The appeal of the Ford Ranger Raptor high-performance off-road pickup has been raised even further with the launch of the new Special Edition model in South Africa, which is being produced in limited numbers to ensure exclusivity.

The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition enhances Ford’s thoroughbred bakkie’s commanding exterior and premium interior with the addition of several functional and styling enhancements – from eye-catching decals and red accents to the fitment of the integrated sports hoop and practical Mountain Top lockable black roller shutter.

“The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to this trend-setting model which remains unequalled in the popular bakkie segment two and a half years after it was launched in South Africa,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa. “The unique exterior enhancements and cabin updates make our off-road performance bakkie even more distinctive and desirable, while the fitment of the roller shutter as standard significantly enhances practicality and security for our customers.”

Head-turning road presence

Featuring a choice of bold Conquer Grey, Frozen White, Performance Blue and Agate Black paint finishes, the new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds twin matte black racing stripes – edged with red contrast lines – to the bonnet, roof, lower body sides, rear wings and tailgate to further emphasize the vehicle’s high-performance character.

Inside the Ranger Raptor Special Edition’s double cab interior, an even sportier, bespoke feel is delivered with red stitching for the steering wheel, seats and door cards which replaces the blue stitching used on the normal Ranger Raptor. A Special Edition-only Raceway Grey instrument panel adds further exclusivity, also finished off with red stitching.

The sports seats are uniquely designed and trimmed in Technical Suede for maximum grip, providing optimum support during high-performance off-road driving, while also providing exceptional comfort when cruising in town. Emphasizing its sporty demeanour, the instrument cluster incorporates distinctive red needles for the dials.

The steering wheel incorporates perforated leather hand grip sections, paired with Raptor DNA lightweight magnesium paddle shifters for crisp gear changes. The Raptor logo is featured in the bezel of the steering wheel and a motorsport-inspired “on-centre” marker – a red stripe at the top-middle of the steering wheel – gives you confidence to know where the wheels are pointing.

Muscular design

The Ranger Raptor’s powerful stance is unashamedly evident with its 51mm taller ride height compared to the standard Ranger, along with 283mm ground clearance, 150mm wider front and rear track and 850mm wading depth. Its off-road credentials are further emphasized by the 32.5-degree approach angle, and ramp-over and departure angles of 24 degrees.

The front fenders are made from durable composite materials, while the bumper includes LED fog lamps with air-curtain ducts for improved airflow. The flared fenders are designed to accommodate the long-travel suspension and beefy LT 285/70 R17 General Grabber AT3 tyres mounted on 17-inch alloy rims.

Under the skin, the Ranger Raptor’s muscular theme continues with a reinforced chassis frame that consists of various grades of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel, and has been specially designed to support the Ranger Raptor’s increased track and wheel travel.

Unrivalled off-road performance

One of the Ranger Raptor’s most important performance enhancements is the FOX Position Sensitive Damping (PSD) shock absorbers, which were exclusively developed for this model. They provide higher damping forces at extremes for unparalleled off-road capability, and lower damping forces in more moderate conditions for a smoother ride on-road. Front wheel travel is increased by 32 percent, and rear travel by 22 percent compared to the standard Ranger.

The high-performance 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) diameter dampers are supported by aluminium control arms, with protruding shock absorber towers at the front. A bespoke coil-over rear suspension arrangement features an integrated Watt’s linkage that allows the axle to move up and down with very little lateral movement. This enables it to tackle tough terrain at high speed while providing exceptional levels of control and comfort – thus delivering the best of both worlds.

All new Ford Rangers come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included which covers six services. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.

Pricing: R965 300 – R920 300. All prices include VAT.