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Ford’s ‘Very Gay Raptor’ Coming to Goodwood in Support of the LGBTQ+ Community

Ford’s support for the LGBTQ+ community will be on full display later this week at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the carmaker will showcase the so-called “Very Gay Raptor”, or VGR, together with the next-generation Ranger Raptor.
Ford 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed 8 photos
Photo: Ford
Ford 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of SpeedFord 'Very Gay Raptor' coming to 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
By bringing the VGR to Goodwood, Ford hopes to initiate important discussions with regards to driving out discrimination in the automotive industry and beyond, and will be presenting live sessions of its new “Tough Talks” series right from the truck bed of “Very Gay Raptor.” The talks will be hosted by Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, the first openly gay rugby union player.

These live sessions “will explore how the automotive industry can foster a culture of inclusion and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community,” while covering a range of topics and featuring guests like racing driver Abbie Eaton, comedian Catherine Bohart and Lord March, the Duke of Richmond’s son.

Ford created the Very Gay Raptor last year in response to a negative comment on social media. The carmaker used one of its most badass nameplates as the basis for a vehicle wearing sparkling gold and rainbow graphics. First it was just a rendering, but after an overwhelmingly positive response online, Ford decided to manufacture it for real.

As for the next-gen Ranger Raptor, it’s making its European dynamic debut at Goodwood where it will tackle the event’s challenging off-road track between runs up the famous hill.

The Ranger Raptor is powered by a twin turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, good for 284 hp (288 ps) and 362 lb-ft (491 Nm) of torque. As you probably already know, the Ranger Raptor has been severely impacted by stringent emissions regulations, unlike in Australia for example where this very same twin turbo V6 is allowed to produce 392 hp and 430 lb-ft (583 Nm) of torque.

We’re pretty sure just about anybody would rather drive the Aussie version of this truck, as opposed to the UK one.
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About the author: Sergiu Tudose
Sergiu Tudose profile photo

Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration.
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