This is a blog entry Benna Ford has been eagerly waiting to post. Ford announces the arrival of the Ranger Raptor. The F-150 Raptor has been quite a success, but bigger isn’t always better off-road. So, with the knowledge that a new mid-size Ranger was coming, many have hoped there would be a mid-size Raptor as well. They will not be disappointed.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor® will be the most powerful, high-performance, and off-road capable Ranger ever. It has been designed and engineered by Ford Performance to take off-road capability to the next level among midsize trucks. And it has already proved itself. A pre-production Ranger Raptor won the stock midclass category of the Baja 1000, completing the course in 26 hours and 21 minutes. It was then in fine shape to be driven 200 miles back home to California.
Serious Suspension, Choice Chassis
It all starts with the suspension, which is purpose-built for the Ranger Raptor. The basic geometry has aluminum upper and lower control arms in the front and a long-travel Watts linkage with trailing arms for the rear. Next-generation FOX™ 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks are coil-overs at the front with piggyback reservoirs at the rear for reduced heat build-up to enable uninterrupted day-long performance.
The Raptor takes the Ranger’s already robust fully boxed frame and adds reinforcements for the front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, suspension mounting points, and other key points so you don’t have to baby it when the ground gets rough. For the tricky slow-moving parts, Ranger Raptor also comes with Trail Control™, so drivers can navigate tricky spots while the truck manages the throttle and brakes to keep a steady speed. It is also equipped with both a 360-Degree and Front View Camera to give you sight beyond your driving position.
The Ranger Raptor is versatile, with adjustments to coincide with the immediate task on-hand, starting with the switchable drive modes of Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. Each drive mode appropriately adjusts the FOX™ Live Valve Internal Bypass system damping, throttle response, transmission logic, ABS calibration, traction control, and steering assist, and even determines the appearance and provided information on the instrument cluster and touchscreen. The Raptor’s active valve exhaust system can also be tuned to several modes, including Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja.
For the Power Hungry
Power comes from a Ford Performance-tuned twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 producing a class-leading 405 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque. It easily makes the Raptor the most powerful Ranger, with plenty of power on hand for the gravel, dirt, mud, and sand. The engine includes a race-bred anti-turbo-lag system so that when Baja mode is selected, the turbochargers remain spinning for up to three seconds after the throttle is reduced, such as when coming into a corner so that on-demand acceleration is on-hand for the corner exit.
All that horsepower and torque is channeled through a 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission and then to an advanced four-wheel drive system complete with a new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case and both front and rear locking differentials. It all meets the ground with 33-inch BFGoodrich® all-terrain KO3® tires on 17-inch wheels. The tires can also be mounted to optional beadlock-capable wheels for running extra low tire pressures in the sand and rocky conditions. Protecting the Ranger Raptor’s belly is a thick front high-strength steel skid plate with additional shields for the engine, transfer case, and fuel tank.
Interior Stays on Purpose
The Raptor’s interior is equally purpose-built with well-bolstered Ford Performance front seats to hold drivers in place during high-speed cornering and single-side bumps. The sport steering wheel has a signature Raptor Code Orange centering mark. Code Orange trim can be found throughout the cabin. Just behind the tiller are cast magnesium alloy paddle shifters for quick transmission control. Six overhead upfitter switches are mounted in the overhead console, ready to connect to aftermarket lights, winches, or other off-road hardware.
The driver also has at their command an array of technology to facilitate the Raptor’s off-road duty, including the previously mentioned cameras, Zone Lighting helps bring night visibility to remote locations, and class-exclusive* Pro Trailer Backup Assist to ease reversing with a trailer in tow.
The Raptor is designed to be an on-pavement companion as well with a high-resolution 12.4-inch digital driver’s instrument cluster and a 12-inch center touchscreen. Operating the screen and all infotainment functions is Ford’s SYNC® 4A system, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity so your phone can be secure when things get bumpy. Helping set the proper mood on the way to and from the off-road playground is a Bang & Olufsen® sound system.
If this sounds like the truck you’ve been waiting for, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor will be making its way from its Wayne, Michigan Assembly Plant to Benna Ford around late summer. Pre-orders are being taken now, so contact one of our Beena Ford sales professionals for more information.
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