Ahead of the launch of a new Ranger pickup for 2022, Ford is giving the Raptor performance model one last push with the launch of a special edition.
Called simply Raptor Special Edition, the new model has been teased by Team Fordzilla on its Twitch show, TFZ:TV.
Team Fordzilla?
If you don’t know your Forza Horizon from your Assetto Corsa, you might have missed that Ford operates a team of sim-racing teams. Launched at Gamescom in 2019, Team Fordzilla went on to find teams of drivers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. As well as competing in regional and European sim-racing championships, the team also hosts its own Fordzilla Cup competition.
It’s also launched its own race car. The Team Fordzilla P1 was designed in collaboration with gamers and Ford designers Arturo Arino and Robert Engelmann. A full-scale, real-world model of the vehicle was then revealed just three months later.
Revealing the Ranger Raptor Special Edition
The original Ranger Raptor was the first vehicle to be unveiled at a computer game show – in 2018 at Gamescom in Germany – and has since featured in numerous games, including Forza Horizon 4 on the Xbox.
Ford has followed that brief tradition by giving Team Fordzilla the honours of previewing the forthcoming Raptor Special Edition. The original launch was supported by a ‘Badd-Ass’ video, and the updated model returns to the big screen in a new video titled ‘The Good, The Bad and the Bad-RSE’.
As wafer-thin as it is, the plotline sees the Raptor Special Edition evading hostile bandits on a spaghetti western set, aided by fellow Ranger models, including the Ranger Stormtrak, Ranger Wolftrak and Ranger MS:RT.
The video can be watched on Twitch by clicking this link.
Any Significant Raptor Special Edition Changes?
While the launch video is spectacular, the updates for the Ranger Special Edition. Expected to be revealed in full on 25 May, Professional Pickup & 4×4 has been told that there’ll be no mechanical changes to the model.
Updates are limited to a new paint job, including dramatic stripes along the top and sides of the bodywork and some interior trim changes. Expect a little extra equipment in the cabin and a hard roll cover over the load bay.
“The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to our ‘bad-ass’ truck, with unique exterior touches and cabin enhancements that make our off-road performance pick-up even more distinctive and desirable,” explained Stefan Muenzinger, manager, Ford Performance. “Starring in its own Spaghetti Western movie is the perfect way to demonstrate Ranger Raptor’s outlaw appeal.”
Yhere’ll be no upgrades to allow for greater payload capacity, so the Ranger Raptor Special Edition will remain limited to carrying less than a tonne. As such, it’ll remain a niche product that’s likely to be unsuitable for professional users.
Pricing and Availability
Details will be revealed shortly, but expect a very minor uplift in pricing from the current Ford Ranger Raptor, with deliveries expected in the summer.
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