Ford's new Ranger Raptor launched in Oz: Performance bakkie built in South Africa to be lighter, more powerful



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Ford Motor Company launches its first Ranger Raptor in Australia this week. The new bakkie will be heading to South Africa in 2019.

Sergio Davids of Wheels24 is currently attending the international event, paying attention to his driving impressions later this week.

The most exciting yet

debut of the first Raptor bakkie Ranger at a world-class event in early February in Thailand. More exciting is the fact that this bakkie will also be built locally at the automaker's Silverton plant in Pretoria.

SEE: 10 things to know about the new Ford Ranger Raptor bakkie SA built locally

While the Raptor Ranger was highly anticipated, and is certainly a striking bakkie, South African motorists One may be surprised by the fact that it is only available with a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel

However, the automaker is convinced that the smaller engine is the best option for its new bakkie.

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Ford Performance Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi told Wheels24 that the Raptor is not about power, but about chassis and suspension.

Hameedi says: "Customers will not be disappointed when they drive this: lighter, more powerful and more torque, it takes a page of the Ford GT that has a small twin-turbo V6 engine that does the job and [19659007] "There is so much technology now that there is no replacement for moving."

Watch the two videos below as Hameedi explains why the Raptor Ranger has a motor 2.0 liter instead of the 3.2 liter unit:

But with all this, this bakkie will still sell like hotcakes and could well be the recipe that the oval brand carmaker needs to dethrone the Hilux as the best-selling vehicle in its segment, even if it does not compete directly when you put the specifications online.

Ford announced in September 2017 that its very popular Ranger bakkie would be available for the first time in a variant of performance off-road.

desert-inspired bakkie, joins the Ford Perfo family Rmance, as the new "Ranger Raptor," says the automaker.

Ford SA says: "The Raptor Ranger will come to South Africa, with further information to be revealed in due course.There is no estimated time of arrival yet. "

"Designed and manufactured to deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience, the Ford Ranger Raptor sports an outward-looking look that makes your head spin and that exudes toughness as well as a performance level off. Never seen in the mid-size bakkie segment.

"Sharing the same nomenclature as the world's most extreme production bakkie F-150 Raptor, the Ranger Raptor is one of the world's most off-road performance vehicles. average. "


#RangerRaptor – What do you think of the new Ford Ranger Raptor for SA? Write Us


So What makes the Raptor Ranger Distinctive? [19659004] In terms of style, the Raptor features a huge new grille, bumpers, bold wheel arches and wings with gray accents. Ford says there's has new front sheet molding compound (SMC) wings that wrap around 150mm wider position of the track.It sports high strength steel of 2.3 mm thickness for underbody protection.

At the rear, there is a single pedestal, a redesigned bumper and towing integration and a functional die-cast aluminum step.

Inside, beautiful carved mannequins, padding and blue dots. Ford believes that its cabin has been designed for comfort and confidence with the Ford Performance DNA throughout its style.

The steering wheel has a red stripe on top of the wheel as a central marker. It also has unique spokes, hollow graphics and magnesium steering wheel paddles.

Modes of Conduct

The other aspect of the Raptor specialty is its Terrain Management System (TMS). surface, including a so-called Baja mode. Although the Baja Dessert race has been highly acclaimed internationally, we think it could have been better suited to the Dakar mode for local buyers. But again, it would be walking on Toyota's toes with its Hilux.

Ford believes: "Each mode has been accurately calibrated to offer the best possible combination of technologies working in unison to face the chosen driving style with sangfroid. 19659029] Each mode can be selected via a dedicated five-button switch located on the steering wheel.

Driving Modes
1 Normal Mode: Increased Comfort, Fuel Economy and Convenience
2 Sport Mode: Sensitive to Dynamic Road Driving. This means fast and sharp gear changes at higher speeds to promote the throttle response. Mapping responds to increases in driver demand by keeping gears longer and downshifting more aggressively.

Off-Road Modes
3 Grass / Gravel / Snow Mode: Designed to inspire safe and secure driving on slippery and off-road roads. uneven surfaces. This is achieved by smoother shifts and second starts, minimizing the likelihood of wheel spin.
4 Sludge / sand mode: The reactivity of the vehicle is adjusted for optimum traction and impetus in deep and deformable surfaces such as sand and mud. This is achieved by keeping the lower gears with high torque.
5-Rock Mode: Used specifically for low-speed rocky terrain where controllability is key.
6 Baja Mode: The responsiveness of the vehicle is synonymous with high-speed off-road performance, just as pilots need in the famous Baja desert rally. In this mode, vehicle systems such as traction control are reduced in terms of intervention to allow spirited off-road driving without fighting the vehicle's on-board systems. Speed ​​selection is optimized for maximum performance, and mapping will keep gears longer and downshift more aggressively.

2.0-liter engine

The choice of engine is questionable and many could be disappointed, considering The US has developed the 3.2-liter engine with a V6 option for its market in its F150.

The question remains: why could not we offer a more powerful offer for South Africa or other countries like Australia or Thailand? the Ranger is the best-selling bakkie on their markets.

It is clear that Ford SA does not really have any options with the parent ship but perhaps, when the time comes, and the demand will be strong enough, the automaker will have to reconsider It might have been more easy to forgive if we had received the 2.2-liter automotive unit that is widely popular here at home and that is the best-selling engine in SA for the automaker. .

Ford engineers at the event were adamant and insisted that the 2.0-liter engine is the way forward with its new technology. For now, we will have to wait and give the benefit of the doubt to Ford.

Powertrain

So back to the 157kW / 500Nm with the 10-speed transmission.

Ford explains, "The combination of a high efficiency crankcase filtration and a very low viscosity automatic transmission fluid means less wear and contamination, better durability and better efficiency.

Raptor's Bi-Turbo Technology Optimizes Torque and Power According to the automaker, the turbo case has been upgraded to a high-quality alloy to ensure durability up to an exhaust temperature 860 degrees Celsius while the compressor cover is cool to the water. s

Ford also claims that the unidirectional roller clutch (OWC) will provide a responsive and responsive drive under conditions that rival other transmissions.

Even the integrated intake manifold has been upgraded to allow more efficient air supply to the engine. The engine cover is specially designed with a sound absorbing foam to reduce noise, vibration and hardness (NVH).

The suspension includes standard Fox Racing Shox front and rear shocks to help ride at high speed off-road and includes increased ride height, wider track, and improved approach and departure angles that ensure stability and extreme off-road performance.

There's also an all-new, innovative Watt linkage rear suspension with coil springs that provide lateral stability to the rear axle while improving handling and handling.

Disclaimer: Janine Van der Post of Wheels24 was welcomed by Ford South Africa for this event in February 2018.

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