Ford Ranger Raptor (2023) – A little slice of America

What a beast!

With its unusual size, unrivalled off-road capabilities and a powerful 3.0-litre V6 fuelled by unleaded petrol, could the new Ford Ranger Raptor have got it all wrong these days? Let’s find out.

“It’s too big! It pollutes too much! But what’s the point of a car like that?” Let’s put aside these futile considerations and concentrate on what the Ranger Raptor really is: an enormous delicacy that is the perfect embodiment of guilty pleasure. And by its shape, this huge orange candy – 5.36 m long, 1.93 m high and 2.03 m wide – is of the sour type: muscular wheel arches, grey Ford monogram on the grille, 17-inch wheels on off-road tyres, Raptor stickers here and there, cast aluminium running boards…

If it is indeed a real brute, this tough guy is no less technological. A 12-inch touchscreen with the next-generation SYNC 4A infotainment system and a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster are a welcome addition. The interior is also sporty, with full-grain leather and alcantara bucket seats topped with orange accents, a colour that is also found on the dashboard.

The treats continue on the specification sheet with a reinforced chassis and FOX shock absorbers leading to a class-leading 27 cm ground clearance. And if that wasn’t enough, there are massive skid plates to protect the underpinnings of this ‘truck’. There is also a driving mode galore with seven distinct programmes: Normal, Sport, Slick, Mud, Sand, Rocky and Baja. They affect the active exhaust, steering, differential lock and traction.

Under the bonnet, there’s a more measured approach, although it’s bigger than the old Ranger Raptor. The latest Ranger Raptor is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 with 288 PS and 491 Nm of torque. Bonus: Active Anti-Lag optimises performance by keeping the valves open for an extra three seconds. The 205 PS 2.0-litre diesel will also be available. The duo is paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission.

The new Ford Ranger Raptor will be available in the next few months at a price starting in France at €65,280 including VAT.