Strictly speaking, a pick-up is a beautiful commercial vehicle. But Ford manages to make the new Ranger emotional. And the top model Raptor is even more emotional - with flap exhaust and three-liter six-cylinder.
Admittedly, there are busier sales markets for pick-ups than Germany. Nevertheless, some private and commercial customers value this useful vehicle segment in order to be able to handle all kinds of transport tasks. But pick-ups are always at the same time lifestylers with the ability to attract attention - because they have a strong fan base. After all, many representatives of this class have large eight-cylinder engines under the hood - but these are usually other weight classes, and that's more in the USA.
But where there is a lot of fire under the hood, there is usually a lot of emotion among the customers. So it's probably no coincidence that Ford initially rolls out its latest generation of the Ranger (one-ton segment) to customers in the Raptor version. And if the Raptor used to be a boring diesel, the company is now giving the top version (from 79,432 euros) an emotional piece of mechanical engineering. Three liters of displacement from six cylinders is quite the announcement at a time when quite a few people see combustion engines as obsolete models.
So is the Ranger Raptor anachronistic? Not at all, because despite all the electric euphoria, it should not be forgotten that petrol tasters will still be sold for 13 years from the current perspective. And why shouldn't the Ranger be a bit more luxurious than it used to be with a cultivated engine.
Now let's finally climb the trumm, which looks futuristic despite its classic design, with a distinctive LED signature (works well thanks to the running board) and start its twin-turbo V6. Now listen: It sounds pleasantly sonorous shortly after starting and the six-pointer can also really snort. Although not a sports car, the technicians transplanted a flap exhaust system to enable various types of acoustic development. A dream for car enthusiasts - in any case, customers who do not have to transport bulky or voluminous goods would also like to have the Ranger Raptor. Objects 1.22 meters wide and 1.56 meters long can be placed on the platform.
One can only hope that seven modes (from "Normal" to "Sport" or "Sand" to "Baja") are not too much of a good thing and overwhelm the drivers. In any case, I let the new Raptor really escalate after getting to the gravel pit in "Normal" - of course in the most aggressive mode "Baja". With a full load over the scree, build up speed and then over the hill with such a bang that the extremely stable ladder frame construction feels like it easily lifts one to one and a half meters, only to land gently again as if nothing had happened. The Kraxler also lets one or the other controlled misfire pop out - the passengers have fun.
What else can the Raptor do? Crawling over paths with maximum axle articulation using off-road vehicle cruise control that you could only complete with difficulty on foot. Of course, with two 100 percent locks and terrain reduction, if the first gear of a ten-speed automatic transmission is still not enough. This allows the Ford to climb slopes that are so steep that even from below you can get dizzy if you just look up. However, depending on the mode, one axle can be decoupled for reasons of efficiency - then the Raptor drives with only one drive axle.
With all the concentration with which one should face such extreme conditions, it is almost forgotten that the Ranger has become really modern in the meantime. A huge touchscreen invites you to use it, but also to play. Or just to watch. The fact that Ford has long since cleaned up the mechanical displays is well known from the other young models. The inductive charging surface for the smartphone should be mentioned, it is practical.
The stylishly shaped automatic selector lever must also be mentioned - albeit as an example of the fact that the handle could have been released better here. Although it feels good in the hand, it houses two push buttons. In addition to the one that unlocks the lever, there is also the one that is responsible for switching to manual mode. This creates confusion and makes things tricky.
Of course, the usual little helpers from autonomous brake assistants to lane warning systems to blind spot monitoring cannot pass by a Ranger in 2022 either.
If you think you don't have to drive a six-cylinder in the Ranger, you can still get various smaller diesels. It starts with 125 kW/170 hp from a two-liter displacement, then comes the four-cylinder, two-liter biturbo - with 151 kW/205 hp and 500 Newton meters of torque, it's not exactly weak either. But there is also a six-cylinder diesel option - the customer has a wide range to choose from.
And the diesel rangers, which of course don't sound so fine, can transport just as much as the luxurious top model. Unfortunately, the Raptors can only take 2.5 tons on the hook - more could be possible here. But even without any thought of utility, the powerful double cabin allows you to cruise down the slopes with maximum comfort, even a few hundred kilometers at a time and also in the second row, where there is not exactly a lack of space.
In any case, the looks of passers-by are sure of the owner, but the question of which make it is should be superfluous in view of the XXL Ford lettering on the radiator grille. By the way, the Ranger itself is XXL with an external length of 5.36 meters.
So - fear of contact with expansive companions is not advisable if you want to sign the Ranger contract. This is possible from now on in the expectation that the delivery may arrive at the beginning of the year. And until then, lots of anticipation!
Technical specifications
