The Ford Ranger Raptor is an epic desert warrior, but will it come to the U.S.?

By Stephen Edelstein Published February 9, 2018

The Ford F-150 Raptor has become a modern off-roading icon, so Ford decided to give its smaller Ranger pickup truck the Raptor treatment. After months of teasing with camouflaged trucks running around the desert, Ford finally took the wraps off the Ranger Raptor. But the company won’t say whether this downsized off-roader will be sold in the United States.

Like its bigger sibling, the Ford Ranger Raptor looks tougher thanks to flared fenders and numerous other changes to the body. The result is a truck that’s both wider and taller than a standard Raptor, with an impressive 11.1 inches of ground clearance. The macho fender flares help accommodate larger wheels and tires, and the Ranger Raptor boasts approach and departure angles of 32.5 degrees and 24 degrees, respectively, which should keep the truck from ripping off its own bodywork while negotiating obstacles.

Recommended Videos

Under the skin, the Ranger Raptor gets a stiffened frame and upgraded suspension. Like the F-150 Raptor, the Ranger uses shock absorbers supplied by Fox Racing. Another item borrowed from the F-150 is the Terrain Management System. This allows the driver to tweak different vehicle parameters based on the terrain, and includes six modes: Normal and Sport for on-road driving, and Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and Baja for off-roading.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The engine is a 2.0-liter, twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, mated to the same 10-speed automatic transmission used in the F-150 Raptor. With 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, the Ranger Raptor can’t match the F-150 Raptor’s 450 hp. But it compares well to the 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder in the similarly sized Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which develops 181 hp and an identical 369 lb-ft.

That brings us to the big question: Will the Ranger Raptor be sold in the U.S.? While the standard Ranger will return to American showrooms later this year, Ford did not say anything about selling the Raptor here. Ford Performance chief vehicle engineer Jamal Hameedi subsequently told Australian publication Drive that he thought the Raptor would be a hit in U.S., but that it would need a gasoline engine. That shouldn’t be a problem, as Ford has plenty to choose from.

This indicates Ford is at least thinking about selling the Ranger Raptor in the U.S. But since Ford already sells the F-150 Raptor here, Hameedi said the company will focus on other markets first.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Volkswagen is pursuing the elusive entry-level EV with its ID. EVERY1 concept car

Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 concept car

Volkswagen is hoping to bring electric vehicles to the masses with its super affordable new EV concept. The ID. EVERY1 car will launch in Europe for just €20,000 (around $21,500) and could become the go-to entry-level vehicle for customers interested in EVs.

The small four-door hatchback was revealed as a concept car, with the production model set for a launch in 2027. The EVERY1 will join another affordable model, the ID 2all, which will be launched next year for €25,000 ($27,000), and Volkswagen promises there will be up to nine new models revealed by 2027.

Cars

I sat in the Xiaomi SU7, here are 5 features that every car needs

Xiaomi SU7 Max SUV first look

I’ve spent almost two decades reviewing most facets of consumer technology, but I’ve never been a huge car guy. For many years, it represented a way to get from A to B, but electric cars have changed this.

The best electric cars solve many of my biggest complaints with a car, and some of the best cars are being made by brands I would never have expected. I’ve sat in Sony’s upcoming car, the AFEELA, and I love the immersive entertainment experience, but one of my primary concerns is the lack of a killer use case for many of these features.

Audio / Video

Soon you’ll be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos Music in Cadillac EVs

A red Cadillac EV on a dark background with the Dolby and Cadillac emblems underneath.

Dolby Atmos is a pretty remarkable experience when heard within a properly tuned car cabin setup, as implemented by Rivian R1S and the Cadillac Optiq, in particular. Now, Dolby and Cadillac have announced that Atmos will be support across the entire line of Cadillac EVs -- which includes the Escalade IQL, Escalade IQ, Lyriq-V, Optiq (as we heard at CES), and Vistiq. Support will also extend into select 2025 models with an over-the-air update, although which are not a part of this announcement.

As we now seem to be spending more and more time in our cars (according to the Federal Highway Administration, Americans drive a staggering 3 trillion miles a year), having the best possible sound in our cars is even more desirable than in the past. As John Couling, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories says, "Whether you are listening to music to pass the time on a long commute or sharing a special moment on a family road trip, music has the power to transform mundane moments into something remarkable." Chief Engineer at Cadillac, John Cockburn adds, "Together, [Cadillac and Dolby] are taking audio to new heights by ensuring the music experience stays true to the artist's original vision, delivering a sound experience that makes consumers feel like they are in the music studio with them."