Lyna Mohammad
Avid Ford Ranger Raptor fans know that the roots of the Raptor name lie in North America, having borne the name on high‑performance pick-up trucks and utility vehicles way back to the first generation of the Raptor family, the F-150 SVT Raptor.
With its proven rugged racing credentials in the FIA World Rally Championship recently, the all-new Ranger Raptor continues the legacy with a purpose‑built vehicle that balances daily duties with performance never before seen in a pick-up of Ranger’s size.
The next-generation Raptor is built to dominate the desert, master the mountains and rule everywhere in between. It raises the off-road performance bar as a pick-up built for true enthusiasts and has reached the Brunei shores.
The all-new Raptor spots a tough and athletic look, matching its enhanced capability that builds on Next‑Gen Ranger’s bold, strong style.
The pick-up’s width is emphasised with the flared wheel arches and C-clamp headlight design, while bold ‘FORD’ lettering on the grille and the tough separate bumper added more visual muscle and modern rugged look.
Matrix LED headlights with LED daytime running lights push the Raptor’s lighting performance to new levels, featuring predictive curve lights, glare-free high beam and auto dynamic levelling to deliver better visibility.
The flared fenders cover muscular 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Raptor-exclusive performance all‑terrain tyres while functional vents, aero features and tough, grippy cast-aluminium side steps enhanced the look and functionality of the truck.
Step into the cabin and the most notable is the theme that emphasises its off-road performance and high‑energy nature.
The cabin features all-new, jet fighter-inspired sports seats to increase comfort and offer more support during high-speed cornering and the Code Orange accents on the instrument panel, trim and seats, mirrored by Ranger Raptor’s ambient lighting hence bathes the interior in a beautiful amber glow.
Completing the sporty feel is the premium leather sports heated steering wheel with thumb swells, on-centre marking and cast-magnesium paddle shifters and the benefits from the latest digital technology.
The high‑tech cabin features a 12.4‑inch all-digital cluster and 12-inch centre touchscreen boasting the brand’s new-generation SYNC 4A connectivity and entertainment system that delivers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility at no extra cost as well as a 10-speaker B&O sound system that provides the soundtrack to your next adventure.
On the performance note, the pick-up is fitted with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 and delivers 288 PS and 491 Nm of torque for phenomenal on- and off-road ability hence offering more power to play and provides a huge boost in power over the current 2.0-litre bi‑turbo diesel engine.
Boasting a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block, Ford Performance ensured the engine delivers immediate response to throttle inputs, and a race-bred anti-lag system similar to that first seen on the Ford GT road car and Focus ST enables rapid delivery of boost on demand.
It brings a different dynamic to the Raptor, satisfying the most hardcore performance and the acceleration and raw performance of the new powertrain will make you smile from ear to ear as the Raptor’s new powertrain delivers effortless acceleration on gravel, dirt, mud
and sand.
One significant feature on the vehicle is the class-exclusive electronically-controlled active exhaust system delivering adjustable engine sounds with four exhaust modes to suit different driving scenarios including the quiet mode that lets you drive into your home late at night without worrying of the sound raving through the silent night.
Choices of engine sound is selected by pressing a button on the steering wheel; Quiet – which prioritises quietness over performance and sound to keep the peace with neighbours on early mornings and late nights; Normal – intended for everyday use offering an exhaust note with presence while not being too loud for street use and is applied by default to Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl drive modes; Sport – offers a louder and more dynamic note and last but not least; and Baja – the most striking exhaust profile in both volume and note where the exhaust behaves more like a straight-through system, intended for off-road use only.
The Next-Gen Ranger Raptor has a unique chassis compared to the all-new Ranger with a series of Raptor-specific mounts and reinforcements for elements including the C-pillar, load box and spare wheel, as well as unique frames for the jounce bumper, shock tower and rear shock bracket all combined to ensure that it can handle punishing off-road conditions.
Since this high-performance off-roader Ranger Raptor needs the running gear to match, Ford engineers completely redesigned the suspension.
All-new tough yet lightweight aluminium upper and lower control arms, long‑travel front and rear suspension and a refined Watt’s link rear end have been designed to deliver more control across rough terrain at high speed.
The suspension adapts in real-time to enable exceptional on-road body control while absorbing corrugations and bigger ruts off-road with ease, ensuring maximum control and performance Ranger Raptor’s ability to tackle rough terrain is further enhanced with some serious underbody protection with the front bash plate is almost double the size of the standard Next‑Gen Ranger’s unit, made from 2.3-millimetre-thick high-strength steel and this plate, combined with the engine undershield and transfer case shield, is designed to protect key components such as the radiator, steering system, front crossmember, engine sump and front differential.
At the front and rear, twin rated tow hooks is fitted to provide flexible recovery options while driving off‑road with the design facilitating access to one of the tow hooks if the other is buried, as well as enabling the use of balance straps during snatch recoveries in deep sand or thick mud.
Ranger Raptor gets an advanced full-time four-wheel drive system with an all‑new electronically‑controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case, which is the first, combined with front and rear locking differentials; a valuable feature for hardcore off-road enthusiasts.
Going to the rear, the LED taillights provide a signature styling link to the front, while the Precision Grey rear bumper features an integrated step pad and towbar that is tucked up high to avoid compromising the departure angle.
