently, Ford only showcased the truck for the European and Australian markets, though it confirmed North American debut later.
In the land of pickup trucks, the Dearborn-based carmaker offers its customers to choose between the Maverick, Ranger, and the full-blown F-150 depending on their utility requirements. In other markets, however, the Ranger has been Ford’s weapon of choice against its arch-nemesis, the Toyota Hilux. While the brand did unveil the second-gen Ranger a while ago, it cranked it up to a whole new level with the launch of the off-road-focused model with the full Raptor treatment.
From the get-go, it is evident that the Ranger Raptor borrowed the massive hexagonal grille pattern and Ford lettering from the Bronco and F-150 Raptors, along with C-shaped DRLs and all-LED headlamps adding to the. Meanwhile, in its effort to crank up the tough and chunky image, Ford equipped the pickup with a larger 2.3 mm bash plate to shield it against rough ruts and stones.
Moving over to its sides, the truck looks more robust with flared wheel arches all around, sidesteps, and chunky 32′ off-road rubbers to get the ball rolling. The Raptor design philosophy is also visible at the rear, with stickers on each side of the quarter panel and Ranger lettering stamped on the tailgate. And, of course, there’s no Raptor truck without that sweet Code Orange paint scheme.
Ford also made significant improvements in the chassis front, carrying over the tried and tested ladder frame alongside a more capable suspension setup. For instance, the Ranger Raptor receives the best-in-class 2.5-inch Live Valve Fox internal bypass shocks with position adjustment to dial in the most appropriate setup. Consequently, suspension travel also went up to 11.4 inches at the front and 9.8 inches at the rear. In addition, the brand’s performance division allows owners to make detailed suspension adjustments, such as spring rates, ride height, and valve tuning.
Besides, the main talking point about the new generation of the Ranger is the all-new EcoBoost powertrain. However, Ford said it’d also retain the older gen’s 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cyl diesel for next year with other variants.
So, why are fans and enthusiasts raving about the new engine? Well, the Ranger is fitted with the same powertrain as seen on the Bronco Raptor — a combination of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and 10-speed auto transmission, putting out a respectable 284 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque in the Euro-spec version. The variant heading over to Australia, though, churns an impressive 392 hp (+108 hp) and 430 lb-ft of torque (+68 lb-ft)!
According to CarScoops, a Ford spokesperson attributed the stark difference in figures to the heavily stringent Euro emission norms. Nevertheless, Europeans can still enjoy the music from the Ranger’s exhaust pipes thanks to an active valve system that can be toggled using different modes (Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja) on the steering wheel.
Ford targets a rollout of the Raptor and other variants in Europe and other markets by late summer and/or early 2023. Meanwhile, the Raptor should launch in North America along with the other second-gen Ranger trucks, and most probably with the more powerful 392-hp engine.
Gallery: Ford Ranger Raptor (UK Version)
