There is an expression that goes, "when something is so good, it should be illegal" and that is the only way I can describe the Next Gen Ranger Raptor by Ford. Like drugs, this car is addictive, but it will damage your pocket in more ways than one. Lets start with the price tag, starting off at R1,184,100 as base, making it one of the most expensive bakkies on the market, then comes the fuel cost which I will discuss in detail later on in this review, but filling up 80-litres of petrol will cost you nothing short of R2,000 a tank but in saying that, let me tell you there is nothing that will give you the same experience and sensation when driving. I've driven plenty of performance cars in my life, they all have their limitations but performance bakkies? None come close to what Ford deliver, starting with the first generation Ranger Raptor which was powered by a 2.0L BiTurbo diesel which was a bit more frugal on the fuel consumption and it was good but everyone knew it could be better, so Ford took a leaf from the Jeremy Clarkson book and added "MORE POWER", thankfully they didn't use the normal American thinking and throw in a V8 in there, but a more acceptable 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 petrol engine. Spending a week with this beast made me a different person, I was pushing higher weights at gym, running faster and consuming Monster energy drinks by the gallon, and finding every possible dirt road around my commute just so I can kick up some dust and have fun.
DESIGN
Like the previous generation Ranger Raptor, the car isn't just a standard Ranger with some stickers and bigger engine. The Raptor comes with a different body, which is wider, taller and sleeker than the normal Ranger. The grille is bigger and bolder, with a wafer style pattern with FORD lettering in prominent running across it which leads to the C-Clamp headlamps which has the new Matrix LED's that has become the key design focal point of the new Ranger. The front bumper has been shortened like the previous generation Raptor, with a large skid plate finished in brushed aluminium being quite a visual feature of the front of the car. As mentioned, the Raptor is wider than the normal Ranger and the wheel arches are more bulky, with robust black plastic borders which houses those monster BF Goodrich all terrain KO2 tyres with the 17-inch alloy wheels which not only add to the aesthetics of the car but are functional too. Side steps are larger and wider to fit the profile of the body and are finished off in cast alloy. At the back of the front wheel arch is an air outlet, which I presume has to help with dispelling the heat from the engine bay but either way makes it look cool. The rear of the Raptor is more or less the same as the normal Raptor but again, with the increased ride height and shorter rear bumper styling that houses the twin tail-pipes either side of the bumper. the only off putting thing about this is the fixed tow bar at the back, it I suppose its more robust and can pull a higher towing capacity but with the large nature of the van, it just makes it a bit more cumbersome to park. The decals do add another dimension to the overall look of the car, and I feel it would look naked with out them.
Lets talk about that 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 petrol engine for a second, 292kW, in a bakkie?! That is wild and let me tell you something it can kick butt on the road. The day it rolled into my driveway, I had to high tail to Richards Bay which was 180km from home and just my luck there was torrential rain en-route. Throwing caution to the wind, or rain in this case, I said lets see what this Raptor can do. While keeping to all road safety rules and obeying the speed limit, the Raptor navigating through the rain calmly at 120km/h, flying past almost everyone who was doing half the pace due to the extreme weather conditions. The all terrain tyres made sure the Raptor was fixing to the tarmac and to maximise grip I turned on fourwheel drive just incase. I knew then and there this car was special, I even got pulled over by the police not for speeding but for them to have a look at this car, plus the bright orange paint colour didn't make it subtle when on the road. Like the previous model, where this Raptor really shines is when taking the roads less travelled, hitting a sho-left onto any gravel track gives you an indication the thought process in making this car. With locking differentials on the front and rear and FOX live vales adaptive performance suspension makes driving on the dirt like a piece of cake for the Raptor. The amount of grip you get from the all-terrain tyres make navigating the bends having you feel like you're part of the Dakar. Let me tell you, there's nothing better than seeing the dust storm you're kicking up in the side and review mirrors. The adaptability of the Raptor in the conditions is remarkable and when there are tricky situations, there is always measures to make sure you can power through them. From the various driving modes and off-road settings, there is no task too tall for it to overcome. Now, I did mention this thing does get thirsty, be it on the tarmac or on the dirt, the temptation is always there to give it horns, on Sport mode the Raptor gave me 380km from a single tank of 80-litres, not the most fuel economical vehicle but when considering its a performance vehicle, which ones are? And this can do so much more than your usual high powered car, for starters you can climb pavements without worrying about damaging low-profile tyres or scraping your front sil.
COMFORT
Being a bakkie, you'd be forgiven for thinking the interior would be boring but you will be wrong, very wrong. The Ranger Raptor comes kitted with a stunning interior to match the exterior. High quality materials adorn the cabin and the performance style seats give it that extra aggression. The leather trimmed black dash has the aircon vents matching the design of the front grille with high gloss plastic inserts that match the exterior color of the car.h Raptor badges present on the steering wheel and front seats, both seats are electrically adjustable. The 12-inch command center style touch screen infotainment center is the key to everything in the cabin, like the Ranger, the climate controls are separate and have their own dials for the front passenger and driver. There is a wireless charging mat and USB C ports, the Raptor supports wireless connectivity for all mobile applications. The 12.4-inch customizable digital cluster gives the driver vital information on speed, trip info, and a lot more all at the touch of a button from the multi-function steering. With the 10-speed automatic gearbox, the Raptor comes fitted with the "e-shifter" as well as cast magnesium paddle shifters which enhance that racing feel when driving. Being a big vehicle, the Raptor comes fitted with front and rear PDC's as well as front , rear and side cameras giving you a 360 degree view and a trailer hitch view from their high res cameras or you can just utilize the fully autonomous parking feature and let the car park itself. The Raptor is loaded with a host of safety features from the likes of active collision breaking, lane keep assist and active cruise control to the newer ones like braking with electronic booster and front locking diff which is for difficult rocky terrain and trail control for low speed off-road cruising. The rear occupants enjoy performance style seats as well with rear ventilation for the aircon and USB C ports for charging. The Raptor comes fitted with a host of power outlets including a 3-pin Euro spec plug outlet in the bin. Sound, very important for an Indian from Durban, the 10-speaker B&O premium audio system was more than what I bargained for, with the right amount of clarity and bass.
VERDICT
While many might look at this performance Bakkie and think, it's big, bulky and expensive, why would anyone consider it? And I hear you, but it offers something different to the consumer, many have been used to driving around in bakkies but wanted something more from it now have the option and trust me, there are many as when launched, there was a demand for these and still are causing quite a stir on the NAMSA sales figures, so clearly the demand is there. When it comes to performance there is nothing on the market quite like the Raptor, there competitors have tried but the recipe Ford have here is truly something special, its no wonder that their General Manager of Communications go-to reply on most of the social media channels to anyone asking about cars in general is "just get a Raptor".
SPECIFICATIONS
