S
outh Africans are crazy
about their bakkies and in an
effort to stand out from the
crowd, everyone wants something
different. Ford Ranger fans,
especially those in Pretoria, have
been customising their bakkies
with Raptor sticker kits, aftermarket
grilles and bonnets for some time,
taking inspiration from the iconic
F-150 Raptor.
In a classic case of giving buyers
what they want, Ford has finally
developed a proper Ranger Raptor.
This is no aesthetic job with a couple
of stickers; this is the real thing, with
genuine Ford Performance design
and engineering excellence.
First of all, the Raptor looks the
part. Larger dimensions including a
150mm wider front track and flared
wheel arches – along with an
imposing grille adorned with Ford
block lettering – means this bakkie is
immediately recognisable as some-
thing special. The boytjies in Pretoria
with their fake Raptor kits can’t help
but look the other way.
Upfront high-intensity discharge
headlamps with LED daytime
running lights and fog lamps are
positioned above a frame-mounted
front bumper system.
The striking, flared composite front
fenders are designed to shrug off
damage from off-road usage and
allow for the longer suspension travel.Tough side steps are finished with a
grippy, anti-slip material and are
designed specifically to prevent rock
spray from hitting the rear of the
vehicle as it powers along the dirt.
A cool feature of these is that they
stick out further than the bodywork,
so if someone is going to open their
door against yours in the parking lot,
their door will hit the sidesteps and
not the bodywork.CAN IT GO OFF-ROAD?
Under this mean exterior is a unique
Ford Performance chassis optimised
for high-speed off-road driving and
go-anywhere ability. The reinforced
chassis frame uses high-strength,
low-alloy steels to withstand the
punishment endured by extreme
off-road driving.
Ground clearance of 310mm
upfront and 240mm at the rear along
with and impressive approach, ramp
and departure angles that ensure
impressive go-anywhere capability.
Underbody protection is taken care
of with a 2.3mm bash plate in
addition to the standard engine and
transfer case shields.
The Fox Performance shocks under
this bakkie are really something
special. The high-performance
2.5-inch front dampers, which
incorporate protruding shock
absorber towers, feature twice the oil
volume, an aluminium body for heatleisurewheels.co.za SEPTEMBER 2019 57
Main image:
A wider
front track,
flared wheel
arches and
an imposing
grille mean
this Ranger is
immediately
recognisable
as something
special.
This page,
bottom: Ford
performance
DNA is clearly
visible in
the cabin.
Off-road
sport seats
provide the
right amount
of sport while
blue stitching,
leather
accents and
racing-style
paddle shifts
add style and
functionality.dissipation and advanced internal
bypass technology that allows the
Raptor to really shine when the
terrain gets rough.
Local engineers spent a lot of time
tuning these shocks for our
conditions. Low damper forces in the
middle of the range of travel give a
feeling akin to a magic carpet ride.
The rebound is set in such a way
that when a big knock is absorbed it
doesn’t bounce back immediately.
In other words, it lands softly with-
out bucking up, if hitting jumps are
your thing.
Installing just these shocks on a
regular Ranger will set you back
around R100 000. But the Raptor is
more than just fancy shocks. All the
suspension components have been
beefed up and include forged
aluminium upper control arms and
cast aluminium lower control arms
which are stronger yet lighter.
At the rear, a bespoke coilover rear
suspension arrangement features an
integrated Watt’s linkage that allows
the axle to move up and down with
very little lateral movement.
Developing the overall handling
package did not end with the
suspension. The tyres were also
specially developed in conjunction
with BFGoodrich. These KO2s
feature a higher speed rating and
lower load range and in that way,
match the suspension and drivetrain
of the Raptor perfectly. A tough
sidewall provides puncture resistance
while an aggressive tread pattern
ensures superb grip across all types
of surfaces.
These tyres are fitted to muscular
17-inch multi-spoke alloys that are
unique to the Raptor.
This fancy suspension system along
with the wider track and bespoke
tyres give the Raptor a planted feel at
high speeds which is confidence-
inspiring. The standout feature of the
Raptor is without a doubt how far
you can push it off-road. Speeds on
gravel and over rough washaways are
higher than anything we have ever
experienced while the ride remains
more comfortable than any other
bakkie on the market.IS IT FAST?
The Raptor is powered by a Bi-Turbo
version of Ford’s 2.0-litre diesel
engine that delivers 157kW and