New 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor: UK prices and specs revealed

The new Ford Ranger Raptor has been revealed at the 2019 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham this week. The new model is the flagship of the revised Ranger line-up, and has been developed by Ford Performance to deliver better off-road ability than the standard Ranger delivers. 

Ford's range-topping pick-up truck is on sale now with deliveries beginning in the summer, with the performance-focused Ranger Raptor priced from £39,985 before VAT. 

• New Ford Ranger Raptor review

Powered by a 210bhp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine with 500Nm of torque, Ford hopes the Raptor will boost the pick-up’s prowess both on and off-road. The engine drives the pick-up through the same ten-speed automatic gearbox as the US-spec F-150 Raptor. To ensure optimum performance in any conditions, drivers have six different modes – two for on-road use, and four for off-road driving.

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Buoyed by the global reaction to the F-150 Raptor, Ford of Britain had been lobbying hard for the smaller Ranger Raptor to be sold on these shores. The Ranger is already the best-selling pick-up in the UK, so a performance version would appear to be a natural fit.

British buyers get plenty of standard equipment for the £40,000 price tag. Alongside the Raptor's agressive visual transformation, buyers get all of the usual pick-up truck necessities, power points, and locking points, plus plenty of safety and driver assistance tech. Lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, a rear view camera, and a collision mitigation system are all standard, as are leather seats and Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment broadcast through an eight-inch touchscreen. 

We’ve already driven the Ford Ranger Raptor in one of the truck’s biggest markets. It showed incredible talent when we subjected it to the tough Australian outback, suggesting performance in the UK should be more than adequate.

On the outside, the Ranger Raptor is marked out by a new grille, extra ground clearance and LED fog lamps in the front bumper. Those bumpers have to be flared so that they can accommodate the larger wheels, which are mounted on long-travel suspension.

As the vehicle is intended to go a very long way off the beaten track, the front bumpers are made of composite materials that are better able to withstand the expected dents and dings. The side steps are made from a tough aluminium alloy and include holes to drain sand, mud and snow.

• Watch the Ford F-150 Raptor in action

Inside the rough and tough theme continues, with unique seats that are designed to give greater support at high speeds off-road, and they include suede sections to hold occupants in place. There’s even a red stripe on the steering wheel to show which way the wheel is pointing.

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Naturally, the Raptor’s chassis has been considerably upgraded to cope with the demands of high-speed use off-road. So, not only is the frame tougher and stiffer, but the brakes have been upgraded, too. The race-bred suspension has been set up to tackle undulating off-road terrain at speed, as well as giving a comfortable ride on-road.

There’s also a unique ‘bash plate’ underneath, while the tyres have been specially developed, with tough sidewalls and a special tread pattern designed to give grip in mud, snow and sand. Even the standard sat-nav gets the off-road bug, with a ‘breadcrumb’ feature that allows drivers to lay a trail and retrace their steps in unfamiliar terrain.

This is all part of the standard SYNC 3 infotainment system, while the Raptor is also packed with driver-assistance technology – such as Electronic Stability Control, Trailer Sway Control and a rear-view camera – to make everyday life easier.

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