When Ford took the veil off the Ranger Raptor, it was surprising to find out that a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was favored instead of the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with up to 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet in the Edge ST. The bi-turbo EcoBlue is no slouch, but Autoblog points out the engine is the piece that lets the mid-size workhorse down the most.
Autoblog flew to Australia to take a spin in the Ranger Raptor, concluding that it’s disappointing the U.S. won’t get it because “it’s totally f***ing awesome.” Regarding the EcoBlue under the hood, senior producer Christopher McGraw underlines that the throttle has to be mashed to the floor if you want to overtake at highway speeds.
Even though there’s little between this engine and the EcoBoost in terms of torque (369 pound-feet for the bi-turbo diesel plus 210 horsepower), we’re guessing the large diameter of the wheels and off-road gearing aren’t helping either. On the other hand, the Ranger Raptor is brilliant in regular driving conditions and off the beaten track.
Off-road improvements include an impressive ground clearance and redesigned bumpers for 32.5-degree approach and 24-degree ramp-over and departure angles. The first-ever Ranger to get the Raptor treatment also features rear coil-over suspension with Watts linkage, Fox Racing shock absorbers, and the all-important Management System.
Over in the Land Down Under, pricing for the Ranger Raptor kicks off at 74,990 dollars. It’s the most expensive pickup in the mid-size segment in Australia, translating to $53,950 at the current exchange rate. For reference, the AEV-upgraded Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison starts at $48,045 and the Jeep Gladiator in Rubicon flavor will be priced in the ballpark of $50,000.
Ford of Europe made a case for this truck in the Old Continent, where it will arrive by mid-2019 to lead the Ranger’s lineup. The Raptor will slot above the Wildtrak and Wildtrak X with the 3.2-liter turbo diesel five-cylinder engine. As for towing capacity and payload, make that 2,500 and 758 kilograms (5,512 and 1,671 pounds).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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