Ford Mzansi has launched a Ranger Raptor SE (Special Edition) to give die hard off road enthusiast something to brag about at the bar or at the veld braai.
The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition enhances Ford’s thoroughbred bakkie’s commanding exterior and sporty 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. If one recalls, the Raptor has been one of the stars for Ford Performance as its the ultimate Ranger model, which in turn created an entirely new segment in the light commercial vehicle market when it was launched in 2019, featuring an ultra-strong chassis, bespoke suspension and tyres, and a Terrain Management System to support the thrill-seeking outdoor lifestyles of true off-road enthusiasts.
Featuring a choice of 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. The front tow hooks are finished in red while the flared wheel arches, front and rear bumpers, door handles and signature Ford-embossed grille feature a matte black finish. SE gains the integrated black sports hoop derived from the Ranger Wildtrak, with a standard fitment of a lockable Mountain Top black roller shutter.
The Ranger Raptor’s 51mm taller ride height, 283mm ground clearance, 150mm wider front and rear track and 850mm wading depth marks it out at the parking lot. 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.
Inside the Ranger Raptor Special Edition’s double cab interior, an even sportier, bespoke feel is delivered with, red stitching for the steering wheel, exclusive Raceway Grey instrument panel, seats and door cards which replaces the blue stitching used on the normal Ranger Raptor. The sports seats are uniquely designed and trimmed in Technical Suede for maximum grip, providing optimum support during high-performance off-road driving. 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.
As with the standard Ranger Raptor, the Special Edition is powered by Ford’s 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine that delivers a maximum of 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque. Drive is to all wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Locking differential comes standard. The Ranger Raptor’s exceptional performance on any road surface comes courtesy of the specially developed Terrain Management System (TMS) includes an exciting Baja mode whilst there is also the option of Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock.
The Ranger Raptor Special Edition is priced at R965 300, while the standard Raptor Ranger is R920 300. All prices include VAT.
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.