2018 Ranger Raptor

[Warrenk]

Originally Posted by b0son

With this engine? Latest I read is Ford will likely go with a different engine for the US.

The American market is very very large and their market embraces HP still while every other market in the world doesn't or it is in serious decline. So wouldn't you think that Ford would take that in when targeting a market. Look on the bright side, if the Americians get a EcoBoost V6 maybe Australia might able to get this if the development includes a RHD version.

Warren

[Bossxr8]

The USA is a petrol market. Diesels are for semi's and the biggest Super Duties for towing massive loads. Australia is a diesel market for utes and bigger SUV's. It's just the way it is.

Toyota had the V6 in the Hilux and it made up less than 2% of sales, so they dropped it last year.

[Nu66et]

Originally Posted by Warrenk

The American market is very very large and their market embraces HP still while every other market in the world doesn't or it is in serious decline. So wouldn't you think that Ford would take that in when targeting a market. Look on the bright side, if the Americians get a EcoBoost V6 maybe Australia might able to get this if the development includes a RHD version.

Warren

The only possible Ecoboost V6 would be the 2.7, which doesnt make much more power than the 2.3. Begs the question, why bother go to the effort when the US Ranger will already have a 2.3 variant and they can just stick a more powerful 2.3 in.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

Quote from a journo who rode in one -

There’s just been too much work and investment gone into this thing to imagine it won’t go global. It’s about as far from the sticker kits that things like the Toyota HiLux TRD and Holden Colorado Z71 get that it is possible to imagine.

The only other pick-up of this size that comes close to this concept is the fabulous Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which we sampled recently.

So what is the Ranger Raptor? It’s what a Porsche 911 GT3 is compared to a 911 Carrera only, applied in an off-road sense. From our ride experience, it’s the closest you can get in Australia to what an off-road racing truck feels like, without sacrificing road registration or making your own mods.

It might not have the motor you want but please, spare us the BS.
Not the only journo who has said similar.

They’re comparing the Ranger to poor competition. How does it compare to the Ecoboost F150 Raptor?

[Blueford260]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

You are right roKWiz.Most Ranger Wildtracks and I guess the Raptors are bought for pose value.The bulk of owners wouldn,t take them off the tarmac for fear of getting dirt in the treads or dust on the paint.

I don't know about that, I live in country NSW and having a vehicle that can handle large bumps, deep ruts and big holes at speed and stay under control would come in pretty handy for just driving on our highways around here. I mean I feel like we are on a stage of the WRC just travelling from town to town sometimes

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by Nu66et

The only possible Ecoboost V6 would be the 2.7, which doesnt make much more power than the 2.3. Begs the question, why bother go to the effort when the US Ranger will already have a 2.3 variant and they can just stick a more powerful 2.3 in.

It all depends on how you tune it. Obviously a twin turbo 2.7 can have more power and torque, with a quicker throttle response. I hope they use a 400 hp 3.0 V6 with the same block. Same engine that’s in the Lincolns and upcoming Explorer ST.

[bretts351]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Yep losing to the camry is about as embarrassing as being beat up by a 14 year old girl.. It would make me want to firebomb the ford dealership I bought it from , especially if I just forked out 80 large on a tough looking ute that bears the raptor name tag

Are you serious? You expect to buy a 2 and a half tonne truck, with 34" x 285mm tyres on 4 corners.... and expect to beat (and merge infront of) a 1500kg sedan in a 0 to 80 sprint? ... you aren't serious are you??

I can tell you this much.... I had a Ford Focus 'S' with auto for a few months.... and apart from the 'quarter mile', it will beat any F-150 Raptor on any road circuit..... without even trying.... and it ain't an 'ST', and certainly I wouldn't need an 'RS'

[bretts351]

Originally Posted by chrisandsharon

And god bless their money. A world full of sensible spenders, just imagine - FTHAT! How boring.

Correct.... sensible means hardly anyone would waste their money, space and time on SUVs, there would be very few 4x4, and everyone would be buying in the best value for money segment: Corrolla, Focus, i30, Mazda3, etc....

[bretts351]

Originally Posted by Romulus

They’re comparing the Ranger to poor competition. How does it compare to the Ecoboost F150 Raptor?

The head of Ford Performance in the US has already come and and answered that question.... without blatantly saying 'it's better', he is in love with the Ranger chassis/suspension and will be driving that architecture back into F-150

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The USA is a petrol market. Diesels are for semi's and the biggest Super Duties for towing massive loads. Australia is a diesel market for utes and bigger SUV's. It's just the way it is.

Toyota had the V6 in the Hilux and it made up less than 2% of sales, so they dropped it last year.

And how would the market be in Australia if we had access to the vehicles sold overseas, but not here? I believe the F series trucks did very well when they were sold in Oz.

[bretts351]

Originally Posted by Romulus

And how would the market be in Australia if we had access to the vehicles sold overseas, but not here? I believe the F series trucks did very well when they were sold in Oz.

The locally built F100s were a lot smaller than their North American brothers (F150). Furthermore, at the time Ford and Holden were dominating sales with engine displacements above 200cu, with the 302 and 351s used in Falcons etc.

Today is a very different story. The average engine displacement is a lot smaller, and as mentioned in this thread already, the Aus market has migrated towards the smaller turbo diesels.

And a little known truth - the Ranger here and in the US next year is pretty much an F100. The Ranger nameplate was introduced into the US F100 range is the early 70s (?) ...and the US Ranger was still built and sold in the US some ten years ago (less the F100 reference)

So yeah... the F series trucks did very well in the 70s in Australia.... but today they are going gangbusters!

[bretts351]

The Ford F1. The post war compact truck that started it all

[bretts351]

Mid 50s...

[bretts351]

60s...

[bretts351]

Next generation... with Ranger trim level

[bretts351]

It was around the mid 1970s that Ford in the US introduced the F150, with higher load ratings than the F100...

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by bretts351

The locally built F100s were a lot smaller than their North American brothers (F150). Furthermore, at the time Ford and Holden were dominating sales with engine displacements above 200cu, with the 302 and 351s used in Falcons etc.

Today is a very different story. The average engine displacement is a lot smaller, and as mentioned in this thread already, the Aus market has migrated towards the smaller turbo diesels.

And a little known truth - the Ranger here and in the US next year is pretty much an F100. The Ranger nameplate was introduced into the US F100 range is the early 70s (?) ...and the US Ranger was still built and sold in the US some ten years ago (less the F100 reference)

So yeah... the F series trucks did very well in the 70s in Australia.... but today they are going gangbusters!

Pretty sure the Aussie F100 andF150 from mid 50s to early 90 s were the same size as the Americans. The later F250 s were a bit bigger.

[bretts351]

Same but different

[bretts351]

In the mid 80s the F100 namelate was dropped, and the F150 began it's growth in size to where it is today. The Ranger nameplate was introduced to create a 'compact' pick up track of lower size and GVM....

Over the generations these pickups have all been known for capability to haul a load, and do it very well

[bretts351]

So... with T6 platform kicking off an all new Ranger in 2011, that has seen a huge boost in sales worldwide, Ford has been able to grow it and it's really bloody good news that these two vehicles are announced!

[bretts351]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Pretty sure the Aussie F100 andF150 from mid 50s to early 90 s were the same size as the Americans. The later F250 s were a bit bigger.

yes indeed correct. the f150s got larger after the f100 was dropped...

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by Blueford260

I don't know about that, I live in country NSW and having a vehicle that can handle large bumps, deep ruts and big holes at speed and stay under control would come in pretty handy for just driving on our highways around here. I mean I feel like we are on a stage of the WRC just travelling from town to town sometimes

It has got me wondering how it would go out here.
I work remotely a couple weeks at a time, and the trip is made in work's navara or courier. In theory the limit is 100, but the road is getting progressively worse over summer. Some sections doing much over 60 sends the utes sliding all over the road. Would this handle it much better? If I had spare cash or a better paying job I'd be tempted to find out. But then I recall the line about the suspension costing more than the engine. How long is that going to last, especially if you are driving it at speed on rough outback tracks?

My girlfriend does prefer utes to wagons, so maybe I can convince her we need one when her current lease is up.

[chrisandsharon]

Some nice ole’ rigs there bretts351 - interesting history. Cheers

Edit - that 50s front end, spooky - think I watched too many Mississippi burning type videos when I was little lol.

[chevypower]

I think the name Ranger existed before the compact truck did, because I am sure there was an old F150 or F100 Ranger.

[Blueford260]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

It has got me wondering how it would go out here.
I work remotely a couple weeks at a time, and the trip is made in work's navara or courier. In theory the limit is 100, but the road is getting progressively worse over summer. Some sections doing much over 60 sends the utes sliding all over the road. Would this handle it much better? If I had spare cash or a better paying job I'd be tempted to find out. But then I recall the line about the suspension costing more than the engine. How long is that going to last, especially if you are driving it at speed on rough outback tracks?

My girlfriend does prefer utes to wagons, so maybe I can convince her we need one when her current lease is up.

That's what I'm more worried about than the size of the engine.
I five years time am I going to have to sell a kidney to replace the shocks

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

If I had spare cash or a better paying job I'd be tempted to find out. But then I recall the line about the suspension costing more than the engine.

It didn't say it cost more than the engine. It said it was more than a small engine. It depends what a small engine he was talking about. Still expensive I'm sure.

[chrisandsharon]

I’m no expert on FOX shocks but I’m sure they are a serviceable and a rebuildable item - you won’t be forking out for the cost of brand new shocks if
the rebound/compression feels a little out or if something goes wrong.

[roKWiz]

Slightly off subject...
I get that its an ideal general 4X4 vehicle (on paper)

But from someone like me (not into offroading) who would be looking into buying a trade vehicle, would look at its carrying capacity 1st, proven durability 2nd, its towing capacity 3rd. , comfort 4th.

I would imagine the US based F trucks (Dodge or GMC for that matter) have an advantage over Raptor in towing ability just based on being a longer wheelbase vehicle with a few engine options.
The biggest problem I see with the Ranger Raptor (and any 4 door ute based 4X4 here) is the load area is not centred properly over the length of the wheel base, its 1 ton cap is rearward of its rear axle.

Sure its WB is idea for off road capabilities which I understand why most people would buy it but I see a big problem with it (and the others like it) where uninformed owners start pulling large overweight loads, especially 5th wheelers with these type of vehicles.
Gooseneck and 5th wheel should be positioned slightly ahead of the rear axle centre which these can not achieve. (unless using sliding 5th wheel couplings)

The longer WB F truck and its opponents in the US seem idea for pulling large heavy loads and RV type trailers which we are seeing more here.
With such a boom in the RV industry I'm surprised car dealers don't offer a factory alternatively suitable vehicles.
There is more illegally overloaded trade, 5th wheelers and caravans now being let loose on our roads due to no understanding of buying the right vehicle for the job but who can blame them when they are given little choice in vehicles for such applications.

Bringing me back to the Ranger in general If would be nice to see a future Ranger Raptor offered with a couple of different engine options and wheelbase options like manufacturer did in the past.
Just an example.. my own Ford Traders were sold with 5 different wheelbases and had 3 different diesel engine options, wide cab narrow cab single cab or dual, single rear wheels or dual.
I suppose in this global economy we now live in, one size fits all.

Re the name Ranger, didn't it first appear on a 60's Valiant.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Romulus

And how would the market be in Australia if we had access to the vehicles sold overseas, but not here? I believe the F series trucks did very well when they were sold in Oz.

Like the 5.4 3v f-150's that sat on dealers lots for years.

Buyers wanted powerstrokes and wouldn't touch them.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Like the 5.4 3v f-150's that sat on dealers lots for years.

Buyers wanted powerstrokes and wouldn't touch them.

My point exactly. No one wanted a boat anchor of an engine in the F series truck, the demand was for the powerstroke diesel.