Evil Twin

The Ford Ranger Raptor is what happens when a Ford Endeavour is put on a strict regimen of steroids!

- Roberto Ungaro

The same structure, a reinforced chassis and a decidedly butch appearance, the Ford Ranger Raptor is quintessentially American and is now almost as tall and wide as the big daddy of American trucks – the F-150. All told, it certainly looks the part and has all the numbers to back it up.

The Ford Endeavour SUV is based on the Ranger pick-up, which also forms the basis for the Raptor that you see here. In terms of aesthetics, the Raptor is certainly in-your-face. It’s got 30% more ride height, wider fenders and prominent wheel arches, with an imposing grille and a meaner look. In short, it’s as American as they come.

The leaf springs of the lesser versions (which are more suited to hauling goods) have been junked. The focus of the Ranger now lies elsewhere – making the shock absorbers more efficient. This means it now has coil-overs, which essentially make it a better off-roader.

Additionally, the ramp-over angle has increased – from 22 to 24-degrees – and the wading depth is now a whopping 850mm. The brakes have also been improved, meaning the drums at the back have been replaced by a pair of shiny discs.

Never out of place