By Prashirwin Naidu
As you can imagine, it was a whirlwind of emotions. Hosting the Wild Ford Ranger Raptor meant its thunderous roar woke the neighbourhood, and my intolerant neighbour was not amused by the sound of this beast at full throttle. It’s fast, loud, and thirsty – but all in good fun. Getting behind the wheel was quite the experience. Paddle shifters on a bakkie and twin exhausts at the rear feel unusual – like a sports car fused with a bakkie. A Ford Mustang bakkie, perhaps?
Exterior and Interior Design:
The design is bold and unmistakable. The squared front end pairs with striking Matrix LEDs, Raptor badging, black wheels, and sidesteps. The model we had was finished in a bright orange hue – a real beauty.
Inside, it’s much like the other models but with orange stitching on the seats,
dashboard, and steering wheel to match the exterior colour. The 12-inch infotainment system is impressive, and Ford stands out among its rivals with its modern interior. Highlights include a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, adaptive cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, climate control, USB-A and USB-C ports, a 360° parking camera, terrain response modes, a tyre pressure monitor, hill descent control, lane-keeping assist, seven airbags, and a wireless smartphone charger.
Performance:
Despite its luxury, it’s a powerful beast priced at R1,149,000. In everyday use, it’s
thirsty – I managed 16l/100km driving conservatively. Switching to sport mode, which unleashes its full potential, pushed it to 18l/100km. That said, if you’re buying a Raptor, fuel costs are probably the least of your concerns.
Powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine delivering 292 kW and 583 Nm of torque, the Raptor is impressively quick. While its 2.4-tonne weight can sometimes temper the power, the 10-speed transmission is highly responsive, swiftly shifting through gears. It offers versatile driving modes, including Sport, Mud, Sand, Slippery, Rock, and Baja. Named after the gruelling Baja 1000 off-road race in Mexico, Baja mode is built for tackling harsh terrain, inspired by an event spanning over 1,600 kilometres and attracting top drivers and petrolheads alike. Va Va Voom!
The Raptor shines with its sportiness. It’s agile, quick in corners on rough off-road
tracks, and offers cushioning that supports you, thanks to its chassis, making bundu-
bashing easier. In Baja mode, the Raptor tightens up for full performance, perfect for tackling dunes. Unfortunately, I was stuck in the concrete jungle of Johannesburg, with no dunes in sight. Its speed, combined with the thick, rubbery all-terrain tyres, makes it perfect. It’s a proper heavy-duty people mover, and despite its size, it handles its weight surprisingly well.
Verdict:
The Raptor is pricey. It’s the ‘bad boy’ of bakkies – loud, unruly, and commands
respect and admiration, but it comes with the obvious downside: affordability. Can
you pay to play? It’s perfect for someone who dares to stand out. Yes, it’s a fuel guzzler, but it drives amazingly while remaining a practical heavy-duty workhorse. Don’t mind the neighbours asking, “Who’s driving the orange Raptor?” It was me, Mr or Mrs Prude.
