Ford Ranger Raptor

If you want to drive pickis but still stand out and not feel like a construction worker driving your company vehicle, you should take a closer look at the Ford Ranger Raptor!

There is indeed a big brother called the F150 Raptor, but it is clearly better suited in the States where it is built for than here in Sweden. Here it is a little too big for our spaces in town, in Norrland it is a completely different matter of course. As the heart of the Ford Ranger Raptor, we find a twin-turbo V6 engine of 3 liters. The effect is 288 horses. In order to make the equipment more stable, there are shock absorbers from the brand FOX on it, which makes the ride in the "Baja" driving mode really pleasant. 

I have owned several pickups, mainly the Volkswagen Amarok, of which I had a total of four, two of which were with the V6 engine. Then I ended my pickup time with a Merceds X-Class, So you can say that I know what it's like to drive a European pickup, Why I started driving a pickup from the beginning was because I could easily photograph other cars at speed while sitting on the flap. Now I've switched to a Jeep that you can convert into a convertible in the summer but that's a whole other story because we're going to focus on the Ford Ranger Raptor now.

Pickups are known to drink relatively much soup compared to other "normal" cars. To still be as gentle on the environment as possible, Ford has made the Ranger Raptor able to go down to 2WD, two-wheel drive instead of 4WD, four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is of course a big advantage in difficult road conditions and heavy loads. but when there are normal conditions and no load, it is only a disadvantage environmentally and considerably more gentle with two-wheel drive. 

One thing that has received a much-needed update with the new Ford Ranger Raptor is the interior. Now it feels modern and stylish compared to the previous generation which was known for years. A large, stylish screen in the middle of the front console fills most of what you need to keep an eye on. The version I borrowed had black interior with red accent markings around many of the interior parts. Stylish and sober in a sporty way. At the bottom of the steering wheel and in the backrests is the Raptor logo so you don't forget which car you're driving and sitting in. Joking aside, the interior feels updated and modern. Of course, the car has Apple CarPlay and perfectly fine sound as well. 

 

How is it to drive then? Excellent I would say as a seasoned pickup driver. You have a good idea of what is around the car and when you cannot see thanks to the help of the cameras around the car. Four pieces to be exact, one in the front, one on each rear view mirror and one in the back. Now, I didn't have time to expose the Ford Ranger Raptor to any advanced terrain, but I have heard from colleagues who have, and it behaves superbly even when the road consists of mud and stops instead of asphalt. This is because the car is equipped with an advanced four-wheel drive system that includes an electronically controlled differential lock. The electronically controlled differential lock can lock the front and rear differentials. In order to really be able to choose the driving program that the surface requires, there are a total of seven driving modes to choose from. In addition, the Ford Ranger Raptor is equipped with underbody protection. The front is made of 2.3 millimeter thick high-strength steel, which is twice as large as on the regular Ranger without the Raptor addition in the same generation. So the Ranger Raptor will handle a lot, that thing is clear. 

Then we come to the boring part with the Ford Ranger Raptor and that is the economy. The new price is SEK 679,900. But then you also have to pay a vehicle tax of SEK 30,790 per year. So if you are a craftsman or are going to use the Ranger Raptor in the service, it will be expensive. The fact that it can't load more than 2,500 kilos on a trailer or load 545 kilos on the flatbed is no big deal. 

So can you live with your expensive economy and poor loading possibilities, on the other hand, the Ford Ranger Raptor is clearly a pickup you should take a closer look at, because you're guaranteed to like it!