Tinashe Makichi
The pickup that altered the truck landscape forever continues to power ahead and as part of the legendary Ford F-Series lineup that has been America’s best-selling truck for 40 years, the new 2018 Ford Ranger Raptor is tougher, smarter and even more capable, with muscular new styling.
The Ford Raptor 2018, which is expected to hit the Zimbabwean market, boasts of new improved engines and class exclusive driver-assist technology. The purpose-built, desert racing inspired truck joins the Ford Performance family as the “Ford Ranger Raptor.”
Designed and engineered to deliver an adrenaline pumping experience, Ford Ranger Raptor sports a head-turning exterior look that exudes toughness as well as a level of capability and off-road performance never before seen in the mid-size truck segment.
Sharing the same nomenclature as the F-150 Raptor, the world’s most extreme production truck, Ranger Raptor is in a class of its own among mid-size off-road performance vehicles.
Building on the success of the class leading Ford Ranger, one of the best-selling trucks in a number of markets, Ranger Raptor brings the thrilling off-road performance capabilities of the ‘Raptor’ to the Ranger for the first time ever.
With its bold appearance and extreme, off-road performance features, Ranger Raptor represents a new and distinctive breed of truck.
“Combining the Raptor’s advanced off-road capabilities with the versatility of the Ranger is a significant accomplishment for Ford’s world-class engineering and design teams,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer for Ford Performance.
Ranger Raptor joins F-150 Raptor to extend the globally renowned Ford Performance DNA, complementing the on-road high performance line-up of Ford GT, Mustang, Focus RS, Focus ST and Fiesta ST.
“We are confirming that Ford Ranger Raptor, a high performance variant of the Ford Ranger mid-sized pickup truck will be coming to Sub-Saharan Africa. Further information will be revealed in due course said Ford Motor Corporation.
Raptor is a nomenclature for Ford high-performance off-road trucks. The F-150 Raptor is respected as the world’s most extreme mass production truck.
The vehicle’s newly designed tail lamps flank a sculpted tailgate complete with rugged new “F-150” stamping on XL through King Ranch models. For further style differentiation, King Ranch Chrome Package, Platinum and Limited replace the stamping with a unique satin-aluminum tailgate treatment
Ford Ranger Raptor is living up to the Raptor name, carrying the same DNA as other Ford Performance vehicles. The vehicle comes with exclusive features targeted to deliver the ultimate performance experience for off-road users. Ford Ranger Raptor is the ultimate expression of Ford Ranger.
Ford introduced the Ford Rapture because truck customers are increasingly using their vehicle for both work and recreational purposes, including off-road drives.
With every engine reengineered, upgraded, improved or all new within the past year, this is the most advanced F-150 engine lineup ever. And it’s about to offer even more choice.
Coming Spring 2018: the first diesel ever offered on Ford F-150, combining work-ready torque with impressive pulling power. Equally noteworthy: All F-150 engines benefit from standard Auto Start-Stop Technology, and are teamed with automatic transmissions featuring select shift capability. The Raptor is a six speed automatic with a 3,3 litre engine.
With Ford’s engineering experience in building tough trucks as well as global engineering expertise in performance vehicles, the motor company saw an opportunity to offer an extremely capable truck that enhances the off-road experience. Ranger Raptor is the result of this vision.
Developed with the Ford Performance DNA, Ranger Raptor comes with exclusive features targeted to deliver the ultimate performance truck for off-road users.
Ford Ranger Raptor will live up to the globally renowned Ford Performance DNA with unique design and capability for high-speed off-roading.
Ford Performance line-up in different countries includes Ford GT supercar, Ford Mustang, Focus RS, Focus ST, Fiesta ST and F-150 Raptor.
Duly’s Motors is the authorised local dealer for Ford vehicles in the country.
The Ford Raptor, was the best-selling vehicle in the world in 2017.
The Ford F-Series isn’t just the best-selling vehicle line in America, its topping the ladder around the world. According to data from market research firm JATO Dynamics, Ford sold 519,000 F-Series trucks globally in the first six months of 2017.
Granted, over 95 percent of them were sold in the United States of America, but the total puts it ahead of the Toyota Corolla, which rang up 472,000 sales worldwide, despite being more popular than the F-Series in many countries.
