Dearborn (that’s Ford) offers a trio of pickup trucks, ranging from the daring Maverick; to the rugged F-Series range. In the middle, we place the venerable Ranger, and by 2024, this interpolator gets a lot badder. At the end of November, the automaker unveiled the new Raptor variant of this transporter. Let’s see what it is.
Expanding the Raptor sub-brand has become a major goal for Ford, with the brand transitioning from its original brand name on the F-150 to the Bronco last year; now it’s making its way to the mid-size Ranger. Don’t be surprised if it appears on models that are generally associated with off-road prowess (note the existing tendency to overlook everything, even from brands like Porsche and Lamborghini). in an effort to liven up its popularity and, let’s be honest, liven up the profit aspect of Ford’s balance sheet.
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MSRP $41,255 to $77,805
The new Ranger Raptor arrives in checkered with a twin-turbocharged 3. 0L EcoBoost V6 engine under its hood, making 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque. For those still at home, this same engine produces 418 and 440 in the Bronco Raptor. , likely due to differences in the intake or exhaust route.
In addition, the 2. 7L EcoBoost V6, newly available on the 2024 Ranger in several trims, makes 310 horsepower and 400 torque, meaning the Raptor only beats its compatriots in paint with 30 lb-ft of torque. What you’ll definitely feel is the nearly a hundred extra horsepower, suggesting it’s going to be a hyperactive propulsion system that’s perfectly suited to a Raptor’s personality, thank you very much. And yes, you have to use 91 octane fuel on this thing.
A ten-speed automatic transmission is part of the offering, as is all-wheel drive for obvious reasons. Ford has to install a two-speed gearbox underneath, which means that in addition to four Highs and four Lows, we also find four Autos, which means that the truck can take care of the power delivery in everyday conditions. This will make the platform available to first-time truck buyers. Beadlock-compatible wheels are an option, with BFGoodrich KO3 tires measuring 33 inches (285/70) waterline on a 17-inch wheel, regardless of the rims selected.
The statistics measured are impressive. The minimum ground clearance is 10. 7 inches, which means that the truck will have to tiptoe over all obstacles, even the trickiest ones. The technique and departure angles are 33 and 26. 4 degrees, respectively, with a tilt of 24. 2 degrees (the original Rangers are 29. 2). /25. 1/21. 8). By comparison, the F-150 Raptor measures 31. 0 and 23. 9 degrees unless equipped with giant 37-inch tires, in which case those numbers increase to 33. 1 and 24. 9. This means that, even at 33 years old, the Ranger outperforms its big brother. Locking differentials are installed at the front and rear.
Suspension gubbins are the main attraction of any Raptor, of course, and the Ranger variant is no different. Under the hand of gearheads at Ford Performance, the gear is comprised of a long-travel suspension, including a Watts-link rear suspension and 2.5-inch Fox live-valve shocks. These items should make this thing a natural-born dune-buster, permitting owners to put the hammer down and chase the horizon.
For those who don’t know, this type of Fox surprise shock (a coiled shock in the front and a remote tank in the rear on those trucks) can modify the damping functionality (the amount of bounce in a surprise) depending on the ride. mode and general conditions, as well as allowing relief from heat build-up, this can simply degrade the functionality of surprises. In layman’s terms, those are the reasons why a truck like the Ranger Raptor can gently swallow dune jumps without assaulting its occupants on the way back to the asphalt road.
Truck-enthusiast types will want to know how this off-road gear affects the payload and towing capacities, and we must report that they do have an impact. The most a Ranger Raptor can tow is 5,510 pounds, down from a max of 7,700 pounds in other trims, while its payload now tops out at 1,411 pounds.
The latter means that if owners haul a trailer that reaches the limit, the drawbar weight will leave just 800 pounds for passengers and their belongings. A quartet of good, well-fed old men heading to the trail for a day of off-roading. You’ll easily eclipse that sum, so be sure to plan ahead if you have an RV or two giant ATVs in tow.
The now-familiar F-O-R-D demo panel appears in the mouth of the Ranger Raptor, surrounded by headlights reminiscent of all commercial C-clamp tools. Skid plates line up at the bottom and cover vital parts with the aim of preventing costly noises when off-roading. The manoeuvre goes wrong. The truck squeezes under the width limit from 80. 0 inches to 79. 8 inches excluding mirrors; a popular Ranger measures 75. 5 inches in the same measure. The track width has also increased by a similar amount, settling at 67. 3 inches on the Raptor, but only 63. 8 inches on the other versions of the Ranger. That’s a hole for a medium-sized one. truck.
Inside, the front seats are unique and appear to have a decent amount of bolstering, a feature which will likely be appreciated during the type of aggressive dune-running for which the Raptor is designed. The expressive Code Orange highlights are scattershot around the interior, setting it apart from mundane Ranger trims, and six upfitter switches are mounted in an overhead console, permitting owners to play out all their Top Gun fighter-jet fantasies.
Designed as a quick and easy way to connect ancillary appliances like lights, etc. , you can bet this would unnecessarily turn those switches on and off every time they were placed on the truck, thus annoying each and every one of the others on board. These are a 12. 4-inch virtual gauge cluster and a 12. 0-inch portrait-style infotainment tablet.
Some other tricks have been borrowed from the F-150, such as domain lighting in ground camps; and Pro Trailer Backup Assist to make it less difficult to tackle a trailer. By the way, this new generation is new to this truck category. There’s a 360-degree camera system, a Bang sound system
The new Ranger Raptor will be built in Michigan. La order receipt begins later this month and the truck is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2024.
Castrol-Wakefield Award for Automotive Writing 2021, Finalist
Runner Up – 2023 AJAC Adventure and Travel Journalism Award presented by Genesis Canada
Winner – 2023 AJAC Road Safety Journalism Award presented by Volvo Canada
Email: matthewkguy@hotmail. com
LinkedIn: linkedin. com/in/matthewkguy
Instagram: @DudeDrivesCars
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