The Next Gen Ford Ranger Raptor: Performance and capability driven to new heights.

Ranger Raptor 1

Let’s face it! It’s a one of a kind mean machine. It’s a beast and the Raptor is not looking for beauty. It’s bulky, aggressive, mean-looking and ready for all sorts of road terrain, from the smooth to the rough, from the gentle to pure ruggedness, from a quiet drive to one of fun, and then some. It just excels in looks, inside and out as well as performance. But it is also a tad thirsty. Check this out:

It’s a high performance 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that delivers 292kW and 583Nm, mated to an electronically controlled four-wheel drive system with both rear and front differential locks, enabling phenomenal performance on and off-road
Seven selectable drive modes available, making the most of Next-Gen Ranger Raptor’s capabilities, including a re-engineered suspension with Ford Performance-developed FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve internal bypass shock absorbers
Selectable settings for steering response, suspension settings, exhaust noise and innovative new features such as Trail Crawl, as well as user-defined ‘R’ MyMode
Aggressive and purposeful exterior design signals Next-Gen Ranger Raptor’s serious performance attributes, theme echoed in the cabin with fighter jet-inspired seats, all-digital 12.4-inch instrument cluster, 12-inch centre touchscreen with SYNC® 4A and dedicated Off-road SYNC screen
The Next-Generation and next-level Ford Ranger Raptor has arrived. Built to dominate in the desert, master the mountains and rule everywhere in between, the second-generation Ranger Raptor raises the off-road performance bar as a pickup built for true enthusiasts.

Four years on

“The outgoing Ranger Raptor that we launched locally in 2019 created an entirely new segment for performance bakkies. It has been exceptionally popular, maintained strong sales demand through its lifespan and remains without rival four years later. And now, the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor completely rewrites the rulebook yet again, elevating performance and capability to new heights, both on and off-road,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa.

Raptor 2

Power at play

Whew! The biggest news for performance fans is the introduction of a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine, producing 292kW and 583Nm – nearly doubling the power output compared to the previous Ranger Raptor (from 157kW), while adding an extra 83Nm of torque.

The twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine boasts a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block, which is around 75 percent stronger and up to 75 percent stiffer than the iron used in traditional castings. Ford Performance ensured the engine delivers immediate response to throttle inputs, and a race-bred anti-lag system, available in the Baja drive mode, enables rapid delivery of boost on demand.

Drive modes

Drivers can choose their preferred engine sound by pressing the exhaust mode button on the steering wheel or by selecting a drive mode that uses one of the following settings:

Quiet – Designed to prioritise quietness over performance and sound. Great for keeping the peace with neighbours on early mornings

Normal – Intended for everyday use, this profile offers an exhaust note with presence while not being too loud for street use. This profile is applied by default to Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes

Sport – Offers a louder and more aggressive note, for when you want to shake things up a little

Baja – The most aggressive of the exhaust profiles in both volume and note. It behaves more like a straight-through system in this setting and is intended for off-road use only

High-energy design

Matching the enhanced capability is an all-new design that takes the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor to the next level. Emphasising the width of the vehicle are flared wheel arches, Ford truck DNA C-clamp headlights derived from the Next-Gen Ranger, bold F-O-R-D lettering on the grille, and the bumper that’s separated from the grille. Matrix LED headlights with LED daytime running lights make their debut on the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor, pushing lighting performance to new levels.

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Cabin

Next-Gen Ranger Raptor boasts a fully digital cabin, with a high resolution 12.4-inch digital cluster – the largest yet on Ranger – and a 12-inch centre touchscreen boasting Ford’s new-generation SYNC® 4A connectivity and entertainment system, which offers both Apple and Android wireless smartphone connectivity, along with wireless charging.

Verdict:

It has to be the best of it’s kind. Full marks for handling, performance and pure feel good. And then the throathy sounds of the twin exhausts is really all the sound you need. It’s really an attention grabber, no matter where you take this outstanding vehicle to.

Pricing (includes VAT)

Ranger Raptor 3.0L V6 EcoBoost 4WD 10AT R1 094 900