It wasn’t particularly popular in the predecessor, but now the diesel is making a comeback in the Raptor – the advantage of diesel engines: it’s cheaper than the V6 petrol engine
(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Where it says Raptor, the fan actually expects stupid amounts of performance and nonsense. This was only partially the case with the first generation of the Ford Ranger Raptor. Blame it on: the 2.0-liter four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel. As the only power source. Its 213 hp and 500 Nm of torque sounded pretty good in isolation. But they just had to push 2.5 tons of fun truck and that was more or less successful.
The joy was all the greater when the successor with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine turned the corner. It has 292 hp, 491 Nm and brings the fat (thick by European standards) forward quite energetically. It goes from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, Sense is at 181 km/h. However, a WLTP consumption of 13.8 liters is not necessarily the yellow of the egg. Presumably for this reason, the Blue Oval is actually getting the diesel out of the basement again.
The 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine delivers 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque in the 2023 Ranger Raptor. Like the V6 petrol engine, it is coupled with the well-known 10-speed automatic transmission and the electronically controlled e-4WD all-wheel drive. The top speed of the diesel Raptor is 180 km/h. In the predecessor it was 177 km/h.
Ford does not specify a 0-100 km/h value. The first Raptor took a good 10.5 seconds. It should be similar here. Ford also does not provide any information on diesel consumption. The predecessor was officially 8.9 liters. A consumption between 10 and 12 liters was realistic in everyday life.
According to Ford, the two versions of the new Ranger Raptor look “almost like twins”. We also see the fat F-O-R-D radiator grille, the 2.3 mm thick steel underride protection or the 17-inch wheels with 285/70 AllTerrain tires. Even the two exhaust pipes were adopted.
The e-4WD all-wheel drive system is also joined by a rear axle differential that can be 100 percent locked on the nailing Raptor. In addition, there is a two-stage transfer case that is electronically controlled and, depending on requirements, directs up to 50 percent of the engine torque to the front axle.
With 256 millimeters on the front axle and 290 millimeters on the rear wheels, the suspension travel is generous as usual. Coil springs instead of leaf springs are used on the rigid rear axle of the Raptor. A Watt’s linkage on the differential housing is designed to prevent the axle from laterally shifting during compression.
The ground clearance is 266 millimeters, the approach angle is 32 degrees at the front and 27 degrees at the rear. The Raptor can take up to 2.5 tons on the hook.
In addition to the consumption, the price could also speak for the purchase of the diesel Raptor. The difference is smaller than expected. The 2.0-liter EcoBlue is available from 74,197 euros. For comparison: the 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine costs at least 79,833 euros.
As an option for €2,380, Ford offers the Raptor package with sports bar, cargo area sports rails and electric cargo area blind. A programmable Eberspächer auxiliary heater with remote control is also available exclusively for the Ranger Raptor with a diesel engine.
