2023 Ford Ranger Raptor Breaks Cover With Twin Turbo V6 Ecoboost Power
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4 years ago
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Ford has just unveiled the new generation of the Ranger Raptor developed by Ford Performance as the flagship version of its mid-size pickup offering the ultimate mixture of performance and off-road capability.
As expected, the Ranger Raptor arrives with much more aggressive looks than the regular Ranger, a more powerful V6 engine, and stronger underpinnings to allow it to undertake off-road adventures at high speeds.
Starting with the design, most will see the Raptor either as a beefed-up Ranger coming right out of the gym or a more sophisticated interpretation of its larger brother, the F-150 Raptor. The flared wheel arches front and rear cover wider tracks and new 17-inch wheels shod in massive 32-inch all-terrain tires while the ground clearance has been increased. It also gets bespoke bumpers with skid plates, aluminium side steps, a signature grille with Ford lettering, bonnet scoops, and Raptor stickers.
Inside, Ford has installed grippy sports seats front and rear, as well as a thick sports steering wheel and magnesium paddle shifters. A 12.4-inch digital screen is fitted as standard for the instrument cluster, while a 12-inch screen serves as the infotainment hub. A 10-speaker B&O sound system is also included.
But as good as it looks, the Raptor is all about what’s under the skin. It’s powered by a 3.0-litre EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 tuned for 284 horsepower and 362 lb-ft of torque in Europe. That’s perhaps not as powerful as some would have hoped for but means that the F-150 Raptor can comfortably maintain a power and performance gap over its smaller sibling. A less powerful turbodiesel model will also be sold in Europe. However, in Australia, the V6 has been tuned to generate a much healthier 392 hp and 430 lb-ft.
There are three on-road driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Slippery. These are matched by four off-road modes – Rock Crawl, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Baja – allowing the Ranger Raptor to adapt to multiple terrains at the touch of a button. The Ford Ranger Raptor is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with standard 4WD.