Ford is holding the first media drive of the new Ranger Raptor in Morocco, releasing along the way a detailed image gallery of its latest performance pickup truck.
And while the company has denied U.S. the pleasure of a baby Raptor, the rest of the world is about to get its first taste of what a Baja-inspired pickup truck can do.
Don’t let the modest engine specs ruin your appetite; the new Ranger Raptor might have just a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel under its bonnet but it comes with two turbos and paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the same one with its big brother the F-150 Raptor.
It might not be a V6 but it offers 210hp (213PS) and a hefty 368lb-ft (500Nm) of torque. 0-62mph (100km/h) comes in 10.5 seconds while top speed is set at 106mph (170km/h). Weight is set at 2,510kg (5,533lbs), while towing capacity is up to 2,5 tonnes (5,511lbs).
The biggest changes come in the chassis department; the ladder frame here is reinforced with high-strength, low-alloy steels to make it more durable and stronger and the same goes for the suspension.
The front shock towers are new, the control arms are made out of aluminum while the rear setup is all bespoke, featuring an integrated Watt’s linkage that limits lateral movement drastically. The tracks are wider by 150mm and the ride height is 51mm taller than a standard Ranger XLT.
Then we get to the Fox Racing shocks that feature what Ford calls Position Sensitive Damping; these are 2.5-inch (63.5mm) in diameter, managing to provide higher damping forces in high-speed off-road driving and lower damping forces in on-road conditions thanks to their internal bypass technology. Front damper travel has been increased by 32 percent and the rear travel by 18 percent.
In total, the Ford Ranger Raptor offers 283mm ground clearance and a 850mm wading depth. Off-road figures include a 32.5-degree approach angle and ramp-over and departure angles of 24 degrees. The 17-inch wheels are wrapped with all-terrain BF Goodrich 285/70 tires.
Customers will be able to choose between Ford Performance Blue, Colorado Red, Shadow Black, Frozen White and Conquer Grey colors for their Ranger Raptor. Ford will begin the first deliveries in Europe in mid-2019.