8 Things We Love About the Ford Ranger Raptor (2 Reasons We’d Never Buy One) | Biden News

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Pickup trucks and SUVs are all the rage right now, especially compact ones like the Hyundai Santa Cruz and Volkswagen Tiguan, and Ford recently decided to join the party. Ford known mainly for two reasons; their muscle cars, especially the Mustang, and their pickup trucks – today we’ll discuss the latter, the Ranger.


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The Ford Ranger has been around since the early 80s, and at its core is aimed at those who want a smaller, more affordable F-150 pickup, and the latest generation Ranger was introduced in 2019. Since then, there has always been speculation about a performance-oriented version, and finally our dreams have come true. It’s called the Ford Ranger Raptor, and here’s why you should be excited for its 2023 launch.

10/10 We like: The first Ranger Raptor available in the US

The Ranger Raptor idea is not new. The previous generation Ranger Raptor was sold in most countries of the world except – you guessed it – the countries of the free, but that’s about to change.

The exact date it will be available for purchase, as well as its suggested retail price, are still a bit vague at the moment, but you can expect the Ranger Raptor to arrive in US dealerships in early 2023 and cost around $50,000.

9/10 We love: off-road capabilities

The next-gen Ranger Raptor won’t just have fat tires and a raised suspension tuned for cosmetic purposes, it actually serves a purpose, and it’s much more than meets the eye.

A few off-road-focused updates to the Raptor include a stiffened chassis and skid plate for rough terrain, 2.5-inch Fox adaptive shocks, and some unique rider modes that change the Ranger’s personality – but more on that later.

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8/10 We love: Gasoline performance

The previous Ranger Raptor effectively absorbed a 210bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, but we’re happy to confirm that the new Ranger will no longer have to settle for such a paltry powerplant, although a similar option will still be available. be available in certain markets.

The next-generation Ranger Raptor will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Ecoboost V6 gasoline engine that produces 392 hp. and 430 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. In the real world, that means a 0-60 time of around 5.5 seconds is likely to become a reality, if not faster.

7/10 We love: a well-built interior

It’s not often you find yourself saying “well-built” and “Ford” in the same sentence, but they’ve stepped up their game in recent years. Instead of the old dim, low-resolution screen, the new Raptor will have a large 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, as well as a full 12.4-inch digital gauge.

Not only that, but the materials that will be used for the interior will be much better than those used in previous Ford models, but don’t get your hopes up, the chances of plastic scratches here and there are still very high. high

6/10 (We love) The look

If there’s one thing we can always expect from Ford, it’s that their Raptor creations are some of the scariest cars on the road.

We’ve already mentioned that it features fat tires and a raised ride height, but it also features wider fender flares, a huge blacked-out grille with Ford name engravings, and extravagant Code Orange paint. has to be one of the coolest colors available on any car.

5/10 We love: Rear and front locking differentials

To some, limited-slip differentials and locking differentials seem like just a modern gimmick that sounds cool on paper but serves no purpose in the real world, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The 2023 Ranger Raptor will feature front and rear locking differentials. This means that if the going gets tough, the axles can lock up and direct all of the V6 Ecoboost’s power to the wheel with the most grip, be it front or rear – no more getting stuck.

4/10 We love: Baja mode

Like most modern cars, the Ranger Raptor has several different driving modes, seven to be exact. They include standard comfort, sport and eco, but the new Baja mode stands out the most.

This allows the twin turbos to continue spinning for three seconds after you let off the throttle to make sure it’s ready for any punches. Baja mode also opens up the adaptive exhaust system to make as much noise as possible from the V6 engine and lets the pickup know you’re going to do what the Raptor was born to do – race on anything but asphalt.

3/10 We like: Much faster than the previous Ranger Raptor

Ford has an off-road test track where they test all the off-road capabilities of their cars; The location and contents of this track remain a mystery, but we do know that it is 10 km (6.2 mi) long.

The previous generation Ranger Raptor set a time of… well, we don’t know how fast it went on the track, that’s how secretive Ford keeps these test sites. But we do know that the new Ranger Raptor lapped the same course a full minute faster than its predecessor, so you know that means business.

2/10 We would never buy: Unsatisfactory truck performance

On the one hand, most Raptor buyers don’t care about towing capacity because they’re only interested in driving first, but if you care about such things, we’ve got some bad news.

The new Ranger Raptor can only tow up to 5,100 pounds, and compared to the base model’s 7,500-pound towing capacity, you’re better off saving your money and going with a cheaper, less exciting option.

Related: Watch This Epic Ford F-150 Raptor vs. Ranger Battle

1/10 We’d never buy: The Bronco Raptor exists

The Ranger Raptor won’t be completely unbeatable, after all, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 exists, but there’s one car that we think poses an even bigger threat to the Raptor, and it’s made by Ford itself – the Bronco Raptor.

Starting at a whopping $70,000, the Bronco Raptor is much more expensive than the Ranger, but undeniably cooler in every way. Its doors are removable, it has all the features of the Ranger Raptor, including the transmission (retuned to make more power), and it’s generally much more reliable. It makes you think…

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