Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 V6: Redefining What a Bakkie Can Be

Ford''s decision to fit the Ranger Raptor with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel producing 210kW and 600Nm of torque wasn''t taken lightly. The BiTurbo 2.0-litre was already the most powerful diesel in the bakkie segment — the V6 represents a step change in capability. The Raptor''s Fox Racing shocks are the key to its character. With 280mm of front suspension travel and 300mm at the rear, the Raptor can carry speed over terrain that would destroy the suspension of a standard bakkie. On the corrugated gravel road between Harrismith and the Drakensberg resort where we stayed overnight, we averaged 105km/h — the Raptor felt stable and controlled at speeds that would have been suicidal in any other bakkie. The 10.1-inch portrait touchscreen with wireless CarPlay is the best infotainment system in any bakkie currently sold in South Africa. The Baja Mode drive setting — developed for high-speed desert racing — manages stability and traction during fast off-road runs with precision that suggests the Raptor''s target customer actually uses it. At R999,900, the Raptor is expensive for a bakkie. But nothing else provides this experience.