Setting a new benchmark in off-road capability, the Ranger Raptor has been purposefully-designed to incorporate Ford Performance DNA as well as the toughness of core Ranger design and engineering capability (Ford)
Ford revealed its first Ranger Raptor pickup in Bangkok on Tuesday. The tough little truck is a scaled-down take on the F-150 Raptor, featuring a similar look and high performance upgrades.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to move to the Asia Pacific region if you want to buy one.
Fender flares make way for the wider, high performance suspension setup. (Ford)
It’s based on the overseas version of the Ranger that’s built in Thailand, not the upcoming Michigan-made one that was introduced at the Detroit Auto Show and is scheduled to go on sale in early 2019.
The two are very similar, however, and there’s little doubt that a U.S. market Raptor Jr. is in the works, given the popularity of the full-size F-150 Raptor. It’s just that Ford won’t confirm anything about it yet.
The Ranger bears more than a striking resemblance to the full-size F-150 Raptor. (Ford)
As for the one that debuted in The Land of Smiles, it looks like it will put one on any off-roader’s face.
A the coilover rear spring suspension was engineered with high speed off-road driving in mind. (Ford)
It has the same jacked-up, flared fender style as the F-150, along with its signature FORD-emblazoned black grille.
The Ranger Raptor gets a beefed-up frame, plus frame-mounted steel bumpers and tow hooks. (Ford)
Steel bumpers and skid plates offer protection against crushing underbody blows, while a lifted suspension with coilover Fox Racing Shox in the rear help avoid them in the first place. Ford says is strengthened the Ranger’s frame, especially the side rails, to better handle high speed impacts. Four tow hooks are standard in case you still manage to get in trouble in it, or need to help out another truck that is.
This 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel has twin turbochargers and is rated at 210 hp and 369 lb-ft. (Ford)
The 4x4 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel with 210 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque that comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission and an electronic terrain management system with six drive modes that include Mud and Baja.
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Ford hasn’t said anything about offering a diesel version of the Ranger in the U.S., but Chevy’s high performance Colorado ZR2 is available with one, so it’s not out of the question.
