Ford has signalled that it is taking its off-road heritage to new levels, with the release of the Ranger Raptor models that transforms Ireland’s and Europe’s most popular 4x4 pick-up from a working machine to one with a new high-speed, off-road driving experience. Models of the Raptor conversion for the Ranger are on their way here and we had the opportunity to put it to the test recently in the harsh conditions of Morocco.

The Raptor is aimed at the performance 4x4 pick-up market that’s growing around the world. Ford chose Morocco to launch the pick-up to European journalists to prove just how strong and versatile the vehicle actually is.

Diesel pick-ups with their go-anywhere ability were still a little out of place in Morocco as we crisscrossed the northern coastal region, close to the town of Essaquira. Ford was showing its most expensive 4x4 pick-up, and probably least practical from a farming perspective, in a region of Morocco where the donkey remains the dominant source of power.

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I expect that the locals frowned at what appeared like alien drivers in muscular vehicles, as we powered down their dusty roads and manoeuvred their narrow village streets.

What the Raptor did prove was that Ford engineers – headed up by Northern Ireland-born Damien Ross, who is now working for Ford in Australia – have built a 4x4 pick-up that delivers performance. It lived up to its promise as we crossed dirt roads, to face down the challenges of sand dune driving on the Atlantic edge of the world’s biggest desert.

This Ranger Raptor is the first of the new generation Ford Rangers to be fitted with a new Ford 2.0-litre twin turbo-diesel engine, similar to the engine that’s fitted in Ford’s Edge large SUV. This engine will soon replace both the 2.2-litre and 3.2-litre versions with claims of a 9% improvement in fuel economy.

The Raptor’s performance is designed to be extreme and covers all spectrums of the vehicle. The new engine power is rated at 213bhp, and generates a massive 500Nm of torque. It does so with ease, especially when mated to Ford’s new 10-speed automatic gearbox.

What makes the Raptor very different is the special suspension that gives longer travel and more stability in difficult driving conditions. The front suspension includes Fox long travel shocks, while the rear has a new Watts link suspension. The rear brakes replace drums with ventilated discs and you will find them in the standard Ranger.

Ford replaced the traditional leaf system with a coil system that gives more comfort and off-road stability. The compromise has been to the towing ability as it has dropped from 3.2t to 2.5t.

This Raptor version also features a wider wheelbase that adds to its stability. The safety package includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and intelligent speed-limiter technologies as standard. There’s a reversing camera for ease of parking when you come home from the thrills of off-road performance driving. So, if you are opting for the Ranger Raptor for image and fun then the towing ability will not change your mind. If towing is part of the need, the standard Ranger that’s coming soon with the same engine and a six-speed manual automatic gearbox, and looks equally good, will be your choice.

For the Raptor version, Ford has a new terrain management system that links suspension settings with engine and gearbox ones. The new system option is called Baja for high-speed, off-road performance, similar to what US drivers need in the famous Baja Desert Rally. The existing Ranger choices of Normal, Sport, Grass/Grave/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock remain in the offer. After more than 10 hours of Raptor driving, it’s obvious that this new Ranger choice is all about being seen in a large 4x4 pick-up that has all of the ability of Ford’s renowned North American F-150 pick-up, except in a slightly tidier package for European tastes.

Ciaran McMahon of Ford Ireland said that there are already significant orders in hand for the new Ranger Raptor, ahead of its July 2019 arrival in Ireland. The price will not be cheap, starting at €63,950 or £47,874 incl. VAT, that’s €20,000 more than the entry level model. It is still a commercial vehicle, with a towbar as standard and comes with all of the taxation benefits, along with its serious off-road ability.

Ford Ranger Raptor 4x4 – specifications

Engine 2.0 litre Diesel

Engine power 213hp

Engine Torque 500Nm

0 – 100km/hr 10.5 seconds

Economy 11.2km/l (8.9/100km or 32mpg)

Fuel Tank Capacity 80 litres

CO2 emissions 233g/km

Road Tax Band Commercial €333

Main Service 15,000km/12 months

Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2015)

Towing rating 2500kgs

Warranty 3 years/100,000km

Entry Price €63,950

N Ireland Price £47,874