When thinking of THE vehicle for go-fast, go-hard, off-road badassery, for two generations the Ford F-150 and one Bronco have filled the bill under the Raptor name.
There has always been a decent group of diverse and decorated midsize pickup trucks. But has any ever been this kitted for off-road?
A Truck to Be Reckoned With
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor emerges in the U.S. in a field of trail-ready midsizers such as the Chevy Colorado ZR2, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier.
The Ranger Raptor had previously been available in Australia, but never the U.S. market. Until now.
Motortrend reports, “The Ranger Raptor has already had time to iron out the kinks in the global market. The first-gen truck went on sale elsewhere in 2018 with a 2.0-liter EcoBlue turbo-diesel engine but never reached the U.S. market, and this second-generation truck succeeded it a couple years ago. The key difference is that this one was always destined for U.S. soil alongside its regular Ranger sibling (read our First Drive of that truck here), and off-road junkies will be heartened to know it was validated in the unforgiving Australian Outback.”
For those in the know, it’s hard to find a better endorsement than standing up to the rigors of Oz.
No Lights… But
Raptor lights are all the rage, for anyone who has driven in the last five years. So inquiring minds want to know…
“Does the Ranger Raptor Have Raptor Lights?” Motortrend asks. “No, it doesn’t. But before we explain why, let’s call them by their name in federal regulations: identification lamps. You’ll find trios of identification lamps on the front (amber) and back (red) ends of the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor—and any vehicle that exceeds 80 inches wide. The skinny is the Ranger Raptor is not girthy enough to require these lights. Interestingly, early design sketches for the Ranger Raptor did include identification lamps. Even more interestingly—pay attention here, aftermarket aficionados—there are three perfectly placed empty slots above the grille.
“You know what to do.”
Standing Apart
What really sets the Raptor apart from it’s Bilstein or Fox-wearing competitors?
In a word: Power. The Ranger Raptor shares the twin-turbo v6 out of the Bronco Raptor. If you want power in a small package, this truck brings 405 horsepower and 430 pounds of twist.
For the record, that blows the competition out of the water.
A formidable truck by any measure, the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor will definitely make an impression on the market.
Because unlike it’s bigger brethren, you can get in one for under $60,000.
