Breaking News: 2019 Diesel Ranger Raptor Revealed in Thailand

Ranger vs. Ranger Raptor

A few weeks ago, Ford unveiled it's 2019 Ford Ranger reboot at the Detroit Auto Show, whetting the appetites of Ford truck enthusiasts looking for a powerful but more compact pickup. Ford rode this wave of enthusiasm right into Bangkok, Thailand today when it unveiled the brand spanking new 2019 twin-turbo diesel powered Ranger Raptor, which resembles its bigger cousin in everything but its size. It remains to be seen when this brand new truck will make its way to the States, but in the meantime, this first gen diesel Raptor Ranger will get tested on both Australian and European terrain. Look out Chevy Colorado ZR2 and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. There's a new badass boy on the horizon. 

>>Join the conversation about the Ford Ranger Raptor right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Ranger Raptor vs. F-150 Raptor

As if the powers that be at Ford could hear our prayers, the new Ranger Raptor really does look like a small-scale F-150 Raptor. It is armored with widened fenders and an upgraded suspension. The front grille mimics that of the F-150 but in place of the blue oval logo are big block letters that spell out what it is we are dealing with: FORD. LED lighting illuminates the front bumper as well as new aerodynamic air curtains.  There are even a pair of tow hooks and a bash plate just underneath the nose, reminding us that this vehicle is not just meant for paved highways.

>>Join the conversation about the Ford Ranger Raptor right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Pumping Iron

Take a look at the fenders and you can see they are much wider than those on the Ranger we will see in the States. There is even some extra body muscle around the headlights, making this truck look like it just walked out of Gold's Gym, pumped and ready to take on the competition. The fenders give this Ranger extra girth it needs to add wider wheels and tires. 

In the back, an altered rear bumper houses a pair of tow hooks with newly designed sensors and tow connectors. While the truck is clearly wider, it does not look like the bed is any larger than that of the Ranger we will see in the U.S. later this year.

>>Join the conversation about the Ford Ranger Raptor right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Off-road ready

Under the body, we find some big changes in this slightly smaller Raptor. The chassis, brakes, and suspension have been boosted to handle all sorts of terrain. Ford has indicated that this truck was designed to "travel at high speeds off-road," which means it's not simply a truck that can go off-road, but it was really built to go there. The solid rear axle is indeed suspended using coilovers and a Watts link setup meaning that you will experience very little lateral shifting. Front and rear dampers come care of Fox Racing Shox with 46.6mm pistons both front and rear. Both the upper and lower control arms are made from aluminum. Even the brakes have increased in size as they are supported by 17-inch wheels and a set of knobby BF Goodrich 285/70 R17 tires.

>>Join the conversation about the Ford Ranger Raptor right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Diesel powered

Now for some power. Under the hood, you will find a 2.0-liter twin turbo diesel inline-four with 10-speed automatic. It's actually the same engine found in the F-150 and the U.S. version of the Ranger. It generates 210 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which makes it more powerful than the Colorado's 2.8-liter diesel engine that generates 169 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. 

There is no timetable set as to when we can expect this diesel Raptor Ranger to hit the United States market, but our best guess is that our love for the Ranger and the Raptor will bring it home where it belongs sooner than Chevy or Toyota would like.

>>Join the conversation about the Ford Ranger Raptor right here in Ford-trucks.com.

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