There is no much more American vehicle than a pickup. While the European continent was busy breaking speed records and founding endurance races, the Americans were busy enlarging cargo beds to accept larger leaves made of plywood and to improve the leaf springs of suspension to master 30 cubic footwells with top soil. Born to cross the grille patterns of American roads, they didn’t have to go well or go quickly. But in rural America, crossing dirt roads and the lonely two-track through the wilderness, the Americans felt all other auto-enthusiasts the need to get faster, to hang the tail on a sandy corner to catch air after reaching a jump to the right. And as pickup trucks from tender freight carriers went over more robust commercial vehicles, a sub-group of hearty Americans began to run them in open deserts in races such as the Baha 1000. Larger engines, beefs, meatier feathers, stronger shocks, reinforced frames and Steel Shields to protect the vital components became the lives and steel to protect the vital components that protect the stamples. And sporty Americans on the entire continent began to imitate the appearance and performance of them. An entire aftermarket was created to provide the wishes of the pickup owners.
Then Ford presented the F-150 Raptor in 2010. The raptor was the first honest off-road performance pickup built by the factory. And despite the large price tag, America bought her. Many of them. Due to its immense size, aggressive design and impressive performance, it immediately became a truck. The raptor was able to tear over the undeveloped wilderness of the country without spilling its starbucks, and yet practical enough to carry an antique army house from a Yard Sale.
When Ford introduced the Ranger pickup again, it was only a matter of time before someone at Ford noticed that they had the chance to take up in a bottle again. And so the Ranger Raptor was born. After the same formula as the raptor in full size, everything was strengthened, reinforced, improved and out of date. The four-cylinder turbo engine came out and went in a 400 hp twin turbo V6. The all-wheel drive came and went the demanding multi-fashion-shift-on-on-the-fly 4 × 4 system. The end result is a smaller, lighter, no less capable mini raptor.
The styling is aggressive. The sheet metal bulges in the right places like tight muscle. The large, wide Knobby bikes cancel the truck so that it looks ready for action. The ventilation openings and sparkling doors emphasize styling, reinforce off-road capabilities and improve the excitement of the design. It is a seriously sharp -looking truck.
A Spartan interior could be expected inside, but instead the Ranger Raptor has a luxurious, supportive. Fine leather and luxury dates dominate. Heated seats, a heated steering wheel, six drive modes, a large digital touchscreen center are just a few of the many desirable things you find. The seats are supportive and adequately strengthened and completely electrically adjustable. The bright red accents on the seats, the dashboard and the doors attract their attention in an otherwise monochromatic interior. All buttons and menus are easy to find and are intuitive to use. The rear seats are also comfortable and there is a lot of legroom. More than expected and enough to be a comfortable passenger.
Under the bonnet is a Twin turbo V6 that produces over 400 hp and 430 LB-FT torque. This power is transmitted to the rear wheels or all bikes with variable shapes of 4WD, high, high or AWD with locking differences to ensure a positive traction under all conditions, using a 9-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox has settings for freezing conditions, exercise, sandy conditions, rocky conditions, towing situations and fast terrain conditions. The skills cannot be questioned.
In the city, the raptor is a pleasure to drive – quickly, fast and comfortable. The brakes are strong and calming. The steering is intuitive. It turns strongly and fits quite easily in parking spaces. There are almost no wind noise. There are some tire noises, but it is steamed.
The brakes are large all -wheel drive slices with large brake calipers in all four corners, which effortlessly stop the large truck. The brakes are easy to modulate and very intuitive. No mushy brake pedals here.
The steering is also intuitive and direct. The attractive steering wheel with leather steering has radio and cruise control to achieve a simple reach.
If the ranger raptor has a weak point, it is the engine note. I have not found out why so many European and Japanese V6 sound so good and so many American things roar and sound annoying. The raptor is no exception and I haven’t heard a engine tone that really liked me all the time when I drove it. Surely someone from Ford can develop a exhaust system that can give a little excitement in a V6. Fix that and the Ranger Raptor will be roughly perfect.
They are challenged by every red-blooded young pickup driver in every light in which they have to stop. Be aware of this. The truck is a rolling challenge for every unsafe young American man. But with this 400 -hp engine under the bonnet you have a good chance of hit the next light. Or you can simply distract the street and drive into the forest and break a new path over the face of a mountain. At 70 miles per hour. The ranger raptor is so capable.
The mileage was not great, but it wasn’t that bad for a 400 -hp truck. All in all, it actually surprised me. But that’s why they buy a ranger raptor. You buy it for your potential, for his performance, for his image. In addition to the F-1550 raptor, it may only look like a junior raptor, but it is a full-fledged terror as if it were a big brother.
Performance: 6
Handling: 5
Design: 7
Interior: 6
Infotainment: 6
Sound: 3
Fun: 7
Overall: 6.5
