The much-awaited Ford Ranger Raptor will make its official debut in Bangkok, Thailand on Feb. 7, 2018. The off-road pickup truck is scheduled to arrive at the Asia-Pacific market later that year.
Ford confirmed the Ranger Raptor's launch date to Motoring Australia. Though the American automaker did not release any other information, the publication revealed that the upcoming off-road pickup truck will be powered by a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.
This particular powertrain is said to be more capable than the standard Ranger's 3.2-liter inline-five turbodiesel engine, which produces 197 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. The Ranger Raptor will also come standard with a new 10-speed automatic transmission that Ford developed in collaboration with General Motors.
Motoring further revealed that the Ford Ranger Raptor will feature a low-range transfer case, multi-link rear suspension with coil springs, wider wheel track, higher ground clearance, four-wheel disk brakes and 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires. An aggressive front fascia with LED headlights is also expected.
Ford officially announced the Ranger Raptor back in September when it released promotional photos and video of the off-road pickup truck's prototype undergoing rigorous testing in the Australian outback. The American automaker said that the upcoming vehicle would boast a bold and tough exterior design coupled with off-road performance and capability that will allow it to stand out in the midsize pickup truck segment.
"We are very excited to bring Asia Pacific's toughest and smartest pickup truck to a whole new level. Ford Ranger Raptor will offer Ranger fans a fantastic opportunity to own an authentic off-road performance version of their favorite truck for the first time," said Trevor Worthington, vice president of product development at Ford Asia Pacific.
Though the Range Raptor is not slated to arrive in the United States, truck enthusiasts can still expect the return of the Ford Ranger sometime in 2019.
