Test drive Ford Ranger Raptor: muscle and fitness

Behind the wheel of the most attractive version of an impressive pickup truck

He was a regular worker who worked hard day after day until someone decided to take him to the gym, feed him steroids and send him to the field. To smoke.

The pickups, used primarily for loading, were usually rear-wheel drive only, with lower ground clearance and single cabins. Their counterparts with high ground clearance, dual transmission and double cab often take on the role of exemplary.

Sometimes they tow trailers and caravans with them, sometimes they ride with motorcycles and ATVs, and sometimes only with their owners. These cars look dignified, give the same high-position feel to the SUV models and offer even more solidity.

However, the high ground clearance, heavy rigid rear axle, leaf springs and reinforced suspension are far from dynamic driving. Such a car, which is being driven around corners, may roll over before showing signs of overturning.

What if… If you cut the front and rear overhangs, widen the fenders and put in more durable skin. Then install a reinforced suspension that provides a wider track, more ground clearance and more travel. And to all this add a more powerful engine.

Well this will be a working Ford Ranger Raptor. A version of the best-selling pickup in Europe with a powerful black radiator grille and embossed Ford wordmark. Fast and agile in forests and fields, like the Velociraptor dinosaur, from which it got its name.

The demo version of the Raptor is very different from its bona fide original. He looks fierce, bright, solid, aggressive, muscular and strong. He looks like an RX league locksmith who has everything narrowed down - his clothes and space. And so he must follow a new path.

Up up

There is another Ford car overseas called the F-150 Raptor. The car is more than five meters long, with huge ground clearance, giant tires with huge blocks and a six-cylinder twin-turbo engine producing 450 hp. A virtually meaningless, polluting yet enjoyable vehicle with its ability to drive at breakneck speed over rough terrain.

However, such a thing would be difficult to fit into European ideas about normal road traffic. Nevertheless, this is a market niche that Ford has decided to fill with a little brother and a diesel (!) Engine.

The "small" pickup is actually quite solid. Its two-liter biturbo-diesel unit develops 213 hp. and has an impressive torque of 500 Nm. Accelerates the Raptor to 100 km / h in 10,5 seconds, steering two axles with a ten-speed (!) Automatic transmission - the same as in the F-150 Raptor and Mustang.

Aside from brutality, the F-150 Raptor is relatively maneuverable, and its mobility is provided by increased suspension, including Fox shocks integrated into a common spring architecture. They increase suspension travel by 32 percent at the front and 18 percent at the rear.

As standard, the car has all-season tires (285/70 R 17) with large BF Goodrich blocks, and the floor structure has reinforcing elements. Due to the five-centimeter ground clearance and beveled overhangs, the angles of the front and rear overhangs reach 24 and 32,5 degrees, respectively. The larger aluminum struts have a 15cm wider front track and the rear leaf dampers are replaced with springs.

How does it all feel?

On the road, the Raptor moves much more comfortably than its base brother, and on the street it is driven by a whirlwind. Considering the car's lifestyle, the payload drop from 992 kg to 615 kg was not particularly impressive.

In fact, the car takes a fairly wide stride and handles any kind of off-road wonderfully. Off-road, the car can literally be driven into a hole where excellent suspension demonstrates its potential. For this, Ford provides six modes of operation of the complex of systems.

Normal mode, Grass/Gravel/Snow for slippery surfaces, and Mud/Sand for traction on deformable surfaces. The Sport is made for asphalt when the Raptor is practically shifting into reverse.

Rock tunes the dual drivetrain system to activate a downshift in the junction box, and Baja provides crazy off-road driving with custom traction control and ESP settings, and a choice between reversible and dual drivetrains. Braking under these conditions is guaranteed by a significantly increased braking system and four ventilated discs with a diameter of 332 mm.

Unless you are an expert on fast off-road driving, you are unlikely to be able to push the limits of this car and drive as crazy as you want. Emotions are truly unique and have nothing to do with driving on the highway. Despite the tires, the Raptor's handling is almost like a normal car, aided by good seats and an ergonomic and well-made interior.