Ford Ranger Raptor unveiled in Thailand

The much awaited Ford Ranger Raptor has finally been unveiled in Thailand. It is designed by the Ford Performance team for the off-road devotee and it strengthens Ford’s commitment to deliver “Built Ford Tough” pickup trucks to customers in Asia Pacific.

“We are so excited and proud to unleash this vehicle to the public, driving it really makes you feel like a hero. The Ford Performance team is excited to extend the Raptor name from our flagship off-road performance F-150 to Ranger. Just like the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor builds upon the core capability of the range of vehicles it comes from and carries the unmistakable Ford Performance DNA appearance,” said Jamal Hameedi, Chief Engineer at Ford Performance.

The stunning new grille takes styling cues from the world’s first factory-built high-performance off-road truck, the F-150 Raptor, and the iconic block FORD lettering is proudly positioned within the grille design.

The front bumper has new LED fog lamps with functional air-curtain ducts, which help to reduce the body's air resistance.

The new powerplant is a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel, producing 213PS and a whopping 500Nm of torque. In comparison, this new mill has a higher output than the 3.2 Duratorq straight-five (200 PS/470 Nm), and redlines at 4,500 rpm.

The vehicle looks bigger from every angle, standing at an impressive 1873mm tall, 2180mm wide and 5398mm long, with wider front and rear tracks at 1710mm. As for ground clearance, it is increased to 283mm, while the approach angle of 32.5°, ramp over angle of 24°, and departure angle of 24°.

The Raptor uses a tough high-strength aluminium alloy die-cast main step board that is designed for durability; it has undergone vigourous testing that included a load of 100kg being applied 84,000 times to simulate over 10 years in the field.

A modified rear bumper comes with an integrated tow bar and two recovery hooks rated at 3.8 tonnes. Updated styling to the rear includes flush sensor bezels and specially packaged and styled tow connectors

Inside, you will notice blue stitching and leather accents. Its cluster has an aggressive styling, providing a host of Driver Assist features. Steering wheel is notably different, with new Raptor DNA lightweight magnesium paddle shifters for crisp gear-changing.

You will get an 8-inch touchscreen for the SYNC 3 infotainment system, a rearview camera and many safety features, like the ESC, Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control and Load Adaptive Control.

“The standout experience of the Ranger Raptor, hands down, is how far you can push it off-road versus any other available production road vehicle in our markets, and still ride like a millionaire on-road. Everything about the Ranger Raptor builds on the already outstanding sophisticated feel and functional capability of the Ranger, and then goes further. From a driving dynamic fun standpoint, it is really an exceptionally special vehicle,” said Damien Ross, Ford's Chief Program Engineer of the Ranger Raptor.

There are six drive modes, called the Terrain Management System (TMS), for various driving experiences, which you can select via a five-button switch located on the steering wheel:-

On-road modes

• Normal mode: Emphasising comfort, fuel economy and driveability
• Sport mode: Responsive for spirited on-road driving. This means fast, crisp gear shifts at higher engine speeds to aid throttle response. The mapping reacts to increased demand inputs from the driver by holding gears longer and downshifting more aggressively.

Off-road modes

• Grass/Gravel/Snow mode: Designed to inspire safe and confident driving on off-road slippery and uneven surfaces. This is done through smoother gear shifts and second-gear starts, minimising the probability of wheel slip.
• Mud/Sand mode: Vehicle responsiveness is tuned for optimum traction and momentum in deep, deformable surfaces like loose sand and mud. This is achieved by maintaining lower gears with high torque.
• Rock mode: Used specifically for low-speed rocky terrain where smooth controllability is key.
• Baja mode: Vehicle responsiveness is tuned for high-speed off-road performance, just like drivers need in the famous Baja Desert Rally. In this mode, vehicle systems like Traction Control are pared back in terms of intervention to allow spirited off-road driving without fighting the vehicle’s on-board systems. Gear selection is optimized for maximum performance, and the mapping will hold gears longer and downshift more aggressively.

The braking system at the front comes with twin-piston calipers that have been increased by 9.5mm in diameter, while the ventilated rotors are an impressive 332 x 32mm in size. The rear uses disc brakes with a brake actuation master cylinder and booster to increase braking performance. The 332 x 24mm rear rotor is ventilated and coupled with a new 54mm caliper.

Fox Racing Shox dampers with 46.6mm pistons and Position Sensitive Damping (PSD) are capable of delivering high damping forces while off-roading. 17-inch rims with 285/70 profile BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres are standard.

There are five colours to choose from: Lightning Blue, Race Red, Shadow Black, Frozen White and there’s a unique Hero color for the Ranger Raptor, the Conquer Grey.

We’re sure this will be another game-changer for the Asia-Pacific region. Stay tuned for prices and launch dates.