After announcing that AG Automobiles (The authorized dealer of Ford) would finally bring in the Ford Ranger Raptor back in June last year, there was quite a buzz in the country’s automobile scene. This is the first time any automobile company has brought a four-wheel-drive truck for personal use as there was simply not a big enough customer base for this segment. The aggressive-looking double cabin, 4x4 comes in with a 2.0L bi-turbo diesel engine, that produces 200 bhp and 500 Nm torque. Yes, you read that right, the truck produces more torque than many high-performance vehicles.
Being 2.0L suggests the tax structure be lower compared to similarly capable SUVs with much larger engines. The mud-loving off-roader is priced at 95 lacs and the standard Ranger will set you back 65 lacs. The pricing might drive away a lot of potential customers, as trucks are not as popular here in Bangladesh as in other countries. Many would just opt for an SUV instead with that kind of money. Fancy, full-sized pickups are not cheap, and the Ford Raptor is no different. The capabilities of the vehicle, however, makes it a bargain at that price range. Being a large vehicle with its FOX racing shocks, the bumps on the road should not be a problem. However, Ford is yet to let the car out on test drives as it was just launched. The Raptor comes in with an independent rare suspension, unlike the standard Ranger.
With the road conditions here, we all have “off-roading” experiences to some extent even though one might not have intended to. The Ford Ranger Raptor is ‘take-anywhere’ vehicle, be it in the smooth roads of Mawa highway to the hill tracts of Chittagong. And do all that in comfort and ease. The interior of the vehicle isn’t comparable to the high-end SUVs, it simply would not make sense if you did, as the Ranger was made to be a workhorse. That kind of shows with how the dashboard is set up, with very minimalistic designs and robust materials. The truck comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission that can take on any kind of shifting, as off-roading demands low range gears. It is common to see vehicles of these kinds to come with a 6 to 7-speed transmissions, as seen in the earlier models. With extremely light steering, so one can whiz past traffic, and on the other times when you out in the open, you can domesticate any terrain with the help of the electronic stability programme.
To say the least, the Ford Rangers are made to take abuse. Well known for its reliability and its versatility, the truck should do well in the road conditions of Bangladesh. If you are actually planning to get the Raptor for what it is made for, you should know it can tow up to 8000 pounds and can carry up to 1200 pounds in its 5.5-foot cargo bed. Maybe this is the beginning of 4x4 trucks becoming a thing here in Bangladesh.