The rugged Raptor is the new hero of the Ford range

THE hairy-chested V8 Falcons are gone, but now there’s a new hero for the Ford faithful. Does it live up to the hype?

The Ford Raptor is the ultimate bloke magnet. Pic: Supplied.

THE Ranger Raptor is Ford’s new hero vehicle and at $75,000-plus one of the most expensive utes on sale. Does the new bloke magnet live up to the hype?

1. It has a 2.0-litre engine

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. For all its machismo the Ranger Raptor has a (relatively) small 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel under the bonnet. Twin turbochargers and a 10-speed auto give it a boost but it’s still slow. The 0-100km/h time claimed by Ford and verified by us and other outlets is 10.5 seconds, about as quick as a Toyota Corolla. The VW Amarok TDV6 and RAM 1500 V8 petrol both stop the clocks in 7.8 seconds.

The Ford Raptor has become the new hero of the Ford range. Pic: Supplied.

2. It’s heavy

All that extra gear — such as the insanely good Fox shocks, unique chassis, wider track, bigger brakes and nobbly tyres — add a heap of weight that pushes the Raptor past 2.4 tonnes. Even though the 2.0-litre engine and transmission can haul 3500kg in the Ranger XLT and Wildtrak, the Raptor’s tow capacity is capped at 2500kg because the suspension is designed to handle jumps rather than big trailers. The turning circle is broader than most rivals but not as awkwardly huge as the HSV SportsCat.

The Raptor has heavy duty shocks for serious off-road driving. Picture: Supplied.

3. It’s slippery when wet

When we tested the Raptor at the launch in the Northern Territory I came away gobsmacked by how much grip the BF Goodrich K02 tyres had. Whether trying to corner to rubble or powder-like dust, they were so profoundly good they felt like velcro. On sealed roads they don’t hum as much as other off-road tyres. And their dry braking performance is on par with less aggressive rubber. There is, however, one large caveat. These tyres are dicey in the wet. Even on a mildly damp road after a light shower the tyres struggle to move from rest without triggering traction control. When it’s wet, proceed with caution.

The tyres work well on rubble and dust but not on slippery suburban streets. Pic: Supplied.

4. I can easily forgive its few faults

More than just a dress-up kit, the thoroughness of the engineering of this vehicle is quite remarkable, especially given that it will sell in relatively small numbers. To be able to buy a factory-built, factory-backed desert racer available off the showroom floor is no small feat. Ford has done an ace job at making the Raptor liveable day-to-day, despite its gnarly off-road potential. The four-wheel-disc brakes might be floating calipers rather than race-inspired four- or six-piston caliper design, but they have a precise feel and do the job. The artificial engine sound does an OK job of disguising what’s under the bonnet and you soon adjust your driving style to get the most out of it, which usually involves pressing the accelerator earlier and for longer.

The Raptor is remarkable on dirt. Picture: Supplied.

5. Three things need improving

If Ford could fit the next Raptor with the TDV6 from the VW Amarok, find a tyre that has better grip in the wet, and engineer a genuine 3500kg towing capability (which the HSV SportsCat maintains), it would have a world-beater on its hands.

AT A GLANCE: FORD RANGER RAPTOR

PRICE $74,990 plus on-road costs

ENGINE Twin turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, 157kW/500Nm

SAFETY 6 airbags, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear camera

THIRST 8.2L/100km

TOWING 2500kg

0-100 KM/H 10.5 seconds

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling