Ford Ranger Raptor, the last roar of the dinosaurs

“There is no car like this on the market”. That was one of the most repeated statements at the international presentation of the Raptor version of the Ford Ranger, one of the few pick-ups available in Europe, where this segment is increasingly under-represented by emission limits, which will only increase. louder. .

“It’s an interesting concept: making a fast SUV,” he said.
Kyle Shearer, the head of the Raptor division within the manufacturer. It’s common to find SUVs with a lot of structural rigidity and powerful engines, but acceleration and cornering are usually not the areas in which they excel.

The Ranger Raptor, on the other hand, does. It is not for nothing that the model that the manufacturer, only with safety improvements, will use in the North American resistance race
Low 1,000, the world’s longest non-stage off-road race. In addition to being surprisingly fast, the Raptor is a vehicle that can conquer almost any terrain it is thrown at.

But it’s not just the mighty V6 Ecoboost turbo engine,
that develops 292 horses. To help it comes an even stiffer chassis than its predecessor, Fox suspensions with electronic sensors that can detect if the car is in the middle of a jump or the ability to lock the differentials on both the front and rear axles. .

The Raptor has seven riding modes that adapt its performance to the type of terrain it has to traverse, be it mud, rocks or sand, and it performs in all of them with ease. In addition, it uses a new speed control system that allows it to move forward at up to 30 km/h using only the steering wheel, regardless of the type of accidents it has to cross.

And that’s one of the Raptor’s most impressive features: the truly graceful thing that comes out of almost any swamp, whether the traction is low or one of the wheels is in the air.

“If we were strict,
the Raptor is not a new generation, because it still uses the chassis of the previous one,” Shearer claimed. For practical purposes, however, the car is completely new as it introduces new engines, body, suspension, exhaust system, interior and multimedia. All the comparative improvements over the previous Raptor that make it a whole new beast.

Engine: V6 petrol of 292 CV. Dimensions (length/width/height, in metres): 5.36/2.02/1.92. Consumption: 13.8 l/100km. Acceleration: From 0 to 100 in 7.9 seconds. Maximum speed: 180 km/h.

It’s also something of a swan song for internal combustion engines – future generations will have to come with a plug – and so comes with four different exhaust sound options, from quiet to low, intended to be used exclusively off tarmac.

Getting on the Raptor is the closest thing you can get to driving a legal ‘monster truck’ in Europe. The seating position is high and you have to ‘climb’ to get to the seat. Although there are other larger variants in the US, such as the F-150, but
this side of the Atlantic is the only option available For those looking for such a car.

And there are quite a few: 8,000 Rangers were sold in 2021, a figure that will surpass brand estimates in 2022. Continued commitment to this segment demonstrates Ford’s continued confidence in these silhouettes. The Raptor will come in 2023 with a less powerful diesel engine, but the crown jewel,
the V6 petrol is already available from 68,200 euros.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.