Daily Slideshow: Is Ranger Raptor the Truck for You?
Ford just announced a baby Raptor for the overseas market. If and when it comes to North America, should you buy one?
Not Announced for the US (Yet)
The simplest answer to the question of "Is the Ranger Raptor the Truck for You?" depends solely on location. Ford announced the Ranger Raptor as a product destined for the Asian Pacific and European markets. No word has been officially made if the truck is scheduled to come to the North American market. Given Ford's "One Ford" mentality and the North American love-affair with pickup trucks, it's almost a certainty the Ranger Raptor makes its way stateside. It would be almost unfathomable that Ford would allow GM and Toyota to rule the mid-size off-road truck market with the Colorado ZR2 and the Tacoma TRD Pro. Let's see what Ford eventually has in mind for us.
Mystery Engine
Overseas the Ranger Raptor is powered by a 2.0L Bi-turbo diesel four-cylinder engine. The coal-burning powerplant makes a modest 210 horsepower and an earnest 369 lb-ft of torque. Backing up the torque-heavy motor is a 10-speed automatic transmission that is becoming ever more familiar with the Ford truck line-up. Based on US emissions requirements, I doubt the diesel motor makes its way to the 50 states. What's more likely is one of Ford's EcoBoost motors. Whether that's the 2.3L four-cylinder from the Focus RS and Mustang EcoBoost or the 2.7L Ecoboost V6 that stars in the F-150 and other mid-size Ford vehicles remain to be seen. A cautious estimate would say whatever engine powers the Ranger Raptor will have more than 300 horsepower and close to 400 lb-ft of torque.
Different Proportions, Different Suspension
Breaking away from the leaf-spring rear suspension of the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor will debut an all-new Watt's link rear suspension with rear coilover springs. Similar to its big brother, the Ranger will be equipped with Fox Racing Off-Road shocks. Skid plates in the front, middle, and rear of the truck should keep the Ranger Raptor important bits in one piece. Should things go south, integrated tow bars and hooks are there to pull the Ranger back to safety.
A Glimpse at the Future
We won't know exactly what the new Ranger Raptor will look like on the inside, but the European/Asian model should give us an idea. Following the recipe of the F-150 Raptor, we can bet on form-fitting seats unique to the Raptor model. An Alcantara wrapped steering wheel (possibly with paddle shifters?) should make its way to the new model. Ford's Sync3 system has been credited as one of the best in the business in regards to response and compatibility. Look for it to carry over as well.
Plenty of Modes to Choose From
Terrain Management System (TMS) makes its way from the F-150 Raptor to the Ranger Raptor. Drivers will have 6 modes to choose from: Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and the ever-popular Baja mode. There are subtle changes between each mode including transmission and throttle mapping and modifications to the stability and traction control systems. Switch to Grass/Gravel/Snow mode and the transmission pulls away from a stop in second gear to avoid tire-slippage. In situations where torque is key Mud/Sand mode holds each gear a longer to maximize torque. Finally, Baja mode gives the best mix of settings for high-speed desert running. The transmission is programmed for the quickest gear changes and traction and stability control are relaxed to allow just the right amount of slip angle for powersliding on any surface.
Timing is Everything
Is the Ranger Raptor the truck for you? Well, that depends on a few things. Most importantly is timing. The Ranger Raptor is rumored to be on sale in the US in 2020. So, if you need a new truck within the next few months you'll need to pass. If you can hold out, I have no doubt the Ranger Raptor will be a riot of a truck and may in some ways be better for a bigger chunk of the population than the F150 Raptor. The Ranger will no doubt be cheaper, more accessible, and easier to live within highly populated cities with limited parking. Fuel economy should be livable, insurance costs less than a full-size F150, and the truck should still over the utility of any comparable mid-size truck. Keep an eye out for the official Ranger Raptor debut with all the confirmed specs and features.
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