Ford’s $80K Ranger Raptor coming to eat HiLux’s smoko

Ford has revealed the much-hyped Ranger Raptor dual-cab ute with twin-turbo power, 10-speed auto, tough all-wheel drive — and a price tag tipped to be in the $80K range.

THE rampaging Ford Ranger Raptor, which will soon set a new Australian benchmark for sports utes, is ready to roar.

Powered by a completely new twin-turbo four-cylinder engine, with a 10-speed automatic gearbox and terrain tuned all-wheel drive, it was unveiled this week in Thailand.

Ranger Raptor: The $80K tradie ride?

Australian sales will begin in the third quarter of the year with a price tag in the $80,000 range.

That’s a lot of money for a one-tonne ute but Ford insists the Raptor is not just a Ranger in party clothes.

“When the dust settles, you will see our first high-speed off-road compact pick-up,” the maker says.

It has a long list of unique equipment that takes it up and beyond the current Ranger headliner, the Wildtrak at $61,790.

Ranger Raptor: Plenty of unique parts.

Many pieces can’t be switched between a Wildtrak and a Raptor — bumpers, grille and tub — which highlights the effort that went into the three-year development program on the vehicle.

The Raptor was designed and developed in Australia as the latest step in the Ranger-Everest program but has been extensively tested in Sweden and the US as well as the outback.

It is only available as a dual-cab ute, continuing the approach which has worked for Ford with the XLT and Wildtrak versions of the Ranger — these account for 75 per cent of sales.

Dual-cab only: The Raptor’s twin-turbo promises 157kW/500Nm.

It will run against a new generation of high-performance utes, led by the Colorado SportsCat from Holden Special Vehicles and the Toyota HiLux Rugged X, both priced above $65,000.

Ford says the Raptor’s advantage comes from its powerful engine, although rumours persist that HSV intends to produce a V6 petrol SportsCat.

The new engine promises 157kW/500Nm to turn the part-time, dual-range four-wheel drive package. There are paddle-shifters — a first for any Ranger — and six terrain modes, the toughest being Baja, copied from the US-market F150 that contests the desert events.

The Raptor’s suspension is unique, from aluminium arms to twin rear dampers mounted nearer the wheels. The 17-inch alloy wheels are shod with 285x70 Goodrich tyres.

The office: Raptor will take on HiLux Rugged X and Colorado SportsCat, both about $65,000.

Visually, the biggest change is the unique front bumper and a punchy grille with FORD stamped prominently in another visual link to the F150. Inside are unique seats and a leather sports steering wheel.

Ford Australia is yet to confirm the exact arrival date for the Raptor, which will be built in Thailand and sold throughout the Asia-Pacific.