Ford fans are getting rapturous — or perhaps that should be “raptorous” — about the news that the Ranger Raptor is coming to the U.S. market for the first time.
And the high-performance take on Ford’s midsize pickup will be making nearly 400 horsepower in its Stateside edition, a hefty increase over the version bound for the European market.
Last summer, TheDetroitBureau.com speculated about whether the Ranger Raptor would come to the U.S. — clearly, yes. This marks the latest Raptor model to land in the Ford line-up, the Detroit automaker barely a month ago unveiling the new Bronco Raptor edition.
Plenty of changes
There are plenty of changes coming with the second-generation Raptor and that’s good news for American buyers. The old model was offered only with a four-cylinder turbodiesel. The 2023 Ranger Raptor gets a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6, the gas-powered, twin-turbo package making a maximum 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque — here in the States.
In Europe, where automakers are struggling to cope with the EU’s increasingly stringent emissions standards, the package had to be downtuned to just 284 hp and 362 lb-ft. European buyers will continue to have access to the more fuel-efficient oil-burner, as well. In Mexico, the Ranger Raptor is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-turbo 4-cylinder diesel engine putting out 210 hp and a generous 369 lb-ft of torque.
All versions of the 2023 truck will rely on a 10-speed automatic. It sends power out to all four wheels through a 2-speed transfer case.
During a web presentation, Ford engineers noted the truck is designed for both high-speed off-road driving, as well as more conventional rock crawling and overlanding. To the latter effect, it adds both front and rear locking differentials.
Ready to be rough
But there have been a number of steps taken to help it handle the intense jarring it faces as it jumps and bumps at speed.
To start with, the Raptor pickup adds 2.5-inch Fox Live Valve shocks that use a Teflon-infused oil to smooth things out. The truck introduces a new Bottom-Out Control, meanwhile, to maximize damping during the final 25% of shock travel. If you do slam into a rock, the drivetrain is protected by thick new skid plates.
The truck’s new mode control system adds Baja to the more familiar list of Normal, Sport, Slippery, Rock Crawl, Sand and Mud/Ruts. The system provides a tactile shorthand, if you will, letting a driver adjust a whole range of vehicle settings to specific conditions — including throttle response, transmission shifts, and the behavior of “nanny” systems like ABS braking and stability control.
As you like it
If that’s not enough, a button on the steering wheel lets the driver select from one of four different sound profiles for the active exhaust system.
The truck also gets Trail Control, Ford’s combined hill climb and descent system. Think of it as the equivalent of off-road cruise control.
The list of technology extends to the cabin, where the new Ranger Raptor will add both a 12-inch touchscreen and a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster. Ford’s latest version of the Sync 4 infotainment system will introduce both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The gauge screen, incidentally, is reconfigurable and changes appearance depending upon which mode the driver selects.
Brawny new look
Like the F-150 and Bronco Raptor models, the Ranger edition will get a beefier appearance than the rest of the pickup’s line. The nose, starting with the front bumper, has been updated to allow for steeper approach angles. The grille has bold “FORD” lettering. And the wheel arches have been flared out to handle the bigger tires that will be offered for the Ranger Raptor.
Look for the new Ranger Raptor to land in European showrooms later this year. American buyers will have to be patient, the truck’s not expected here until early in 2023.
With new Raptor versions of both the Bronco and Ranger, Ford’s truck engineering team has clearly been busy — especially when you learn that they’ve also been beefing up the original F-150 off-roader. A race-ready Raptor R model is coming later this year. It will introduce a V-8 engine and is clearly aimed at competing with the Ram TRX.