No need...

you get in a 4x4 Wildtrak, there’s a knob next to the gear shift lever that lets you select 2H, 4H and 4L, but you also get the Ford Performance Terrain Management System with two modes; Baja Mode, which according to the brochure “dials down traction, improves responsiveness and shifting speed, and optimizes the Ranger Raptor for high-speed desert running;” and Sport Mode, which “allows for faster throttle response and shifting for improved acceleration.”

Under the hood is a Euro-4 compliant 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel that puts out 213-Ps at 3,750 rpm with maximum torque of 500-Nm between 1,750-2,000 rpm, mated to Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Although the figures look a little small on paper, its output is adequate for the weekend adventurer.

You get front driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), an adjustable speed limiter, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and Hill Start Assist, and Cruise Control as standard equipment. A SYNC3 six-speaker entertainment system with navi, with an eight-inch screen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provides the entertainment.

We noticed that the some elements of the Wildtrak’s safety suite was not present, like the Heads-Up Display Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Roll Stability Control and the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid. But that’s understandable, when you’re on a vehicle that’s purpose built for romping around in the dirt. You probably don’t need a lot of sensors going off, telling you you’re exceeding road safety limits, when you’re not

on the road at all.

Driving the Raptor is somewhat akin to being with a celebrity; it draws a lot of attention. People often wonder if it’s a Ranger made to look like a raptor or an actual Raptor.

When you first drive it, there’s a big disconnect from road feel as it is equipped with Electric Power Steering and big wheels, but as you get used to how the vehicle is put together, you’ll get over that quick as you start to enjoy the advantages of the Raptor’s engineering and tuning. It’s nimble for a big pickup, and despite it being set up for the beaten path, it’s quite pleasant on our city roads and expressways. It’s just a tad difficult to park in tight spaces.

Priced at 11,898,000, what you get is a properly-equipped truck that can take what you throw at it, limited only by how skilled the driver is. The badge says Raptor —either a bird of prey or predatory dinosaur — and it looks and lives up to its name. There’s no subtlety here. The Ranger Raptor is for owners just as bold and brash as it is.