Ford Ranger Raptor

2026 FORD RANGER RAPTOR 3.0L V6 TWIN TURBO 4WD — NEW ZEALAND SPECIFICATION

ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN

The Ranger Raptor is powered by Ford's 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine, the only petrol engine in the New Zealand Ranger range, which is otherwise diesel. Ford New Zealand rates it at 292 kW at 5,650 rpm and 583 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Drive runs through a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a full-time four-wheel-drive system. Electronically locking front and rear differentials are standard; no other Ranger variant offers a locking front differential. A dual active exhaust provides four selectable settings: Quiet, Normal, Sport and Baja. Ford New Zealand quotes combined fuel economy of 11.5 L/100 km on the NEDC cycle and CO2 emissions of 292 g/km on the 3-phase WLTP cycle.

CHASSIS, STEERING AND BRAKES

The Raptor uses a unique wide-track chassis: front and rear track measure 1,710 mm against 1,620 mm on every other Ranger variant. Suspension is performance-tuned around FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve shock absorbers, which read the terrain and adjust damping in real time and are exclusive to the Raptor within the range, with a Watt's link locating the rear axle. Wheels are 17 x 8.5-inch alloys on 285/70 R17 BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tyres, carrying a full 17-inch alloy spare. Underbody protection covers the front, engine and transfer case, and a steel bash plate is fitted. Maximum front axle rating is 1,520 kg and maximum rear axle rating 1,700 kg.

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES

Overall length is 5,425 mm measured with the towbar hitch, overall width 2,208 mm including mirrors, and unladen overall height 1,926 mm. The wheelbase is 3,270 mm, with front and rear overhangs of 865 mm and 1,215 mm. The pick-up box measures 1,564 mm long, 1,578 mm at its maximum width and 526 mm deep. Gross Vehicle Mass is 3,160 kg and Gross Combination Mass 5,400 kg. Maximum total kerb mass is 2,466 kg, giving a minimum payload of 694 kg; Ford calculates Raptor payload by deducting tare weight from GVM rather than kerb weight. The body is a double-cab pick-up seating five.

EXTERIOR

The Raptor wears model-specific bodywork over the widened track, with Precision Grey Raptor-branded cast alloy side steps and Precision Grey hood vents. Lighting is by Intelligent Matrix headlamps with 360-degree zone lighting, and a pick-up box light is fitted. Rain-sensing wipers and privacy glass on the rear doors and rear window are standard, as is a towbar with tow hitch. The dual active exhaust exits are visible at the rear. The New Zealand paint palette for the Raptor comprises Arctic White, Shadow Black, Command Grey, Meteor Grey, Blue Lightning and Code Orange.

INTERIOR AND SEATING

The cabin seats five across two rows and is trimmed in leather-accented seats, with carpet floor trim in place of the vinyl used in the Ranger work grades. The driver faces a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a steering wheel with reach and height adjustment plus paddle shifters. Dual-zone climate control and second-row air registers are standard, along with heated driver and passenger seats, an electrochromatic rear-view mirror and instrument-panel pull-out cup holders. Six spare accessory switches are provided for aftermarket equipment. Child-seat upper anchorage points and ISOFIX attachments are fitted.

INFOTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY

Infotainment runs Ford SYNC 4A with embedded connected navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with AppLink, Bluetooth, voice control over radio, air conditioning and driver-assistance settings, and a digital owner's manual. Audio is a Bang & Olufsen system with eight speakers. A wireless phone charging pad is standard, as is FordApp connectivity and a trailer connection alarm. Pro Power 400 W sockets are fitted in the rear console and in the pick-up box.

DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY

Ford New Zealand lists the Ranger Raptor as ANCAP Unrated, unlike the rest of the New Zealand Ranger range, which carries a 5-star ANCAP rating. Standard driver assistance comprises Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Junction Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Distance Alert and Distance Indication, Electronic Stability Control with Evasive Steer Assist and Post-Impact Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid with Road Departure Warning, Speed Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Monitoring with Trailer Coverage and Cross-Traffic Assist, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. Nine airbags are fitted: front, side, knee and full-length curtain airbags for driver and passenger, plus a far-side driver front airbag.

OFF-ROAD AND TOWING

Seven selectable drive modes are offered: Normal, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Sand, Sport, Baja and Rock Crawl, with Sport and Baja exclusive to the Raptor across the Ranger lineup. Baja mode is tuned for sustained high-speed off-road running; Rock Crawl engages the locking front and rear differentials. Ground clearance is 272 mm and wading depth 850 mm maintained at a steady 7 km/h — the highest figures in the standard Ranger range, 11 mm more ground clearance than the Tremor and 38 mm more than Wildtrak, Wolftrak and Platinum. Towing and load ratings are deliberately lower than the rest of the range: the Raptor is rated at 2,500 kg braked towing with a Genuine Ford tow pack and integrated brake controller, against 3,500 kg for every other Ranger, and its Gross Combination Mass of 5,400 kg trails the 6,400 kg of the diesel double-cab grades. Buyers cross-shopping on towing capacity should note this difference, which reflects the Raptor's high-speed desert-running brief rather than a work-truck brief.