GALLERY: traversing hilly Mpumalanga in the Ford Ranger Raptor 

It is no secret that Ford has debuted the new Ranger and Everest models internationally but that doesn’t mean the outgoing model isn’t worth its salt. We got to enjoy the Ford Ranger Raptor in the hilly terrains of Dullstroom while spectating the Mpumalanga 400. 

Ranger RaptorThe reason for the excursion to the neverending hills of Mpumalanga was for the season opening race of the South African Rally Raid Championship. The Mpumalanga 400 as it is also known had two factory backed Neil Woolridge Motorsport T1+ Rangers and a host of other privateer Rangers in the T1 category.

View a gallery of the event here. 

Of the FIA grade and Dakar ready T1+ Rangers, one finished on the podium while the other suffered irreparable damage after colliding with a tree in a slippery part of the stage. This all transpired after snatching the lead in the damp morning conditions as a result of a downpour overnight. 

Ranger RaptorIt is set to be a thrilling season between the Hilux and Ranger, where we can expect the two stalwarts to go blow for blow throughout the season, similarly to that of the monthly sales battle between the brands’ most popular bakkies. 

Ranger RaptorWe were afforded the opportunity of doing short sections of the Mpumalanga 400 in the Ford Ranger Raptors provided to us by the Blue Oval. These included fast flowing tracks which transitioned into technical grassy trails which had not been pioneered by many vehicles prior. 

Ranger RaptorWhile powered by the same tolerable 2.0-litre turbo-diesel motor, the Ford Ranger Raptor is far better equipped to tackle treacherous terrain than just about any other off-the-shelf bakkie out there. The front and rear tracks are each 150 mm wider while the lifestyle bakkie sits 51 mm taller than the next tallest Ranger derivative. Fox Racing dampers sit on all four corners and connect the knobbly rubber to the chassis of the car. They offer 32% more travel at the rear with 18% more up front.

Ranger Raptor

Summiting the neverending hills around Dullstroom.

The wider track of the Ford Ranger Raptor also means that the external bodywork is significantly wider to accommodate for the upgrades. Front and rear fenders have been widened while more aggressive bumpers and side steps line the extremities of the bakkie. 

Ranger RaptorThe Ranger Raptor performed superlatively on the technical trails with the suspension upgrades soaking up each and every imperfection presented before it, it did however lack a bit of grunt as the 4-cylinder diesel ran out of steam a little bit too soon. The newly released model will offer a 3,0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 which delivers 292 kW and 491 N.m which should be sufficient in kicking up clouds of dust.

The post GALLERY: traversing hilly Mpumalanga in the Ford Ranger Raptor  appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage...
Read more

Top 10 Best-Selling Automotive Brands Locally – April 2024

Image
Following eight consecutive months of sales decline, the milestone of celebrating a century of vehicle production locally saw a welcomed increase in the motor industry for April 2024. Have a look at the data below, which sees Toyota drop in sales but retain the top spot, with Suzuki moving into second and Nissan dropping to the bottom of the list without the NP200 rolling off of the production line. Image: Toyota Looking for your next new or used Porsche? Find it here with CARmag! South Africa is marking 2024 as a significant year for its automotive industry, celebrating 100 years of car manufacturing. Mikel Mabasa, CEO of naamsa , the country’s automotive business council, commented, “As the sun rises on a century of automotive innovation, South Africa proudly commemorates a century of automobile manufacturing excellence. This milestone reflects a journey of resilience, ingenuity, and passion that has shaped the nation’s automotive legacy.” Details on how the industry will commem...
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th...
Read more