SMARTER, faster, and tougher; the next generation Ford Ranger Raptor is the most advanced of its kind and is extremely serious of its off-road prowess.
On the outside we're treated to an all-new no-nonsense exterior styling which includes flared wheel arches that emphasise its width, bold F-O-R-D lettering, and a bumper that is separated from the grille.
Ford's global design DNA is reflected at the front in the C-clamp LED daytime running lights (DRL), Matrix LED headlamps with dynamic bending lights, glare-free high beams, and auto dynamic leveling.
Other parts of the body sports a 17-inch alloy wheel design thats wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain KO2 tyres, functional vents, aero features, a rear bumper that angles up showing off its 265mm ground clearance, LED lights, Ford Performance scuff plates and tough, and new cast aluminium side steps.
Inside cabin features all-new jet fighter-inspired sports leather seats that, when compared to its predecessor, are more comfortable and supportive during high-speed cornering. The driver seat gets a 10-way power adjustable seat while the front passenger seat gets a 10-way manual one.
The all-Ebony interior with Code Orange accents also features leather sports steering wheel cast magnesium paddle shifters, leather gear knob with e-shifter, and amber ambient lighting.
It boasts a fully digital cabin featuring a high-resolution 12.4-inch TFT cluster display and 12-inch centre touchscreen thats loaded with Ford's Sync 4A infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with eight speakers.
It also comes with four USB charging ports, a wireless Qi charger, and a 360-degree camera.
Heart of a Raptor 2.0
As impressive is its exterior, the Raptor's greatest strength comes from its performance.
Its new twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol powertrain has been tuned by Ford Performance to deliver up to 397 PS at 5,650 rpm and a whopping 583Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm.
The engine boasts a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block that is around 75 per cent stronger and stiffer than the iron used in traditional castings.
Its accompanying all-new class-exclusive active exhaust system amplifies the engine performance and also allows drivers to change the engine sound thats available for the four selectable drive modes: Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja.
Mated to Ford's returning 10-speed automatic transmission its gear ratios have been specifically matched to the engine to make it almost twice as fast as the first-generation Ranger Raptor.
The V6 engine also comes with a new race-bred anti-lag system (available only in Baja mode) which keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle.
This is said to allow for a faster resumption of acceleration out of corners or between gears when the driver gets back on the accelerator.
Its 4x4 electronic shift-on-the-fly (ESOF) system has been upgraded with an all-new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case with four settings – 2WD, 4WD Auto, 4WD HIGH and 4WD LOW.
Front locking differential has also been added to complement the rear locking differential for ultimate control on technical terrains.
Its updated Terrain Management System now comes with up to seven selectable drive modes: Normal, Sport, Slippery for on-road driving, Rock Crawl, Sand, and Mud/Ruts, in addition to the aforementioned Baja mode that is configured for high-speed off-roading.
Each selectable drive mode adjusts multiple elements from engine and transmission to ABS sensitivity and calibration, traction and stability controls, exhaust valve actuation, steering, throttle response, and even the instrument cluster and centre touchscreen. Colour scheme of the digital displays also changes to match the drive mode.
Heavy Duty Bones
Ford engineers have also significantly improved the next-gen Ranger Raptor's chassis and suspension to ensure it can handle the punishing off-road conditions and maximise its full performance potential.
The upgraded chassis features a series of unique mounts and reinforcements for elements including the C-pillar, cargo bed and spare wheel, as well as unique frames for the jounce bumper, shock tower and rear shock bracket.
The completely redesigned suspension has a stronger yet lightweight aluminium upper and lower control arms, long travel front and rear suspension, and a refined Watt's link rear end. They all come together to offer more control across extreme terrains at high speed.
These upgrades are combined with the new Ford Performance tuned FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shock absorbers and FOX's race-proven Bottom-Out Control for an enhanced ride comfort and handling.
The shock absorbers are said to be the most sophisticated ever on a Ranger Raptor and are filled with Teflon-infused oil that reduces friction by around 50 per cent compared to the previous Raptor.
The system's cutting-edge position-sensitive damping capability is said to be able to predict suspension movement based on driving style and the terrain to adjust the damping support in real time.
While the hardware is FOX, the tuning and development work was carried out by Ford Performance using a mixture of computer-aided engineering (CAE) and real-world testing.
Engineers adjusted the spring rates, set the ride height, tuned the valves and honed the ride zones to create the perfect balance between comfort, control, stability and traction on- and off-road.
The FOX Bottom-Out Control provides maximum damping force in the last 25 per cent of shock travel to protect it against severe bottom-outs.
Similarly, the system can stiffen the rear dampers to prevent the Raptor from squatting under hard acceleration and improving vehicle stability.
Twin-rated recovery hooks at the front and rear provide flexible recovery options while driving off-road, with the added benefit of always being able to access one of the hooks (if the other is buried), as well as being able to use balance straps during snatch recoveries in deep sand or thick mud.
Safety-wise, the truck is fitted with a whole suite of active and advanced driver assistance systems including: adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring, emergency stop signal, blind spot information system (BLIS) and high beam assist, reverse brake assist, evasive steer assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
It also now comes with seven airbags for the driver, front passenger, sides, curtains, and driver's knee.
Available in Absolute Black, Arctic White, Blue Lightning, Conquer Grey, and the new Code Orange, the new 2022 next generation Ford Ranger Raptor is priced on-the-road, without insurance and registration at RM259,888.00 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM263,388 for East Malaysia.
The truck comes with a five-year manufacturer's warranty, or 160,000 km, whichever comes first. Customers can also opt for a two-year extended warranty with PremiumCare offering a range of coverages.