Discover the new Ford Ranger Raptor, now with more power from its 3.0 EcoBoost V6

In Europe we will never have a pick-up as beastly as the Ford F-150 and its various versions, but credit is due to the American brand for bringing to the old continent the essence of its iconic pick-up, which we know here as the Ranger. A pick-up that ranks among the best-selling and most popular in Europe, recently fully redesigned, and which now presents its most extreme version: the Ford Ranger Raptor.

A few days ago Ford gave us a first look at the Ranger Raptor, covered in camouflage and being tested in its natural habitat, among dust, rocks and fast tracks. Now it has finally been unveiled and the result is truly spectacular, because while the new generation of the Ranger already conveys a sense of robustness and composure, with the new Ranger Raptor this is accentuated even further thanks to its specific design.

Specific details both outside and inside

The new Ford Ranger Raptor is even more appealing for this generation, with specific aesthetic details such as the bonnet with air outlets and the front grille with a new mesh and the lettering “Ford” running across it in its entirety until reaching the distinctive C-shaped LED headlights. A little lower down we find the new bumper, which features a different design for housing the fog lights and gives it a more refined look closer to a 4×4, and which has a skid plate on its lower part.

This bumper blends perfectly with the wheel arches, which are larger in size on the Ranger Raptor, reinforcing the impression of greater width, with air outlets in the wings that seem to join the side steps made of cast aluminium. At the rear the changes are perhaps not as significant, but there are some: we can see side bars and a trim piece covering the rear window, as on the Wildtrack version, as well as the LED light cluster and a specific bumper in Precision Grey, which integrates a step and a tow hook mounted high so as not to compromise the departure angle.

The entire Ranger range has improved considerably in terms of technology for this new generation, and the Ranger Raptor could be no different, equipped with a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and the already familiar and eye-catching 12-inch SYNC 4A touchscreen mounted vertically on the centre console, with wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; optionally we can even fit the 10-speaker B&O sound system to provide a soundtrack for our adventures.

But the new Ford Ranger Raptor also has specific details that set it apart from the rest of the range, such as the new sports seats inspired by those fitted in fighter jets, which increase comfort and provide greater support in high-speed corners. These seats are upholstered in leather with Alcantara inserts and contrast stitching in Code Orange, which also appears on the instrument panel, the trim pieces and the new sports steering wheel, which is heated and features shift paddles made of cast magnesium and a 12 o’clock marker.

Specific components for greater performance

Although the Ford Ranger Raptor is still a perfectly valid pick-up for both professional and everyday use, its natural habitat is dirt tracks and rough terrain, where it moves like a fish in water and where its full potential comes out. For example, it features specific reinforcements and brackets on the C-pillar, the load bed and the spare wheel, as well as specific frames for the bumper.

That is not all, since the suspension has been redesigned to offer greater travel, along with new upper and lower control arms in aluminium and a Watt’s linkage which now offers better control over difficult terrain at high speeds. The shock absorbers, signed by FOX, are 2.5-inch units with an internal bypass valve and filled with oil infused with Teflon, capable of reducing friction by around 50% compared with the current Ranger Raptor.

Despite FOX’s skill and experience, Ford Performance has also been involved in this area, handling development and tuning, adjusting the spring rates to the driving height, tuning the valves and refining the handling characteristics. In this respect we must not forget the Live Valve internal bypass system, which works together with the drive modes, quietly preparing the Ranger Raptor for the different conditions. In this way, as the shock absorbers compress, different zones within the bypass system provide exactly the amount of support needed for the terrain being driven, and work in reverse when the shock absorbers rebound to full extension.

To finish with the suspension, it features the competition-proven FOX Bottom Out Control system to ensure greater protection against severe bottoming out. This system is capable of delivering maximum damping force in the final 25 percent of the shock absorber’s travel and, likewise, if we press the accelerator fully the system can stiffen the rear shock absorbers, preventing the vehicle from squatting and keeping it firm at all times.

But it is not only the suspension that protects our Ranger Raptor: it also has a skid plate almost twice the size of that on the standard Ranger, made of high-strength steel with a thickness of 2.3 mm which, together with the engine undershield and the transfer case shield, protects the most important mechanical components.

3.0 EcoBoost V6 engine now with 288 CV of power

Anyone who wants the new Ford Ranger Raptor will also be pleased with what lies under the bonnet: none other than the new 3,000 cc EcoBoost V6 engine, which now delivers 288 CV of power along with 491 Nm of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter. This engine has been tuned by Ford Performance, which has ensured an immediate throttle response, and it features an “anti-lag” system, similar to that fitted to the Ford GT or the Focus ST, which keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver lifts off the accelerator.

Linked to the engine are the multiple selectable drive modes that adjust the response of the engine itself, the transmission, the ABS, the traction and stability controls, the exhaust valve operation, the steering and the throttle response. These drive modes are:

• Normal: for maximum comfort and fuel efficiency
• Sport: for sporty driving on the road
• Slippery: for safe driving on slippery or uneven surfaces
• Rock crawl: for optimum control when driving at very low speed over rocky and extremely uneven terrain
• Sand: optimises gear changes and power delivery for progress in sand and deep snow
• Mud/Ruts: for maximum grip on take-off and to maintain the vehicle’s momentum
• Baja: sets all systems to maximum attack for peak off-road performance at high speed

But wait, there’s more, because from the steering wheel itself we can modify the exhaust sound, as it has different settings:

• Quiet: so as not to disturb, it prioritises silence over performance and sound
• Normal: designed for daily use, it offers an exhaust note with presence without being too loud for street use. It is applied by default in the Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Rock crawl drive modes
• Sport: we raise the volume, a louder and more dynamic note
• Baja: in Baja mode the exhaust behaves more like a direct system, intended solely for off-road use.

Keep an eye out, because we won’t be long before we see the new Ford Ranger Raptor on our roads, as the brand plans for deliveries to its customers to begin next autumn, with a price in Spain starting at 66,200 euros.