Ford Ranger Raptor X revealed

Ford Australia has announced yet another two new variants for its award-winning dual-cab 4x4 ute range, in the form of the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor X and FX4.

Priced at a cool $79,390 plus on-road costs – just $1700 more than the standard Raptor on which it’s based – the new Raptor X is the new flagship of Ford’s top-selling 4x4 Ranger line-up.

Meantime, the new FX4 returns to the Ranger double-cab 4x4 line-up, slotting in between the volume-selling XLT (from $57,240) and ‘Raptor-lite’ FX4 Max (from $65,940).

It’s available with three turbo-diesel powertrains, including 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre five-cylinder six-speed manual ($59,990) and auto ($62,190), and 157kW/500Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder 10-speed auto ($63,690), all plus ORCs.

Both new Ranger variants will be available from July, bringing the total number of model grades to 36, following the release of 4x2 XL Sport, 4x4 XL Bi-Turbo and 4x4 XL Heavy Duty variants in June and, last year, the FX4 Max, Wildtrak X and 4x4 XL Tradie.

The new Raptor X and FX4 will arrive within a year of the new-generation Ranger’s Australian launch in 2022, and while Ford reduces the standard equipment levels of some Ranger variants as the decade-old current model approaches run-out.

Largely a flamboyant cosmetic upgrade, the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor X is distinguished by Over The Top (OTT) stripes covering the bonnet, roof and tailgate, featuring a ‘Carbon Twill Texture in Matte Black’ framed by a Searing Red Keyline Graphic, plus a body-side stripe decal on the doors and tub.

Further upping the visual impact are new Asphalt Black Matt alloy wheels, an extended-leg black rear sports bar from the FX4 Max, red front tow hooks, black Ford tailgate logo and a matt finish for the grille, front bumper, over-fenders, door handles, tailgate handle, fender vent, mirror scalps, fog lamp bezels, rear bumper cover and wheel caps.

Inside, there’s red contrast stitching on the steering wheel and dash to replace the Raptor’s blue stitching, and ‘Hydrographic and Black Alley’ accents across the dashboard and door cards.

There are no changes to the formidable mechanical package of the Ranger Raptor released in 2018, including its Bi-Turbo diesel and 10-speed auto and Terrain Management System (TMS) with Baja mode.

All Ford Ranger Raptor models also score 332mm brake discs all round, BF Goodrich All-Terrain 285/70 R17 KO2 tyres and an upgraded long-travel suspension package including a redesigned Watt’s rear linkage and Position Sensitive Damping (PSD) Fox shocks.

Meantime, the 2021 Ford Ranger FX4 brings darkened versions of the Bi-LED High Performance headlights on WLT, Wildtrak and Raptor, FX4 mesh front grille in Ebony Black finish, 18-inch FX4 alloy wheels (up from 17s on XLT), 3D-effect FX4 red front door decal, 3D-effect FX4 tailgate decal, black FX4 extended sports bar and Ebony Black exterior mirrors, door/tailgate handles and fender features.

Inside, sporty FX4 extras include leather-accented sports bucket seats with embossed red FX4 logos on the seat backs, Race Red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, gear selector, hand brake boot, door trim and FX4-branded front floor mats, premium soft-touch dash-top and Tinted Graphite dash and door trim accents.

The FX4 Bi-Turbo has a 3500kg towing capacity and 993kg payload (3.2: 978kg manual, 960kg auto), and its black-look exterior treatment can be combined with five exterior colour options: Shadow Black, Arctic White, True Red, Meteor Grey and Aluminium Metallic.

Standard FX4 safety features include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane keeping aid (LKA) with lane departure warning and driver alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and automatic high beam headlights.

Like all Rangers, both new variants come standard with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, SYNC3 touch-screen infotainment with voice-activated sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, digital instrumentation and the FordPass Connect embedded modem allowing remote un/locking, vehicle start and vehicle status updates.