Spied: Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel In Malaysia

Our colleague spotted these two Next-Gen Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel models out in the wild today!

Earlier today, one of our editorial staff members caught sight of a car-carrying trailer hauling two units of new Next-Gen Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel whilst on his regular morning commute in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

As reported, the new Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel is set to officially launch later this week through a special launch event organised by distributors Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC). This Variant will slot itself between the range-topping Ranger Wildtrak and flagship Ranger Raptor 3.0 V6 offerings.

Up front, the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel looks very similar to its flagship V6-powered twin.

On the surface, it’s easy to set this slightly ‘lesser’ oil-burning 2.0-litre variant apart from the flagship Raptor variant primed with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol mill. The most obvious aesthetic difference are the omission of racing stripes and decals, as well as the of twin-tailpipes seen in the flagship V6.

Apart from that, there are indeed very little differences between this lesser 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo Diesel variant against the flagship V6-powered variant. While we weren’t able to capture any interior images, expect this variant’s cabin to mirror its V6-powered flagship in both style and kit-count as well.

Tell-tale signs of this being the 2.0-litre diesel Raptor variant include the absent racing stripes and decals, as well as the twin-tailpipes.

According to SDAC, the decision to introduce the Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel variant firstly stems from the overwhelming demand for it by local consumers. This variant will also see Ford’s iconic ‘Raptor’ performance trimline become more accessible to more fans too.

Mechanically, the Next-Gen Ford Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel harnesses the same powertrain as seen in the range-topping Wildtrak and XLT Plus variants. As seen in the previous-gen Ranger Raptor, the package consist of Ford’s signature 2.0-litre bi-turbo 4-cyl diesel mill and 10-speed automatic transmission.

L-R: Next-Gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak and Ranger XLT Plus variants.

Flagship V6-powered Next-Gen Ranger Raptor.

Said package promises healthy outputs of 207 HP and 500 NM which. Though down on the current-gen V6-powered Raptor’s figures of 32 HP and 583 NM, these figures to match those seen in the first ever Ranger Raptor variant introduced in the previous generation Ranger model range.

It will also harness a similar full-blown four-wheel-drive (4WD) setup featuring locking differentials and multiple modes to suit various terrains and tasks, the latter including tow/hauling. Moreover, this sporty variant is also set to offer signature Raptor features such as a sporty ‘Baja’ drive mode.

Expect both racy Fox-sourced suspension and Baja drive mode as primed in the V6-powered Raptor pictured to be offered in the 2.0-litre variant too.

It’s also set to feature similar Fox-supplied 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shock absorbers, albeit without the clever electronic active adjustability. Again, apart from this, little else separates this 2.0-litre Raptor variant from its flagship 3.0-litre V6 twin.

As for price, SDAC hasn’t officially revealed them yet, but the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor 2.0 Bi-Turbo Diesel variant is expected to fetch a figure that sits between the Wildtrak, priced from RM168,888, and flagship V6 Raptor, priced from RM259,888.

What would be a justifiable figure for this slightly lesser but still evidently very sporty version of the Ranger pick-up truck? Hit the comments below with your thoughts and predictions!