The Raptor family tree continues to grow each year since 2010 with the original F-150 Raptor. Ford
perfected their recipe for over 12 years, building the Raptor up to higher and higher performance and
horsepower with each generation. With the third generation Raptor F-150 coming to 450
horsepower from the 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 and
with an even higher performance option with the rumored 5.2-liter supercharged V8 from the Shelby GT500
on the
horizon it makes more sense than ever for Ford to branch out the Raptor name to more vehicles in the
United States. This also means that Ford is still heavily set in developing gas-powered performance
vehicles. Earlier this year, Ford debuted the new Bronco Raptor, fitted with a twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 that
screams to the tune of 400+ horsepower in a relatively small platform. The Bronco Raptor was developed
as an off-road champion, taking inspiration and performance from the Ultra4 trucks run at the King of
Hammers off-road race. The Bronco, which shares its platform and engines with the Ranger, is already a
more than capable off-road machine, and the Raptor variant is even further into the off-road performance
world. While we here in the US did not receive it before, the rest of the world has been enjoying the Ranger
Raptor since 2019 with a small V6 and diesel engine option which was more than enough to power through
some mud and light off-roading. These received major acclaim as a seriously fun vehicle for off-road
enthusiasts who had no access until then. However, the all-new Ranger Raptor finally receives all the
performance it deserves, and thankfully for the first time is going to be sold in the US for American
buyers to enjoy nearly 400 horsepower and over 420 lb-ft of torque in a much smaller package than the
F-150 and undercutting the other Raptor models’ prices by quite a lot.
Engine
Exterior
Interior
Suspension
Gallery
With how similar the Ranger and Bronco are, it makes sense how much of the equipment the two of them is
shared between them. The Ranger Raptor features a twin-turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 which can be found also
in the Explorer ST and
creates 392 horsepower and over 420 lb-ft of torque. In a vehicle only 17 feet
long, that is a significant amount of power while still being two feet longer than the Bronco
counterpart. These dimensions give the vehicle a proper work truck feeling while also being a seriously
fun and capable machine. The rear overhang on the Bronco Raptor compared
to the Ranger Raptor is obviously different as one has a
pickup bed and one goes as far as possible in having a minuscule rear overhang, but the dimensions of
the Ranger are better suited to trail running than dune bashing. The V6 features an anti-lag system
shared in the European Focus ST and the GT supercar which allows the turbochargers to spool up for three
seconds before moving to put the Ranger Raptor directly in the full powerband of the engine. The new Ranger Raptor features Ford’s all-new design that is an evolutionary jump forward with a flatter
and more F-150-inspired design over the previous generation. The menacing FORD script in the grille
divides up the headlights with a raked-in well-plated front end which keeps the approach angle higher.
The sides of the vehicle are more styled than the previous generation of the Ranger before tapering to
the rear bed. The bed design is also boxier and features completely new styling. Along the length of the
truck is black cladding to deter rock chips as well as to flare the fenders out in order to house the
33-inch tires under the small body. Along the bed, Ford has fitted handrails in order to sturdy ones self or to help cover the bed. With
additional black plastic venting spanning the front end of the vehicle, the rear of the Ranger Raptor
sports a true dual exhaust setup and similar lights to the Bronco Raptor as well. The raised rear also
aids in improving departure angle when off-road. The RAPTOR badge sits in the top right corner of the
tailgate near the RAPTOR graphics on the rear fenders of the truck. As rugged as the exterior of the Ranger Raptor is, the interior is incredibly luxurious. The Raptor
receives a fully digital dashboard that displays gearing, driving mode, speed and rpm, and more at the
same time. Additionally, the truck features a massive touchscreen in the center console similar to the
ones found in the new F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor, as well as the steering-wheel-mounted paddle
shifters found in both other vehicles. The interior shares the same coloring as the other Raptors, but the seats look more at home in this than
any other. They are sporty and well-bolstered and unlike the Bronco Raptor, they are not marine-grade
vinyl since the doors are not removable. Ford has made sure to make them more rectangular and blocky
than seats in their sports cars, however, keeping the rugged and tough look continuing inside the truck.
The Code Orange accents make their way into the piping and bolstering throughout the truck, emphasizing
the performance of the truck. Just like the other Raptor vehicles, the Ranger Raptor receives a fully reworked suspension built to
handle heavy off-road racing use including sand, dirt, snow, and more. The Ranger Raptor takes the same
suspension from the Bronco Raptor since they share the same chassis. This means the same Fox Racing shocks and
the HOSS system. As a result, the Ranger Raptor has improved suspension travel and ride
quality as well as to prevent bottoming out and bogging down too much under heavy acceleration. The Ranger Raptor also features locking differentials to enable crawling and overlanding adventures. The
different driving modes also make the truck handle completely differently, with Baja mode being rated
for “off-road use only” as a racing setup. The combination of the HOSS system, Fox Racing shocks, and
33-inch off-road tires makes the new ranger Raptor look more than competitive in the segment, especially
when the only other full off-road-capable vehicle in the market is the Colorado ZR2. Image Credit: Ford Motor Company Kinetic vs. Static Tow Straps Here\'s What Separates The Bronco And Bronco Sport Ford Bronco Raptor RevealedFord Ranger Raptor Revealed
Ford Ranger Raptor Engine
Ford Ranger Raptor Exterior
Ford Ranger Raptor Interior
Ford Ranger Raptor Suspension
Ford Ranger Raptor Gallery
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