Ranger Raptor will have to prove that it is capable of facing the U.K.’s worst conditions.
The Ford Ranger Raptor has quickly earned a reputation as being the toughest truck in the global mid-sized segment. While the smaller Raptor isn’t offered in the United States, the high performance Ranger has quickly proven to be popular with off-roaders in foreign markets. More importantly, Ford’s off-road-ready small mid-sized pickup has caught the attention of police forces that have to deal with rough roads.
According to the Aussie website Motoring, the Ranger Raptor is currently being tested by police in South Wales. If things go smoothly, the officers in rural portions of the United Kingdom, the small Raptor could become a regular police vehicle in those regions of Europe.
Ranger Raptor Police Vehicles
The Ranger Raptors being tested by South Wales police were upfitted for special service duty by Ford U.K.’s Special Vehicle Preparation division. Upgrades include the eye-catching livery, a siren system and loads of aftermarket lighting from front to rear. Normal features of this truck that will make it perfect for patrolling areas without paved roads include the off-road performance suspension system and the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. That engine delivers 210 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, affording this small pickup plenty of low-end grunt for off-road pursuits.
While in the possession of the South Wales police force, the Ranger Raptor will be evaluated based on its mechanical performance, durability, ground clearance and ability to cross deep water. Provided that it passes these tests, it will become the U.K.’s newest cop car. Really, if the police are looking for a truck that will go off-road, it seems unlikely that it will fail any test that the competition could pass.
In other words, if the Ranger Raptor doesn’t meet the requirements, we can’t imagine that any mid-sized truck will do any better.
Not Built for Speed
The features of the Ford RangerRaptor will make it a fantastic police vehicle in rural areas. It will cover dirt roads and off-roading situations better than any of the competitors, but with a top speed of 105 miles per hour, these mid-sized trucks won’t be chasing down any speeders on paved roads.
With this in mind, police in the U.K. are also testing the Focus ST, so urban areas are likely to get the sporty sport compacts while cops in rural areas will likely enjoy the new Ranger Raptor.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
