2024 Ford Ranger Raptor is a Dino Of a Different Size

The 2024 Ford Ranger gets the full Raptor treatment with 405 horsepower and dune-jumping potential.

Ford on Wednesday revealed the redesigned, North American-market Ranger. In addition, it confirmed the details on the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor you see here, a rip-roaring, 405-horsepower dune-blaster that elevates the mid-sized pickup to dino status for the first time on these shores.

The Ranger Raptor benefits from all the same improvements Ford has wrought on the rest of its mid-sizer lineup. The revised platform sees added width and stiffness, while the modernized styling makes for increased ground clearance and improved angles of attack out on the trails. So far, so good. On top of that, Ford’s engineers have given the Raptor its own dedicated FOX 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks. Coilovers up front and piggyback reservoirs at the rear, these fancy items minimize heat build-up. Ford has also reinforced the frame rails, shock towers, rear shock brackets, and more.

Like the related Bronco Raptor, the Ranger squeezes a 3.0-liter iteration of the EcoBoost V6 under its squared-off hood. Here it produces a full 405 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, sending its power through a 10-speed automatic to the standard four-wheel drive system. A two-speed transfer case and front and rear locking differentials are standard-fit.

The Raptor boasts no less than seven drive modes, from the typical (Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road) to the specialized (Rock Crawl, Baja). In Baja, the engine uses an anti-lag system to keep the turbos spinning up to the three seconds after the driver lifts off the throttle. Pair that with the standard valved sport exhaust, and you should be able to hear the Ranger Raptor coming.

The newest dino should be easy to spot, too. The traditional F O R D grille insert is nuzzled between the C-clamp headlights, with a unique steel bumper and sizeable bash plate below. (There are three more shields under the body, for the engine, transfer case, and fuel tank.) The generously flared fenders house 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, mounted on 17-inch wheels. Beadlock-capable wheels are optional.

Inside, the Ranger Raptor benefits from the same cabin overhaul as the rest of the 2024 family. It gains cast magnesium shift paddles behind its redesigned steering wheel, which comes complete with a bright orange 12-o’clock marker. Sport seats offer the extra support to keep drivers in place as they’re tackling the dunes. Code Orange highlights pepper the cabin. The Ranger’s optional 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.0-inch center touchscreen are standard here, as well as an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Raptor doesn’t skip out on the useful driver assists either, including an off-road-friendly front camera, Zone Lighting, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.