Now news that fans of the Ford Raptor badge are sure to be happy with. Ford is now bringing the Ranger Raptor to the U.S. It's part of the all-new 2024 Ford Ranger lineup that can be ordered starting later this month. It will mark the first time the Baja 1000 race-proven Ranger Raptor will be sold in North America.
“Ranger Raptor is the high-performance off-road truck so many customers have been begging for. It’s right-sized for tight trails and daily life, can carry lots of gear, and is a blast to drive. Ranger Raptor is fast, comfortable, and packed with top-shelf, purposeful technology that’s designed to perform. This is the baddest Ranger we’ve ever made," said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor
As with other Raptor-badged models like the F-150 Raptor, F-150 Raptor R and Bronco Raptor, the Ranger Raptor pickup is built for off-roading performance.
Suspension
Ford's equipped the Ranger Raptor to tackle challenging dunes with a long travel suspension, including a Watts link rear suspension and class-exclusive 2.5-inch FOX Live Valve shocks. It's purpose-built suspension includes lightweight aluminum upper and lower control arms and a long-travel rear suspension with a Watts linkage and trailing arms for control and confidence in off-road conditions.
Photo Credit: Ford.
The next-generation FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks are coil-overs at the front and piggyback reservoirs at the rear to reduce heat build-up for uninterrupted performance all day long. The FOX system changes damping performance based on Ranger Raptor’s Drive Modes. Modes include Normal, Tow/Haul, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja, all developed to provide better on-road comfort, off-road control, capability and ride quality at high and low speeds. Each drive mode adjusts the tuning of the engine, transmission, ABS calibration, traction control, steering, throttle response and even the instrument cluster and touch screen look and information. An active valve exhaust system provides Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja settings.
Ford also took the Ranger’s fully boxed frame up a notch by reinforcing the front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, suspension mounting points, and other key areas so Ranger Raptor can handle more punishing off-road conditions.
Trail Control helps drivers navigate tricky spots while the truck manages the throttle and brakes.
Powertrain
The Ranger Raptor is the most powerful Ranger ever built with a unique-to-the-Ranger Raptor Ford Performance tuned twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, It delivers 405-horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and advanced four-wheel drive system with a new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case combined with front and rear locking differentials.
Photo Credit: Ford.
Baja Mode
Beginning with a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block, the engine utilizes a race-bred anti turbo-lag system to enable boost on demand in Baja mode. It keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle, so acceleration is there while exiting corners.
Ford says the pre-production 2023 Ranger Raptor proved its mettle by winning the stock mid-class category of the Baja 1000, completing the course in 26 hours and 21 minutes. After that it drove home almost 200 miles from the finish line to California.
Design
Exterior design features include Raptor badging along with LED projector headlights with C-clamp signature lighting. F-O-R-D lettering on the grille sits above an all-steel bumper with integrated, frame-mounted front and rear tow hooks and LED taillights with a signature C-clamp link to the front.
Photo credit: Ford.
Flared fenders with functional fender vents house aggressive 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires on 17-inch wheels. They can optionally be mounted to available beadlock capable wheels with available bead locks for running extra low tire pressures in sand and rocky conditions. In terms of underbody protection, the Ranger Raptor sports a thick front high-strength steel bash plate and dedicated engine, transfer case and fuel tank shields.
Cabin
In the cabin you'll find a sport steering wheel with cast magnesium alloy paddle shifters and a signature Raptor centering mark in a Code Orange color.
Photo Credit: Ford.
Six overhead upfitter switches mounted in the overhead console simplify powering off-road hardware. Unique Ford Performance front seats have extra bolstering to hold drivers in place during high-speed cornering. The rest of the cab includes premium materials trimmed in Code Orange.
Photo Credit: Ford.
Technology and Safety
Technology and safety features include a 360-Degree Camera and Front View Camera to assist in off-roading, Zone Lighting to light up the night in remote locations, and class-exclusive Pro Trailer Backup Assist to help back up boats and campers at the kinds of remote locations
It's also outfitted with two large screens, a high-resolution 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 12-inch center touchscreen running SYNC 4A, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless smartphone connectivity. A Bang & Olufsen sound system pumps out your music of choice.
Availability
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor will be assembled at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Orders begin later this month with availability late this summer. Click here to sign up for Ford updates.
Photo Credit: Ford.