FORD'S DIRT TRAIL RAP (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 74

If you've ever daydreamed just how much of a hoot it would be to race along off road trails in the way that competition drivers do on the Paris-Dakar or Baja Rallies, then you're in good company: Ford thought it would be fun too and tasked its 'Performance' department with creating an ultimate Ranger derivative that could do just that - and here it is, the Ranger Raptor. There's nothing else quite like it.

Modelsword count: 5

Pick-up - 2.0 TDCi diesel

Historyword count: 151

If you know anything about American pick-up trucks, you'll know about the Ford Raptor, a huge US light truck based on the Blue Oval brand's enormous F150 model and powered by a wild engine from the Ford GT supercar. The company didn't think that vehicle would work over here, but in 2019, they did build some of its technology into a more Euro-friendly Ford Performance pick-up model - and this was it, the first-generation Ranger Raptor. Don't expect extreme power here; the MK1 Ranger Raptor used exactly the same 210PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine you'll find in top versions of the standard T6 Ranger model from this period. But this vehicle wasn't built for straight line tarmac speed. Instead, Ford completely redesigned the suspension of this pick-up so that it could be driven at previously unheard-of speeds of rough terrain. This model was replaced in Autumn 2022 by an all-new design.

What You Getword count: 424

This top Raptor Ford Performance model got a tad more street presence than ordinary T6 Ranger variants and gained it with a unique grille that features FORD lettering rather than the usual Blue Oval badge. This MK1 Raptor model was also 168mm wider than a standard variant, thanks to its redesigned suspension and a track width that was 150mm greater. Inside, with this flagship 'Ford Performance' variant, you get powered leather-and-suede sports seats which are 'Raptor'-branded, as is the leather-bound sports steering wheel with its track-style red centre marker and lovely magnesium gearshift paddles. Blue stitching features subtly here - and more prominently on the gearshift gaitor, the door card trimming and the leather covering for the fascia top. As with all top T6 Ranger variants, you get a SYNC 3 8-inch centre-dash infotainment touchscreen with a FordPass Connect WiFi modem. Anything this monitor can't tell you will be covered off by the instrument binnacle display which features a central screen with selectable sections. On this MK1 Raptor model, this screen also displays your various drive mode options and with this top variant, the two analogue gauges that flank it get sportier italicised Ford Performance dials. And in the rear of this Double Cab-only variant? Well though this vehicle is actually narrower than an ordinary Ford Mondeo (and up to 100mm narrower than some of its rivals), it is possible to get three adults across the back seat without too much discomfort. There's also the bonus of being able to flip up the seat base to access two hidden storage compartments and create an extra area for transporting smaller items you don't want to consign to the cargo bay. There are no practicality compromises in choosing this top Raptor model, which features the same 1.21 cubic metre load box as other variants. There's a load box length of 1,575mm. And a load box width of 1,560mm, narrowing to 1,139mm between the wheel arches. Which is easily enough to accommodate a Europallet. You'll have to lift it up quite high though; the loading height in this Raptor derivative is up at 906mm. The load box depth is 541mm. As we've mentioned elsewhere in this review, this Ford Performance model's revised suspension means a significantly reduced payload figure of just 620kgs. And running costs? Well it's here that Ford's decision not to plumb in a big petrol motor up-front paid dividends. The MK1 Raptor's efficiency figures are significantly worse than those of other T6 Ranger derivatives but they're still manageable - WLTP-rated at 26.4mpg and 281g/km.

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