Many European pickup truck enthusiasts have been waiting for the Blue Oval brand to bring its Ford Ranger Raptor to the continent . These customers are in luck, as the American firm has decided to take the next step and market its new Raptor, which, as you know, is a model developed by the Ford Performance division.
Presented at Gamescom in Cologne, the company took advantage of the event to announce the launch of the high-performance version of its iconic pickup truck, which we've been eagerly anticipating for many years. Its arrival in the European market is scheduled for mid-2019.
As you know, the Ford Ranger Raptor is a heavily reinforced version with a powerful engine, allowing off-road enthusiasts to confidently tackle high-speed terrain off the paved road . It features a specialized chassis, upgraded suspension adapted for both extreme use and smoother driving, specific tires, and special underbody protection.
In any case, it's not as extreme a model as the F-150, even though it shares some aesthetic elements like the front grille. Under the hood, it will have a 2.0-liter EcoBlue twin-turbo diesel engine producing 213 hp and 500 Nm of torque. There won't be a manual transmission; it will be paired with the new 10-speed automatic transmission also used in the Ford F-150.
Depending on driving conditions, the driver can select from six different driving modes : Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and a striking Baja mode, designed for high-speed driving on tracks like those used in rallies. Driving assistance features are also included , such as hill descent control, trailer sway control, and enhanced stability control to facilitate maneuvering on challenging surfaces by reducing body roll.
As for infotainment technology , the European Ford Ranger Raptor will feature the brand's SYNC 3 system , with functions such as navigation, voice control, and smartphone integration via Android Auto and CarPlay. All of this is displayed on an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen.
