During the summer months, I had the opportunity for indulgence of a sort when I had the new Ford Ranger Raptor model at my disposal for a few days. This is no ordinary 4x4 pickup; this is a machine designed to test driving skills in the most severe conditions. So naturally, I had to put that to the ultimate test and took to driving across some challenging conditions in southwest Mayo.
The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with a clear and durable reversing camera useful for trailer hitching.
The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with high off-road expectations. These include tough field conditions and the ultimate test, that of fast off-road driving across sandy beaches. Over a few days, that journey ended up on White Strand beach near Thullabaun, Louisburg, near the northern edge of Killary Harbour.
The tailgate for the Ford Ranger Raptor.
And the journey was worthwhile as much for the impressive scenery, and the excitement of the Carrowniskey beach horse racing, as it was for the test of the Ranger Raptor’s sand driving ability.
That’s because this Ranger Raptor version has what Ford calls a new terrain management system that links suspension settings with engine and gearbox ones. The new system option includes what is called the Baja setting for high-speed off-road performance similar what US drivers need in the now famous Baja Desert Rally.
Confidence
Out on the beach at White Strand, the ability to keep moving with a combination of engine torque and tyre flotation meant that we could test its ability in confidence. The challenge was not to get stuck in soft sand with an Atlantic tide edging closer.
The BF Goodrich tyres gripped the sand surface without ripping it and digging in. The more speed the more flotation, as sand driving is a skill that depends on keeping momentum.
Move up to the rocky outcrop and the Ranger Raptor can meet that challenge too. With lower-speed driving it can meet any challenge, the likes of which you won’t meet in a normal week’s driving. The existing Ranger choices of Normal, Sport, Grass/Grave/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock remain in the offer. The Baja option is what allows for more speed across sand and stony conditions.
Ford aims to retain its dominant position on the European 4x4 pickup market by offering the Raptor version to those drivers who want all of the practical stuff with a bit more off-road ability for some weekend fun driving that provides a greater skill challenge.
With the Raptor, Ford has shown that this 4x4 pickup delivers performance. It lived up to its promise as we crossed mountain roads to face down the challenges of beach driving on the Atlantic edge hundreds of miles north of where I had initially driven it on the Moroccan Atlantic coast.
Engine
What impresses about this Ranger Raptor is it is fitted with a new Ford 2.0l twin turbo-diesel engine, similar to the engine that’s fitted in Ford’s Edge large SUV. This engine will soon replace both the 2.2l and 3.2l versions with claims of a 9% improvement in fuel economy.
The new 213bhp four-cylinder twin-turbo engine rated at 500Nm torque, will replace the current 2.2 litre and 3.2 litre engine choices.
In the Raptor, this new engine power is rated at 213bhp, and generates a massive 500Nm of torque. And it does so with ease, especially when mated to Ford’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s not always the smoothest in action.
What makes the Raptor very different is the special suspension that gives longer travel and more stability in difficult driving conditions. The front suspension includes Fox long-travel shocks, while the rear has a new Watts link suspension. The rear brakes replace drums with ventilated discs and you will find them in the standard Ranger.
Ford has also replaced the traditional leaf system with a coil system on the Ranger Raptor that gives more comfort and off-road stability. The higher vehicle stance gives more movement, while it was still one of the most comfortable 4x4 pickups that I’ve driven.
One compromise has been to the towing ability as it has dropped from 3.2t to 2.5t.
BF Goodrich developed a special tyre for the more difficult Ford Ranger Raptor driving conditions.
This Raptor version also features a wider wheelbase than the standard Ranger in an effort to add to its stability. The safety package includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and intelligent speed limiter technologies as standard. And there’s a reversing camera for ease of parking when you come home from the thrills of off-road performance driving.
Expense
The Ranger Raptor is at the top of the price list for the range, so you need to be well motivated in terms of image and desire for off-road driving to justify the extra expense. It will do more than the standard Ranger when it comes to off-road ability, but I expect with a good set of tyres and with the right hands on the steering wheel, the standard Ranger can probably come close in terms of general off-road driving.
On a more practical level, the Ranger Raptor is slightly less economical than the standard model. I found that even though the automatic gearbox gave 120km/h motorway speed performance at just 1,750rpm on the engine, like a thoroughbred horse, it was always keen to race that bit faster.
You won’t buy the Ranger Raptor for its economy. I returned a range figure of over 550km from a full tank. To be fair, that included some light trailer work and a range of off-road driving that always takes its toll in terms of economy. Ford reckons that “normal” driving should extend that range of 30%, but given the engine eagerness, that’s a wild horse to control.
The Ford Ranger Raptor’s off-road ability is enhanced by the special shocks and suspension system that provides long travel to cope with any challenge.
The price for the Ford Ranger Raptor is not cheap, starting at €63,950 or £47,874 including VAT. That’s more than €20,000 more than the entry level model. It is still a commercial vehicle with a tow-bar as standard and comes with all of the taxation benefits along with its serious go-off road ability.
So there are some serious upsides in addition to the fun side of driving a Raptor and that’s why some off-road enthusiasts will join the Raptor clan and they will be well satisfied.
During the summer months, I had the opportunity for indulgence of a sort when I had the new Ford Ranger Raptor model at my disposal for a few days. This is no ordinary 4x4 pickup; this is a machine designed to test driving skills in the most severe conditions. So naturally, I had to put that to the ultimate test and took to driving across some challenging conditions in southwest Mayo.
The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with a clear and durable reversing camera useful for trailer hitching.
The Ford Ranger Raptor comes with high off-road expectations. These include tough field conditions and the ultimate test, that of fast off-road driving across sandy beaches. Over a few days, that journey ended up on White Strand beach near Thullabaun, Louisburg, near the northern edge of Killary Harbour.
The tailgate for the Ford Ranger Raptor.
And the journey was worthwhile as much for the impressive scenery, and the excitement of the Carrowniskey beach horse racing, as it was for the test of the Ranger Raptor’s sand driving ability.
That’s because this Ranger Raptor version has what Ford calls a new terrain management system that links suspension settings with engine and gearbox ones. The new system option includes what is called the Baja setting for high-speed off-road performance similar what US drivers need in the now famous Baja Desert Rally.
Confidence
Out on the beach at White Strand, the ability to keep moving with a combination of engine torque and tyre flotation meant that we could test its ability in confidence. The challenge was not to get stuck in soft sand with an Atlantic tide edging closer.
The BF Goodrich tyres gripped the sand surface without ripping it and digging in. The more speed the more flotation, as sand driving is a skill that depends on keeping momentum.
Move up to the rocky outcrop and the Ranger Raptor can meet that challenge too. With lower-speed driving it can meet any challenge, the likes of which you won’t meet in a normal week’s driving. The existing Ranger choices of Normal, Sport, Grass/Grave/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock remain in the offer. The Baja option is what allows for more speed across sand and stony conditions.
Ford aims to retain its dominant position on the European 4x4 pickup market by offering the Raptor version to those drivers who want all of the practical stuff with a bit more off-road ability for some weekend fun driving that provides a greater skill challenge.
With the Raptor, Ford has shown that this 4x4 pickup delivers performance. It lived up to its promise as we crossed mountain roads to face down the challenges of beach driving on the Atlantic edge hundreds of miles north of where I had initially driven it on the Moroccan Atlantic coast.
Engine
What impresses about this Ranger Raptor is it is fitted with a new Ford 2.0l twin turbo-diesel engine, similar to the engine that’s fitted in Ford’s Edge large SUV. This engine will soon replace both the 2.2l and 3.2l versions with claims of a 9% improvement in fuel economy.
The new 213bhp four-cylinder twin-turbo engine rated at 500Nm torque, will replace the current 2.2 litre and 3.2 litre engine choices.
In the Raptor, this new engine power is rated at 213bhp, and generates a massive 500Nm of torque. And it does so with ease, especially when mated to Ford’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox that’s not always the smoothest in action.
What makes the Raptor very different is the special suspension that gives longer travel and more stability in difficult driving conditions. The front suspension includes Fox long-travel shocks, while the rear has a new Watts link suspension. The rear brakes replace drums with ventilated discs and you will find them in the standard Ranger.
Ford has also replaced the traditional leaf system with a coil system on the Ranger Raptor that gives more comfort and off-road stability. The higher vehicle stance gives more movement, while it was still one of the most comfortable 4x4 pickups that I’ve driven.
One compromise has been to the towing ability as it has dropped from 3.2t to 2.5t.
BF Goodrich developed a special tyre for the more difficult Ford Ranger Raptor driving conditions.
This Raptor version also features a wider wheelbase than the standard Ranger in an effort to add to its stability. The safety package includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and intelligent speed limiter technologies as standard. And there’s a reversing camera for ease of parking when you come home from the thrills of off-road performance driving.
Expense
The Ranger Raptor is at the top of the price list for the range, so you need to be well motivated in terms of image and desire for off-road driving to justify the extra expense. It will do more than the standard Ranger when it comes to off-road ability, but I expect with a good set of tyres and with the right hands on the steering wheel, the standard Ranger can probably come close in terms of general off-road driving.
On a more practical level, the Ranger Raptor is slightly less economical than the standard model. I found that even though the automatic gearbox gave 120km/h motorway speed performance at just 1,750rpm on the engine, like a thoroughbred horse, it was always keen to race that bit faster.
You won’t buy the Ranger Raptor for its economy. I returned a range figure of over 550km from a full tank. To be fair, that included some light trailer work and a range of off-road driving that always takes its toll in terms of economy. Ford reckons that “normal” driving should extend that range of 30%, but given the engine eagerness, that’s a wild horse to control.
The Ford Ranger Raptor’s off-road ability is enhanced by the special shocks and suspension system that provides long travel to cope with any challenge.
The price for the Ford Ranger Raptor is not cheap, starting at €63,950 or £47,874 including VAT. That’s more than €20,000 more than the entry level model. It is still a commercial vehicle with a tow-bar as standard and comes with all of the taxation benefits along with its serious go-off road ability.
So there are some serious upsides in addition to the fun side of driving a Raptor and that’s why some off-road enthusiasts will join the Raptor clan and they will be well satisfied.
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