Following a rather
unconventional preview at Gamescom 2018, the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor now
gets a proper auto show debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover.
Ford is using this occasion to unleash full details about the off-road
capability of its midsize performance pickup, so let’s delve into what the
first-ever Ranger Raptor brings new to the table.
The 210-hp Raptor
offers 283 mm of ground clearance, 56 mm more than the
stock Ranger. Add to that the 32.5-degree approach angle and 24-degree
ramp-over and departure angles, and you get a pretty good idea of what the
Raptor can do off the beaten track.
For those moments
in which you feel like you might exceed the truck’s capabilities, there’s
unique underbody protection designed to deflect off-road obstacles. In addition
to the Ranger’s standard engine and transfer case under-shields, the automaker
has added a new bash plate made from 23-mm thick high-strength
steel.
Also contributing
to the truck’s ruggedness is the reinforced chassis frame that uses
high-strength, low-alloy steels designed to withstand the stress brought by
off-road racing. Compared to the standard Ranger, the Raptor has a 150-mm wider track, and a suspension created to tackle “fearsome terrain at
high-speed while remaining in complete control and comfort.”
The Fox shock
absorbers with 46.6-mm pistons and Position Sensitive Damping, as
well as the rear coilover setup with Watts linkage, help increase front damper
travel by 32 percent and rear travel by 18 percent compared to the standard
Ranger.
All this
sophisticated hardware is controlled by the Terrain Management System which
offers six modes. There’s Normal mode, Sport mode for spirited on-road driving,
Grass/Gravel/Snow mode, Mud/Sand mode, Rock mode, and Baja mode. The latter
tunes responses for high-speed off-road performance.
Despite its
off-road prowess, the Raptor remains a true workhorse: it can tow 2,500 kg thanks to a modified rear bumper with integrated tow bar, and it has
a 1,560 mm by 1,743 mm load tray. Furthermore, two front
recovery hooks are able to shift up to 4,500 kg, while the two at
the rear are rated at 3,800 kg. Ford will start selling the Ranger
Raptor in Europe in mid-2019.