Top 5 reasons to splurge on a Ford Ranger Raptor SE
With the new range of Ford Rangers just around the corner, Ford has endowed its current-generation Raptor with some stylish accessories as a last hurrah. The Ford Raptor SE, or Special Edition, is available in limited numbers and offers style as well as substance for outdoor addicts in a hurry. Here's why you should invest in a limited edition Raptor SE right now.
1. It's butch, but sexy
The Special Edition Raptor doesn't look that much different from the 'normal' Raptor and its oily bits stay unchanged, but the cool decal stripes on the bonnet, flanks and tailgate are the most obvious changes. It also gets a stylish sports hoop, red stitching inside, a matte black grille and fender trims, lockable roller shutter and red, heavy-duty recovery hooks in the front. Think of it as Captain America in his designer combat trousers and boots, with a splash of warrior paint on his chiselled cheeks.
2. It's comfier than your favourite couch
To prevent you from shifting around in your seat when you tackle hellish obstacles through Mordor en route to Mount Doom, Ford has covered the supportive seats in Technical Suede for maximum grip. If you spend most of your life in shorts, you won't burn your upper thighs when you sit down after your Raptor has been baking in the hot sun. (This is standard on the garden variety Raptor, too.)
3. Its off-road ability at high speed is unrivalled, and it's just as good on tar
The Raptor rides as comfortably on tar as it does on the rougher stuff, because of the adaptive Fox PSD (Position Sensitive Damping) shock absorbers that provide maximum damping in extreme conditions, and lower damping when you're just going about your daily business. The Watt's linkage in the coil-over rear suspension enables the axle to move up and down with hardly any lateral movement, which makes for a less bumpy and jiggly ride overall, especially during high-speed driving on dirt and gravel. The Raptor's suspension can travel 32% higher up front and 22% higher at the rear, compared to the Ford Ranger. R17 General Grabber AT3 tyres are the fitting footwear for a vehicle of this ilk. This means you can take your Raptor anywhere!
4. It does all the hard work for you
The Ford Ranger Raptor's smart Terrain Management System allows you to match the vehicle settings to whatever road surface you find yourself on. You can choose between Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand and Rock, and there's even a Baja mode for ultra-responsive, high-speed driving off-road.
The Electronic Power Assist Steering is also linked to the Terrain Management system, and provides assistance according to the drive mode you selected - we found that there was very little steering correction required on the straight sections of the tarmac.
With the press of a button, you can switch between modes - no thinking required! And no major off-road training is required, either - just common sense.
5. On-board tech keeps everyone entertained
Ford's SYNC3 infotainment system offers voice control, Satnav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as dual USB-ports up front.
The Ranger Raptor SE retails for R965 300, while the Ranger Raptor will set you back R965 300.
