The Ford Raptor Evolution: From Rally Legend to Road Warrior

The automotive world stood still when Ford announced they were bringing the Raptor nameplate to the Ranger lineup in 2018. Off-road enthusiasts and ute lovers across Australia collectively held their breath, wondering if the Blue Oval could truly translate the magic of the F-150 Raptor to a midsize platform. The answer turned out to be both promising and complicated.

Fast forward to 2022, and the Ranger Raptor has undergone a complete transformation that addresses virtually every criticism of the original model. This evolution from the first-generation PX3 Raptor (2018-2022) to the current next-generation model represents one of the most significant upgrades in recent automotive history. But is this evolution enough to justify its premium price tag? Let’s explore the fascinating journey of how the Ford Ranger Raptor evolved from a promising concept with notable compromises to what might be the most capable factory off-road ute ever sold in Australia.

The Birth of a Legend: Understanding the Raptor DNA

Before diving into the specifics of the Ranger Raptor’s evolution, it’s worth understanding what makes a Raptor a Raptor. The nameplate originated with the F-150 Raptor in North America, a vehicle designed to tackle high-speed desert running inspired by Baja 1000 race trucks. The core philosophy was simple: create a production vehicle capable of handling extreme off-road conditions while maintaining on-road comfort and practicality.

This philosophy requires a delicate balance of suspension travel, power, durability, and technology. When Ford Australia’s engineering team took on the challenge of creating a Ranger Raptor, they weren’t just building another variant of the Ranger – they were creating something fundamentally different that needed to live up to the Raptor name.

The Original Ranger Raptor: Brilliant Chassis, Underwhelming Heart

When the first-generation Ranger Raptor landed in 2018, it immediately stood out from the crowd. The visual impact was undeniable – 150mm wider than a standard Ranger, with flared wheel arches housing BF Goodrich all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch wheels. The increased ride height and unique front fascia with the bold FORD lettering across the grille made it impossible to mistake for anything else on the road.

But the real magic of the original Raptor wasn’t what you could see – it was what lay underneath. Ford Australia’s engineering team had completely reimagined the Ranger’s underpinnings to create something special.

Revolutionary Suspension

The most significant change was the suspension setup. Traditional utes, including the standard Ranger, used leaf springs at the rear – a simple, durable design that prioritized load-carrying capacity over ride quality and articulation. The Raptor threw this convention out the window, replacing the leaf springs with a sophisticated coil-spring Watts linkage rear end paired with Fox Racing 2.5-inch bypass shocks.

This wasn’t just a minor upgrade – it was a complete rethinking of what a production ute’s suspension could be. The Watts linkage design maintained the axle’s lateral stability while allowing for increased travel, and the Fox Racing shocks provided damping characteristics previously found only in aftermarket setups or purpose-built race vehicles.

The front suspension received similar treatment, with aluminum control arms and more Fox Racing technology. The result was 30% more suspension travel than a standard Ranger, allowing the Raptor to absorb impacts that would send other utes bouncing off course.

On rough terrain, the difference was night and day. The original Raptor could glide over corrugations at highway speeds that would shake a standard ute to pieces. It could take hits from washouts and ruts without unsettling the chassis, and it could land from modest jumps without drama – something no other production ute could claim.

Terrain Management System

Adding to the sophisticated suspension was a comprehensive Terrain Management System that offered six distinct drive modes: Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and the Raptor-exclusive Baja mode. Each mode adjusted throttle response, transmission behavior, traction control, and ABS intervention to optimize performance for different conditions.

Baja mode, in particular, showcased the Raptor’s desert-running heritage. Named after the famous Baja 1000 off-road race, this mode calibrated the vehicle for high-speed off-road driving, allowing more wheel slip and holding gears longer to keep the engine in its power band.

The Achilles’ Heel: The 2.0-Liter Bi-Turbo Diesel

With such an impressive chassis and suspension setup, expectations were high for what would power this off-road beast. This is where the original Raptor faced its most significant criticism. Ford chose to equip their off-road flagship with a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel four-cylinder producing 157kW and 500Nm of torque.

While these numbers weren’t terrible on paper – and the bi-turbo setup did provide good low-end torque – the engine felt distinctly underwhelming in a vehicle that weighed over 2.3 tonnes. The result was a 0-100km/h time of over 10 seconds – slower than a standard Ranger Wildtrak with the 3.2-liter five-cylinder diesel.

This created a strange disconnect; the chassis was capable of Baja 1000-style antics, but the engine struggled to deliver the excitement such a vehicle deserved. The 10-speed automatic transmission did its best to keep the engine in its power band, but there was no escaping the feeling that the Raptor deserved more under the hood.

Interior and Technology

Inside, the original Raptor built on the then-current Ranger interior with unique touches like bolstered sports seats with Raptor embossing, a red center marker on the steering wheel (a racing-inspired touch to help drivers quickly identify straight ahead during aggressive driving), and unique instrument cluster graphics.

The technology package included Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a reasonable suite of driver assistance features. However, it lacked some of the advanced safety features found in competitors, notably autonomous emergency braking.

The Verdict on Generation One

Despite its power deficit, the original Raptor developed a passionate following. Its unmatched off-road capability and distinctive looks made it a hit with buyers willing to overlook its straight-line performance. It occupied a unique position in the market – more capable than any other production ute off-road, but with compromises that prevented it from being the complete package it could have been.

The first-generation Raptor was a statement of intent from Ford Australia’s engineering team. It proved they could create a vehicle that lived up to the Raptor name in terms of capability, even if the powertrain left enthusiasts wanting more. And as it turned out, Ford was listening to that feedback.

The Next-Generation Raptor: The Complete Package

In 2022, Ford unveiled the second-generation Ranger Raptor alongside the all-new Ranger lineup. From the moment the covers came off, it was clear that Ford had addressed the biggest criticism of the original model.

The Heart Transplant: 3.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V6

Gone was the modest 2.0-liter diesel, replaced by a fire-breathing 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine producing a substantial 292kW and 583Nm of torque. This wasn’t just an incremental improvement – it was a complete transformation of the vehicle’s character.

The new engine, part of Ford’s EcoBoost family, featured twin-scroll turbochargers, a forged steel crankshaft, and a compacted graphite-iron cylinder block – technology derived from Ford’s performance car lineup. The power output represented an 85% increase over the original Raptor, while torque increased by 16.6%.

The numbers tell the story: the new Raptor can sprint from 0-100km/h in approximately 5.8 seconds – nearly half the time of its predecessor. But raw acceleration figures don’t capture the fundamental change in character. Where the original Raptor always felt like it was working hard to maintain momentum, the new model has power in reserve at all times, allowing drivers to use the throttle to adjust the vehicle’s attitude in corners or power out of difficult terrain.

Advanced Powertrain Features

The new engine is paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission as before, but with revised calibration to handle the increased power and different torque characteristics of the petrol V6. The transmission can be controlled via magnesium paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel, giving drivers more control during spirited driving.

One of the most interesting features of the new powertrain is the anti-lag system, borrowed from Ford’s rally racing experience. When activated in Baja mode, this system keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver lifts off the throttle, ensuring immediate response when they get back on the gas. It’s the kind of technology previously found only in dedicated performance cars, now applied to an off-road focused ute.

Enhanced Drivetrain

The new Raptor also features an enhanced four-wheel-drive system. Where the original used a part-time four-wheel-drive setup (requiring drivers to select 2H, 4H, or 4L depending on conditions), the new model adds a 4A (automatic) mode that can continuously vary torque between the front and rear axles based on conditions and driver inputs.

Both front and rear differentials can now be locked electronically, providing maximum traction in extreme off-road situations. The original Raptor only featured a locking rear differential, limiting its capability in certain scenarios.

Next-Generation Fox Live Valve Suspension

Ford’s engineers further refined the already impressive suspension setup with next-generation Fox Live Valve dampers. These electronically controlled units can adjust their damping characteristics in real-time based on driving conditions, providing a better balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The system uses sensors to monitor terrain conditions and driver inputs, adjusting damping rates up to 500 times per second. Perhaps most impressively, the system can detect when the vehicle is airborne and prepare for landing – a feature that speaks volumes about what Ford expects owners to do with their Raptors.

The suspension geometry has been refined as well, with new aluminum upper and lower control arms, longer-travel springs, and reinforced mounting points. Ground clearance has increased to 272mm (up from 283mm), while approach and departure angles remain impressive at 32 degrees and 27 degrees respectively.

Exhaust System: The Voice of a Raptor

One of the most noticeable changes in the new Raptor is its sound. The original diesel model was relatively subdued, with the characteristic clatter of a diesel engine. The new model features an active valve exhaust system that allows drivers to choose between four sound levels: Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja.

In its most aggressive Baja setting, the Raptor produces a stirring V6 soundtrack that was entirely absent from the diesel-powered original. The system uses electronically controlled valves to alter the exhaust flow and sound character, giving drivers the option to keep things neighborly when starting early in the morning or unleash the full voice of the V6 when the situation allows.

Exterior Design Evolution

While the original Raptor was already a distinctive vehicle, the new model takes the visual aggression even further. The front end features a more prominent grille with the bold FORD lettering, C-clamp headlights that echo the F-150’s design language, and functional air vents in the hood and fenders.

The wheel arches are more pronounced, housing the same 33-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires as before, but now with the option of beadlock-capable wheels for serious off-roaders. These allow the tire to be mechanically clamped to the wheel, preventing it from separating when running at very low pressures for maximum traction.

Matrix LED headlights are now standard, providing improved visibility and featuring automatic high beam functionality. The front bumper has been redesigned to improve approach angle and includes integrated LED fog lights.

At the rear, the changes are more subtle but still noticeable. The tailgate features Raptor branding, and the rear bumper has been redesigned to accommodate the new exhaust system. The tow hooks remain, painted in a contrasting color to stand out against the body.

Interior and Technology Leap Forward

Inside, the new Raptor benefits from the completely redesigned Ranger interior, representing a significant step forward in terms of design, materials, and technology. The centerpiece is a 12-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running Ford’s SYNC 4A infotainment system, offering improved processing power, enhanced voice recognition, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Behind the steering wheel sits a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster that can be configured to show different information based on drive modes and driver preferences. The steering wheel itself is thicker and features a more prominent red center marker, along with those magnesium paddle shifters mentioned earlier.

The seats, inspired by F-22 fighter jets according to Ford, provide excellent support during aggressive off-road driving while remaining comfortable on long journeys. They feature unique Raptor embossing, contrast stitching, and improved bolstering compared to the original model.

Throughout the cabin, materials have been upgraded with more soft-touch surfaces, better quality plastics, and improved fit and finish. Ambient lighting adds a premium feel, and there are more storage options throughout the interior.

The technology package has been significantly enhanced as well. In addition to the improved infotainment system, the new Raptor offers a 360-degree camera system with a dedicated off-road view, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking – addressing one of the key omissions from the original model.

The Price of Progress

This evolution hasn’t come without cost. The new Ranger Raptor starts at $85,490 before on-road costs – approximately $10,000 more than the outgoing model’s final price. This positions it firmly at the premium end of the dual-cab ute market, though it’s worth noting that no direct competitor offers the same level of off-road performance straight from the factory.

Fuel economy has also taken a hit, with the thirsty V6 consuming around 11.5L/100km in combined driving according to Ford’s figures. Real-world consumption can be significantly higher, especially when making use of the performance on offer or during off-road driving. The 80-liter fuel tank provides a theoretical range of around 695km – less than the diesel model’s range of nearly 1,000km.

There are other compromises too. The switch to a petrol engine and the sophisticated suspension setup has reduced the Raptor’s towing capacity to 2,500kg (down from 3,500kg in standard Rangers), and payload has decreased to 717kg. For those using their ute as a workhorse, these limitations might be deal-breakers.

But for the target market – enthusiasts who want the ultimate off-road performance machine that can still handle daily duties – these compromises are likely worth it for the dramatic improvement in driving experience.

Beyond the Numbers: The Driving Experience

Numbers on a page can only tell you so much. What’s the new Raptor actually like to drive compared to its predecessor?

On-Road Performance

On-road, the difference between generations is immediately apparent. The original Raptor’s soft suspension made it comfortable but somewhat disconnected from the road. The new model maintains that comfort but adds a level of precision and responsiveness that was missing before.

The steering is more direct, with a quicker ratio and better feedback. The brakes are more powerful and easier to modulate, with improved pedal feel. And of course, the engine’s responsiveness transforms the driving experience. Where the original Raptor felt like it was always working hard to maintain momentum, the new one has power in reserve at all times.

Highway overtaking, a weakness of the original model, is now dispatched with ease. The V6 pulls strongly throughout its rev range, and the 10-speed automatic is quick to downshift when needed. The active exhaust adds to the experience, providing a soundtrack that matches the performance on offer.

Despite its off-road focus, the new Raptor is a more capable and enjoyable road vehicle than its predecessor. The electronically controlled suspension adapts to provide better body control during cornering while still soaking up bumps and imperfections in the road surface.

Off-Road Capability

Off-road is where both generations shine, but again, the new model takes things to another level. The additional power means you can maintain momentum more easily through challenging terrain, and the sophisticated traction control systems make the most of the available grip.

The new Raptor also benefits from additional drive modes, including Rock Crawl for technical terrain. Combined with front and rear locking differentials (the original only had a rear locker), it’s even more capable when the going gets tough.

Low-speed off-roading is improved by the 360-degree camera system, which includes specific views to help navigate obstacles. The front camera is particularly useful when cresting hills, allowing drivers to see what’s on the other side before committing to the descent.

But it’s in high-speed off-road driving where the new Raptor truly distances itself from its predecessor. The combination of power, suspension travel, and electronic wizardry means you can tackle corrugations