The Ford Ranger was just recently introduced at the Detroit auto show, but Ford is already, and rightfully, teasing us with a Raptor version. And I mean teasing us, because right away they say that this 2-liter diesel-powered Raptor isn’t for the North American market. Whut!?
Put your torches and pitch forks down for a second. Ford showed the Ranger to the rest of the world before showing us to its home market, first. And that strategy makes sense because why introduce a product in its biggest market first, right?
Wait. No, it doesn’t make sense. What makes sense is the marketing. They will tease us with it for a bit, create some hype, and then unveil it at some auto show in all its glory.
This Raptor destined for the Asian markets get a 2-liter turbo-diesel engine that makes 210 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Will we get the Diesel? We don’t know at this time but then Ford is dropping a diesel V6 into the F150, so who knows. Weirder things have happened, like a hybrid plug-in Jeep Wrangler.
At the time of its North American introduction the only powerplant was the 2.3-liter EcoBoost with a 10-speed automatic transmission. All Raptors thus far had more powerful engines than their pedestrian counterparts, so this should too. Like all other Raptors it will have Fox Racing Shox shocks all around, wrapped by taller but softer off-road springs in the front, and leaf springs (edit) with Watts linkage in the back. BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires seem to the choice to Raptors and this won’t be any different.
The Ranger Raptor looks really good but it’s got some fierce competition. Chevy has the Colorado ZR2 and Toyota is said to be showing a more hard core version of the Tacoma TRD Pro at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. Nissan’s Frontier isn’t even trying anymore. It’s good to have choices.
Ford teases the new Ranger Raptor
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8 responses to “Ford teases the new Ranger Raptor”
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The 2.0 TD will not be popular if that’s all it has, despite having more power and torque than the existing 3.2L 5-cyl. Peak output figures are not everything, and it is also more than handy to have a decent amount of torque without turbo boost.
Will all the US Rangers have coil springs? The existing rest of world one has leafs.-
I effed up. It’s got leaf springs in the back. Oops.
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No, you had it right the first time. A Watt’s linkage is one of the kind of things you need to keep a solid axle centered when you aren’t using leaf springs.
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It is quite possible that they have coils for the Raptor for better off road performance, that rear end (coils and Watts linkage) is already run in the Everest SUV.
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i recall the ranger started life in 1982 with a 2.0L diesel. since then nada…thirty five years later, we get another diesel. hopefully. that’s a loooong time in the light p/u world of the US. and Ford never offered the diesel in the F150. Ford engineering guy i knew told me long ago that it would have made it too heavy and too pricey to sell well. it’s all about units cost/profit and numbers out the door.
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It was a 2.2 Mazda-built licensed clone of a Perkins engine – basically a tractor engine, really.
In 1985 they switched to a Mitsubishi 2.3 turbodiesel (which was also used in the Mitsubishi pickups at the time, as well as the Dodge/Plymouth rebrands of that truck), and then discontinued it after 1987, I believe.
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I’m actually surprised Ford would get into this game. If, when the Ranger becomes available, everyone buys the truck they NEED, far fewer should buy an F Series and instead buy the more “right-sized” Ranger. My guess is Ford can make much larger margins on the bigger truck, so why cannibalize your cash cow?
Instead, what they should introduce is a truly compact truck– one that won’t pull away those needing or wanting a full-size truck, but might lure some who just need a light-duty hauler that also makes sense as a commuter. I say, bring back the Courier.-
i’d say bring back the Ranger, but look what they gone and done. they brought it back big.
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