• The Ranger Raptor finally gets the familiar 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel here
• Identical in specs to the 3.0L V6 petrol Ranger Raptor except for the engine
• RM 10k cheaper than the petrol version

The Ford Ranger Raptor is the apex predator of the pick-up segment here. It plays by its own rules, chewing and spitting regular pick-ups for breakfast before annihilating sand dunes for lunch just to work up an appetite of Baja running for dinner at a price of RM 248,888.

When Sime Darby Auto Connexion’s (SDAC) brought in the first ever Ranger Raptor here, it proved to be a branding masterstroke for the carmaker; even more so than the Mustang that’s not become a MLM joke punchline.

Also Read: 397 PS, 583 Nm 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor launched in Malaysia - RM 259,888

Now that the all-new Ranger Raptor was launched with 2 engine options; a gnarly 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine and the familiar 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel from the previous Ranger, the decision to introduce the petrol version in Malaysia raised some eyebrows.

The high-displacement and preference for diesel in a pick-up here didn’t quite fit the bill but it still sold well and made some incredibly lustful noises from that V6 with a 10-speed automatic.

However, SDAC finally relented to market demands and launched the Ranger Raptor with the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine here today. The distributor is confident the smaller engine will appeal to a wider spectrum of buyers.

Also Read: All-new 2022 Ford Ranger launched in Malaysia - 6 variants from RM 108k, Wildtrak from RM 168,888

The 2.0-litre Ranger Raptor carries all the same bells and whistles as its sibling that made it the first factory-built performance truck for high-speed off-roading.

As you can see from the photos, this includes the same bold exterior and interior styling, integrated technologies and advanced safety features as the petrol Ranger Raptor. Of course, it’s equally capable off-road and retains the upgraded components that make it a road-legal Baja buggy, such as the heavy-duty Fox suspension as well as the front and rear differentials.

Also Read: Review: Ford Ranger Wildtrak - Bigger and better but it comes at a price... literally

The only change is the 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine that debuted in the facelift of the previous generation Ranger. In the current Ranger line-up, it powers the Ranger Wildtrak 4x4 and the Ranger XLT Plus, making 210 PS and 500 Nm of torque with the same 10-speed auto.

Here in the Ranger Raptor, it makes an identical 210 PS and 500 Nm of torque that’s sent to all wheels via the same 10-speed auto as well. For comparison, the V6 petrol Ranger Raptor makes a stonking 397 PS and 583 Nm of torque.

Aside from that, the Ranger Raptor also comes with the aforementioned enhanced 2.5-inch Fox shock absorbers which improve balance and control of the truck as well as cushioning occupants from the rough terrain.

There’s a total of 7 driving modes that makes the Ranger Raptor adaptive to every possible surface.

3 of those driving modes are for regular on-road conditions, Normal, Sport and Slippery. The first two are self-explanatory with Slippery mode recommended for slippery or uneven road surfaces.

For when the asphalt ends, there are 4 settings:

• Rock Crawl – Provides optimum traction and momentum on loose surfaces
• Sand – For use in soft sand and deep snow conditions, optimising power delivery and transmission shifts
• Mud/Ruts – For maximum grip off-road during launch and maintaining vehicle momentum
• Baja – Tuned for high-speed off-road performance with all systems set for maximum attack

Additionally, there’s also Trail Control which allows the truck to accelerate (up to 32 kph) and brake on its own while the driver focuses solely on the steering wheel. Think of it as cruise control but for off-roading.

The same 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres in a 285/70/R17 sizing to ensure maximum grip.

In the cabin, Ford kept the signature orange detailing across the trims which Ford calls ‘Code Orange.’ Infotainment is provided by the enormous vertical 12-inch centre touchscreen running on Ford’s SYNC4 system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, pumping out tunes from the 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Safety tech remains the same as well. That’s 7 airbags and the full suite of ADAS that includes:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning and assist
• Autonomous braking with pedestrian detection
• Forward collision warning
• Reverse brake override
• Blind-spot detection
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Multi collision brake

Pricing for the 2.0-litre Ranger Raptor is RM 248,888 and the first 300 bookings of the Ranger Raptor 2.0-litre will come specially fitted with a Kenwood DRV-A700W dashcam system, which features a Wide-Quad HD (WQHD, 3.7MP) front camera and Full HD (FHD, 1080p) rear camera for dual-channel recording.

It’s also equipped with a three-axis G-Sensor designed to detect a collision and has a wireless smartphone link for easy management of videos and settings. The built-in GPS receiver automatically records driving information and location tracking.

Additionally, those 300 bookings will come with a RM 500 discount on one Ford Ranger Getaways package.