Ford Ranger Raptor: The Truck’s Top Features

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Written by Paul Strauss | May 15, 2023
Ford Ranger Raptor: The Truck’s Top Features

When it comes to pickup trucks, bigger isn’t always better. For those who don’t need to haul large loads or tow heavy trailers, the Ford Ranger Raptor is an ideally-sized pickup truck. It’s big enough for occasional cargo-carrying tasks but is small enough to fit in most garages and agile enough to ride on most off-road trails. With the announcement of the 2024 Ranger Raptor, we now have what could be the perfect mid-size pickup truck – one that is powerful, agile, and capable of serious off-roading. There’s lots to love about this truck.

The Rapturous Raptor’s Drivetrain

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Front

Ford Performance equipped the Ranger Raptor with a unique 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine that outputs an impressive 405 horsepower and 430 lb-ft. of torque. This turbocharged engine works in concert with a 10-speed automatic transmission to send power to all four wheels. The truck has an electronic two-speed transfer case for adjusting between slow, hilly crawls to high-speed off-roading. Front and rear locking differentials help distribute traction and prevent wheel slip on loose terrain.

A Supple Suspension

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Suspension

The Ranger Raptor has been equipped with 2.5-inch FOX live valve internal-bypass shocks to help absorb the impact of punishing and rugged terrain. The shocks can also dynamically change damping levels based on the drive mode you set. A long-travel Watts link rear suspension help provide exceptional wheel travel. Ford also beefed up the Ranger’s boxed-steel frame by reinforcing critical components like the front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, and suspension mounts. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the truck’s underside taking damage. Steel skid plates protect the front end, engine, transfer case, and fuel tank.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Off-Road Catches Air

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Off-Road Baja Mode

The Exterior Design Exudes Strength

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Exterior Side View

Outside, Ford has bestowed the Ranger Raptor has a unique black woven grille with a large FORD logo across its center. That’s flanked by distinctive C-shaped accent lights and LED projector headlights. The truck has large fender flares with over-fender ventilation, steel bumpers, and front and rear frame-mounted tow hooks for digging out if you or a friend ever get stuck off-roading. The whole shebang rolls on 33-inch BFGoodrich KO3 all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch wheels. Compared to a base Ranger, the Raptor;’s track width is 3.5 inches wider and 4.3 inches wider overall, thanks to those wide fender flares.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Exterior Front View

A Bold and Purposeful Interior Design

The 2024 Ranger Raptor’s interior looks fantastic, with an athletic and sporty look. The dashboard is all straight lines and sharp angles, with a black and orange theme throughout the cabin. Code Orange accents can be found on the seat backs and bottoms, a stitched leather shifter, and a sport steering wheel with a colorful centering mark at the 12-o’clock position. The orange also appears around the substantial air vents, with unique louvers that stand out from the crowd. The front seats have wide side bolsters to help provide stability and comfort during aggressive maneuvers.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Interior Seats

The Ford Ranger Raptor Is Packed with Technology

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Center Touchscreen

Ford has gone all in on improving the center stack of the latest Ranger, and the Raptor gets its biggest and best touchscreen available – a 12-inch unit that provides quick and easy access to Ford’s SYNC 4A multimedia system. There’s support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too. A 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster shows off fancy graphics when switching between drive modes, along with various useful contextual information right behind the steering wheel. Overhead, you’ll find a set of six upfitter switches that can be wired up to control things like fog lights and other powered accessories. The truck also gets a 360º camera system, including a front-facing camera to help negotiate tricky trails.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Digital Instrument Panel

Like many of you, I’m excited to see the Ranger Raptor here in the U.S. finally, It’s the perfect size truck for off-roading, and its performance specs sound fantastic. I hope to get behind the wheel of this rugged and powerful truck when it hits the press fleet and put it to the test on and off-road. The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor starts at $58,555 and is expected to be available by the end of summer 2023.

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