America Needs the Ford Ranger Raptor
The Ranger Raptor holds the key to Ford’s truck market dominance — yet rumors persist that we won’t get it.
It seems almost preposterous that something as unabashedly American as the Ford Ranger Raptor would exist, yet not be sold in America. And yet, that seems to be the likely scenario – for now. After rumors flew around the internet for quite some time, Ford announced that it would build the off-road destroying Ranger in the most ‘Murican way possible. But then they crushed our dreams by announcing that it would be sold in the Asia Pacific market only.
Of course, many simply assumed that the Ford Ranger Raptor would eventually land on our shores. And you can’t blame them, because it makes too much sense. After all, we already have the excellent F-150 Raptor. Plus, the Ranger is rightfully returning stateside in 2019 after a multi-year absence. We Americans love our off-roading, and Chevy already offers a built-in competitor in the form of the Colorado ZR2. And yet, rumors persist that Ford intends to deny us the opportunity to buy a Ranger Raptor.
For now, the Ranger Raptor is slated to debut in Thailand on February 7. Details are scant, but many believe it will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel. That isn’t necessarily a deal killer in the U.S. market, as the Colorado ZR2 comes with a diesel option. But unlike our friends on the other side of the world, we Americans prefer gas-powered engines in our light duty trucks. At least for now.
But consider this – Ford already dominates both the half-ton and heavy duty truck segments. And yet, a huge hole exists where Chevy, Toyota, and Nissan (and soon Jeep) own the mid-size market. Ford obviously realized that pulling the Ranger was a mistake, which is why they’re bringing it back. But if they want to truly dominate the entire truck market, they must offer a hardcore off-road Ranger that bests the competition. And only a Ranger Raptor can do that.
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