New Ford Ranger Raptor driven in Namibia!

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New Ford Ranger Raptor driven in Namibia!

The local double cab bakkie segment will never be the same after the introduction of the latest Ranger Raptor which introduces a new level of performance to this segment! We drove the newcomer in Namibia recently.

With a total production run of 24 557 units and some 3 630 of those being sold right here in South Africa, the previous generation of Ford’s Ranger Raptor demonstrated that locally, we enjoy our performance-based lifestyle double cab bakkies. Now though, Ford has gone to the extreme with the latest Raptor, which has a unique powertrain, body and suspension, making it the fastest production bakkie in South Africa. We were invited to the dunes of Namibia to experience the latest Raptor in its natural environment.

Despite the previous version having been built locally, the latest Raptor is now built alongside Everest in Thailand and exported to South Africa as Ford SA looks to focus on its core Ranger line-up, while also meeting the production demands for the new Volkswagen Amarok, which it also builds at its Silverton facility.

Exterior

The latest Raptor is about as bespoke as one could expect from an exterior perspective, sharing only items such as its roof, side mirrors and doors with the Ranger on which it is based. The sportier front bumper, more imposing grille and various vents may appear to be simple aesthetic enhancements, but the entire front-end has been designed to improve cooling for the high-performance powertrain. The Raptor is also the first Ranger locally to receive the brand’s matrix LED headlights, which feature so-called “dynamic bending lights”, anti-glare brights, and auto dynamic levelling.

There are also flared wheel arches front and rear which accommodate the redesigned 17-inch wheels which are wrapped in BF Goodrich all-terrain KO2 tyres. The rear of the Raptor features LED taillights and a new rear bumper with an integrated step pad and towbar. The rear bumper is tucked up higher in order to increase the departure angle from 24 to 25 degrees, while the towbar itself looks far more compact than other systems. The overall execution of the Raptor’s design is, to this writer’s eyes at least, far more comprehensive than its predecessor, with this generation looking like an entirely different product to the rest of the range.

new ford ranger raptor driven in namibia!

Interior

The interior of the Raptor is familiar to those who have seen the latest Ranger Wildtrack, with an emphasis on digitisation and a general improvement in terms of the materials used as well as the fit and finish versus the previous generation. Also visible inside are the so-called “Code Orange” accents which contract with the various black surfaces, creating a sportier interior ambience. There are also newly designed front and rear seats which are said to provide more support during dynamic driving situations.

In terms of infotainment, there is the same 12.0-inch system as in other high-spec Ranger models, with wireless charging, a 360-degree camera system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the SYNC4A operating system. However, the Raptor’s system incorporates an off-road SYNC function that allows the user to activate the front and rear diff locks, change the camera views and even make use of the new Trail Control feature, which is essentially cruise control for off-road driving.

The multifunction steering wheel houses controls for the media system, the adaptive cruise control as well as settings for the steering, exhaust note and suspension set-up. Ford has also added an “R” button to the steering wheel which allows the user to store their preferred driving configuration which can then be activated at any time by pressing the aforementioned button twice.

The Raptor also gets a 12.4-inch digitised instrument cluster that is configurable and will change according to the drive mode selected. Speaking of which, there are three road driving modes, namely Normal, Sport and Slippery while off-road modes include Rock Crawl, Sand, Mud/Ruts and
Baja. Other niceties inside include front and rear USB-A and USB-C charging ports, a built-in 400-Watt inverter with 240V power to the load box along with a 12V socket. There is also a 10-speaker 660W Bang & Olufsen sound system for the audiophiles out there.

Powertrain

The engine is where the Raptor has seen the most drastic change versus the previous model. In place of the old 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel is a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine that has been taken from products such as the Bronco Raptor and F-150. In this guise, it produces 292kW and 582Nm of torque. This motor is mated with a different version of the brand’s 10-speed automatic gearbox, which is both stronger and lighter than the shifter seen in the standard Wildtrak model. With a kerb weight of 2 460kg, the Raptor is around 50kg heavier than a Wildtrak but has over 100kW more power and similar torque figures. The permanent four-wheel drive system features a two-speed transfer case and impressively, both front and rear locking differentials.

The figures

A performance product, particularly one with some utility must have the number to back up the seemingly mammoth performance potential claimed. The Raptor certainly does not disappoint, with a sub-6.0-second 0-100km/h time, a braked towing capacity of 2 500kg, some 272mm of ground clearance, a 667kg payload, 850mm wading depth along with an approach angle of 32-degrees, a breakover angle of 24-degrees and a departure angle of 27-degrees without a towbar.

Suspension

As important as the engine and gearbox on the latest Raptor are, the suspension is an area that allows the powertrain to shine across a variety of conditions. As with the previous Raptor, Ford has worked with suspension experts Fox to develop a bespoke suspension setup that allows for high performance across a variety of driving conditions. The Fox system is called Live Valve, which means that the shocks have internal bypass valves that allow for position-sensitive damping. The shocks are filled with new Teflon-based oil that is said to reduce friction drastically, therefore improving performance. The set-up has been developed to adapt instantaneously to prevailing driving conditions, while also being adjustable by the driver, who can choose between Normal, Sport and Off-Road suspension settings on the steering wheel.

Standard safety

As the flagship product within the local Ford line-up, the Raptor comes comprehensively specified with various safety features. These include Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent Control and 7 airbags. There is a host of semi-autonomous driver aids as standard which includes adaptive cruise control, Lane Keeping System with Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid, Road Edge Detection, Evasive Steer Assist, Blind Spot Information System with trailer function, Active Park Assist 2.0, Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning and Automated Emergency Braking.

Driving Raptor

As impressive as the figures surrounding the Raptor are, its real-world performance is where we were genuinely impressed. The newcomer rectifies the biggest issue with the previous Raptor, its underpowered engine. Now, with 85% more power and an engine that is willing to rev, the Raptor is now a pukka performance bakkie that can surprise a hot hatch at the traffic lights while also being able to demolish an off-road trail with an equal amount of ease.

We headed to Walvis Bay in Namibia, infamous for its massive sand dunes. Upon arrival, we were greeted by an airport parking lot filled with Raptors of various hues. We darted straight for the only blue model available and immediately noted that the tyres had been deflated. The cluster read 1.0-bar, which is 1.5-bar below road-going pressures, meaning that we knew an all-off-road excursion was in our immediate future.

We left the parking lot and spent a few kilometres on the road, where assessing how the Raptor felt was an exercise in futility considering the tyre pressure. We then headed off onto a gravel road and eventually got to a beach, where Sand mode was activated and we began feeling the Raptor’s immense power and suspension articulation do its thing climbing up hills, churning up the hot, soft sand and dealing with the constant undulations. The throaty V6 soundtrack, which is its loudest when “Baja” exhaust mode is activated, gives you a proper motorsport-style soundtrack.

Negotiating the vast expanse of dunes just outside of Walvis Bay is not for the faith of heart, with sheer drops, incredibly steep climbs and the ever-present threat of getting stuck, something which happens frequently if you don’t maintain momentum. What impressed us most about the Raptor was how it transitioned from powering up steep dunes to traversing some incredibly technical rocky terrain and then shifting back to soft sand for the drive back to camp. The comfort with which this gruelling landscape was negotiated by the Ranger was deeply impressive, however, we are unsure as to how the product truly feels on the road since we did not have a proper tarmac experience.

Pricing

The Ranger Raptor is priced at R1 094 900 and comes with a 4-year/120 000km warranty while a service or maintenance plan is an optional extra.

Verdict

The latest Raptor is an example of how much difference a powerful, sonorous engine can make to a product, with the latest generation managing to be fast, capable and a grin-a-minute for its user. The phenomenal Fox suspension now has the motor to match its competence, and there is now harmony to Ford’s flagship bakkie when we look at it as more than a sum of its part, making it all but certainly a future cult classic within the local market.

There is simply nothing in the local market that can offer the sort of on and off-road performance that the Raptor does in standard production trim. With an aggressive pricing strategy and order books seemingly full, the Raptor has absolutely nailed its brief, which was to produce a motorsport-inspired lifestyle double cab bakkie that has all of the creature comforts one would expect in a premium pick-up.

Sean NurseWith a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.View News & Reviews