Daily Slideshow: Ford Ranger Raptor Has Landed Stateside

What Is It?

Ford sells a smaller sized truck outside of the US called the Ranger. Since Europeans and others scattered around the globe don't have the luxury of large plains and wide roads, they have to make due with smaller cars. Go to Europe and you'll find out that everyone drives a small turbo-diesel 2.0L hatchback. There simply is no reason for SUVs.

But that hasn't stopped Ford from selling a truck overseas. That truck is called the Ranger and it is the F-150's baby brother. There hasn't been a market for it here on US soil over almost a decade, but now in a world with unending "niche" models, Ford has decided to bring it home.

These photos are press photos of the Ranger Raptor when it was unveiled in Thailand. 

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

The Ranger

Just so you're up to speed on what a normal Ranger is like, here is a quick overview: The Ranger has been sold overseas for some time now and has been selling quite well in New Zealand and South Africa. It is powered by a 2.4L inline-four which makes around 220 horsepower. The engine that Americans will get will most likely make a bit more. That power will be put down through all four wheels and set through Ford's latest and greatest 10-speed automatic transmission.

The Ranger, similar to the F-150, will have a variety of trim levels from two doors, to four, to luxury specs, to chrome packages, bigger wheels, and tires, etc. The Ranger is supposed to be a truck that is more at home in the wild than on city streets, says Ford. Whereas the F-150 is ideal for everyday commercial use, the Raptor is geared more towards the outdoor enthusiast, hence the rigged external looks and bulgy bumpers.

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

The Ranger "Raptor"

The Ranger Raptor will be the first Raptor variant in the Ranger model line. As stated before, car makers are beginning to search for new niches in the car market like never before. There is big money to be had when your company makes the first of something. A great example is Porsche: they were the first to offer the Cayenne, a performance SUV, to the market in the early 2000s and now it is the biggest selling model alongside the Macan--by a long shot. So Ford is making a wise move to jump into the "niche market" train.

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

Come on, Ford!

With that being said, the Ranger Raptor never had to be made but it certainly fills a spot. Expect beefier suspension, shocks, roll rage, tires, and a much more powerful supercharged engine to be offered when you go for the model with "Raptor" written on the back. The Raptor will also have more driving modes than the regular Ranger. Along with Eco, Normal, and Sport, the Raptor will most likely have a "Baja" mode; similar to its bigger brother the F-150 Raptor. Baja mode allows for the most intense sand dune driving experience imaginable.

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

How much will it be?

Prices for the US-spec Ranger have not been released yet, let alone the Raptor variant. Expect both models to come to showrooms in mid to late 2018. How are we so sure the Ranger Raptor is coming to the US? Well, a sure-fire sign is that it is doing testing in Michigan. The next reason is that it was captured with its absurd Raptor decals which are not offered overseas. Seems like the Americans like to have wacky stickers on their car more than the rest of the world. Must have something to do with freedom of speech... 

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

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.