Australians will be able to order a Ford Ranger Raptor in 2018 with genuine Raptor DNA as the new hero model for the Ranger line-up, following its global reveal in Bangkok, Thailand, in February this year
The Ranger Raptor answers the calls from Aussies for a Ranger with even more character, individualism and genuine off-road capability, reflecting the broader use of pick-ups beyond traditional workhorse duties to a highly charged, performance vehicle
The Ranger Raptor will be introduced following extensive testing at Ford Australia’s You Yangs Proving Ground and in remote locations across the globe, with Australian-based engineers and designers playing a crucial role in its development
Ranger Raptor will build on Ford’s truck and pick-up heritage, with roots back to Lewis Bandt’s 1934 Coupe Utility through to the current locally-engineered Ford Ranger line-up, Ford Australia’s most popular model
The first-ever Ford Ranger Raptor is the ultimate expression of the Ford Ranger, and will be available for Australian off-road enthusiasts as a bold entrant in an all-new niche. It will go on sale in 2018 with a Manufacturer’s List Price of $74,990*.
“We’re unbelievably excited and delighted to be able to confirm that the Ranger Raptor is coming to Australia in 2018,” said Graeme Whickman, President and CEO of Ford Australia. “The response to our announcement in September, and the interest from the global reveal back in February to bring it to market at such a sharp price only adds to the anticipation ahead of its arrival in local showrooms,” said Whickman.
The Ranger Raptor will lead the Ranger line-up and be offered in other markets around the world, just as Ranger is offered in more than 180 countries. Ranger Raptor will showcase Australian design and engineering expertise in conjunction with Ford Performance Raptor DNA that builds on Ford’s strong truck heritage.
“Aussies have a passion for performance cars, and an appetite for pick-ups, and the Ranger is a direct response to that,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Graeme Whickman. “Our local design and engineering team has worked incredibly hard with Ford Performance on this truly unique program to deliver a product that brings Raptor DNA and meets the needs of Australians who’ve called for such a vehicle.”
Raptor DNA: A force to be reckoned with
The Ford Ranger Raptor is Ford’s first performance pick-up truck for Australia. It comes with exclusive features unique to the pick-up segment, and has been developed to deliver the ultimate performance experience for off-road users, benefiting from locally-led design and engineering at venues across the world including Ford Australia’s You Yangs Proving Ground and Borrego in the USA, where the F-150 Raptor was tested.
The current Ford Ranger is the market leader in 4x4 pick-ups as the best-selling 4x4 pick-up here in 2017. The Ranger Raptor builds on the inherent qualities of the Ford F-Series Raptor, and brings with it the Tough Done Smarter elements that meet Australian buyer’s light commercial needs.
Ranger customers are increasingly using their vehicle for both work and recreational purposes, including off-road drives, and Ranger Raptor raises the bar. Leveraging Ford’s engineering experience in building tough trucks and global engineering expertise in performance vehicles, the Ranger Raptor is an extremely capable off-roader built on customer feedback from Ford’s performance and truck products, both in Australia and around the globe.
Based on the Ranger with its Australian-led engineering and design, the Ranger Raptor has been developed for customers who desire a pick-up truck that delivers an unmistakably unique statement. The Ranger Raptor is made for off-road enthusiasts who appreciate an outdoor lifestyle and seek out the most extreme terrain, demanding an authentic, truly capable vehicle that’s a cut above other off-roaders. Ranger Raptor is the result of this vision.
“It’s clear that there’s an appetite for a performance pick-up, and we’ve worked hard to deliver something that fits the bill as a genuine performance product,” said Graeme Whickman. “The Ranger Raptor is the real deal: its unique engineering and performance aspects make it unlike any other Ranger – or any other truck on sale, for that matter.”
Ranger Raptor: Equipped like no other
The Ford Performance Ranger Raptor will be offered as a single specification, featuring an all-new power-train, advanced suspension and unmatched capability as the first Ford Performance pick-up offered in Australia.
Ford Performance Raptor DNA begins with the Ranger Raptor’s aggressive stance, headlined by its ‘Ford’ block-letter from grille, HID headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps, and unique front and rear bumpers to build Ranger Raptor’s visual punch. Bolstered by its 33-inch diameter BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres, and flanked by Ranger Raptor-specific heavy-duty side-steps, the Ranger Raptor shows off-road ability from before its turned a wheel.
Underneath the skin, Ranger Raptor’s race-bred long travel suspension with Fox Shox, aluminium upper and lower control arms, heavy duty skid-plates and under-body protection, which – combined with a unique chassis – enables Ranger Raptor to be the most capable off-road Ford Ranger. This includes wider front and rear tracks, greater ride height, increased approach and departure angles, as well as water wading capability that’s enhanced to 850mm^.
The Ranger Raptor will be powered by a new-generation Bi-Turbo diesel producing 157kW/500Nm through a 10-speed automatic with magnesium paddle shifters for high performance capability. The flexibility of the power-train is further unlocked through the Ranger Raptor’s unique six-mode Terrain Management System (TMS), which includes low- and high-range four-wheel drive and a locking rear-differential. The Ranger Raptor’s TMS introduces Baja mode, which is exclusive to Raptor DNA, and offers the ultimate off-road performance settings.
In addition, Ranger Raptor will introduce a host of convenience features as standard, including smart keyless entry, push-button start as well as a power tailgate lock. SYNC 3 with an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen and standard sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Autoi compatibility is also standard for Ranger Raptor. The Raptor interior also features exclusive leather-accented bucket seats, a unique instrument cluster with its own start-up display behind a Raptor-embossed steering wheel with competition-spec ‘straight ahead’ marking.
Ranger Raptor: building on Ford’s global truck heritage
Ford celebrated 100 years of trucks in 2017, and that expertise has been leveraged for Ranger Raptor. Earning its keep alongside the F-150 Raptor in other markets, the Ranger Raptor meets the stringent demands of Ford’s global truck line while delivering the driver – and passengers – that genuine Raptor DNA.
“This is a fully warranted, factory performance vehicle,” said Ranger Raptor Chief Program Engineer, Damien Ross. “While Raptor DNA calls for extreme performance, the vehicle must meet the regulations, demands and expectations in terms of ownership experience that all of our products are measured by. That’s no mean feat.”
Throughout this rich history, Ford has continuously worked to improve its trucks by listening to owners and developing innovations that improve their ability to get the job done. These innovations give today’s Ford truck owners greater towing and cargo carrying capability, advanced engines for improved efficiency, and driver-assist technologies that make them more convenient to drive and own. Ranger Raptor owners will benefit from this legacy.
The first-ever Ford Performance Ranger Raptor will be on sale in Australia in 2018.
Ranger Raptor to have a MLP from $74,990*
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