Ford: The Raptor knows no hurdles 🎥
OFF-ROAD ALL THE WAY The Ranger is the best-selling pickup truck in Switzerland. Now Ford is following suit with the Raptor. It offers less payload, but is comfortable and extremely fast off the road. With the six available driving modes, the Ford Raptor has every surface under control. The Raptor - from Ford Performance in Australia [...]
With the six available driving modes, the Ford Raptor has every surface under control.
The Raptor - developed by Ford Performance in Australia - is not a soft-touch city version of the Ranger, but on the contrary the most rugged and powerful version of Europe's best-selling pickup truck.
Top speed 170 km/h
Thanks to its reinforced chassis, the 5.54-meter-long, 1.87-meter-high (unladen) and 2.18-meter-wide (including exterior mirrors) Raptor is also suitable for off-road driving at higher speeds. On the road, it reaches 170 km/h, after which it is governed. The sprint to 100 km/h is completed in 10.6 seconds.
Variable turbine geometry
The drive is provided by the new top engine in the Ranger range: a bi-turbo version of the 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine with variable turbine geometry, which retires the previous 2.2-liter.
The top variant used here produces 213 hp and develops a maximum torque of 500 Nm.
Diesel particulate filter and SCR catalytic converter
Some competitor products offer more power, but the extensive test drives showed that the performance is absolutely sufficient.
All Ford Ranger versions are homologated as commercial vehicles, and the Raptor is therefore classified according to Euro 6c. This is ensured by diesel particulate filters and an SCR catalytic converter with AdBlue injection.
The performance pickup comes exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Magnesium paddle shifters also allow manual control of the automatic (exclusive to the Raptor). The Ford Ranger Raptor was developed for fast off-road driving.
Driving modes as required and desired
The chassis was developed using high-strength steels for use specifically off-road. It has been reinforced in the front section of the axles, while the rear section is completely new. The entire axle kinematics, including wheel suspension and suspension, have also been tailored for tough use.
And this is no empty promise: In Baja driving mode, we chased the flatbed truck relentlessly over sandy beaches, and in the respective other mode, we climbed effortlessly over scree slopes or slid drifting through dunes. With the six available driving modes, the Ford has every surface under control.
Specially designed off-road tires
The interior of a spartan utility vehicle has long since given way to that of an SUV in the pickup. The rear axle is now equipped with combined spring/damper elements. The all-terrain BF Goodrich tires (285/ 70 R 17) specially developed for the Raptor feature particularly robust sidewalls.
4×4 switchable while driving
The four-wheel drive with electronic ratio selection can be engaged while driving, and the underride guard is made of 2.3 millimeters of steel. With a fording depth of 850 millimeters and a ground clearance (unladen) of 283 millimeters, the Raptor makes safe progress even in rough terrain.
Towing hook balances up to 4635 kilos
The standard trailer hitch can pull trailers weighing up to 2.5 tons (braked) (standard Ranger: 3.5 tons), and with its two front tow hooks it can weigh up to 4635 kilograms, and up to 3863 kilograms at the rear. Thanks to a special mechanism, the tailgate requires only a third of the force to open and close, and the maximum payload is 620 kilos.
The extrovertly styled pickup is extensively equipped ex works, plus various assistance and safety systems. Price for this top version: from 57,650 Swiss francs.
