Ford recently staged the global unveiling of its Australian-developed Ranger Raptor ute in Thailand ahead of its launch here around the middle of the year.

One of the most highly anticipated new models for 2018, the inaugural Raptor-badged Ranger has emerged as the most aggressive-looking and highly specified version of the company’s one-tonne utility ever created – and comes with the claim that it will be the benchmark in terms of off-road pick-up capability.

For tradespeople, this will not only mean vastly improved access to tricky jobsites, but a mean-looking ute that makes a big statement, will doubtless turn heads and double as an attractive recreational vehicle for personal use. For sheer ‘feel-good’ factor, it is certain to rate highly.

Of course, ute owners looking for extra ability in any particular area routinely turn to the automotive aftermarket for their needs. The point with Ranger Raptor is that this, according to Ford, will be the undisputed class leader as far as factory-built performance mid-size pick-up trucks are concerned.

The key points are that the Raptor 4×4 dual cab has an all-new powertrain comprising a 2.0L four-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel engine good for 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque – more than the current bigger-displacement 2.2L four (118kW/385Nm) and 3.2L five-cylinder (147kW/470Nm) engines – and a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s right: 10 speeds, as seen on the F-150 Raptor sold in the US.

Six selectable drive modes are provided: Normal and Sport (for on-road driving) and, for off-road, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock and Baja, the latter tuned for high-speed off-road performance with less intervention from the electronic handling devices on-board and revised gearshift mapping designed to hold gears longer and downshift more aggressively.

Ford says the upshot is not only more muscle when you sink the right workboot in, but better fuel economy, less vehicle weight (specifics were still to be provided at the time of writing) and off-road-specific calibrations for the engine, gearbox, driveline, steering, brakes and electronic stability control system.

Off-road ability is at the core of the Raptor, which has Fox Racing Shox PSD (position sensitive damping) shock absorbers at the front and rear, a new Watt’s linkage suspension set-up (with coil-over springs) on the solid rear axle, an increased ride height (283mm), wider front/rear track (1,710mm) and improved approach, ramp-over and departure angles (32.5-/24-/24-degrees respectively).

The front suspension remains a MacPherson strut arrangement as per the regular Ranger, although extra reinforcement has been applied to the shock absorber towers. Stronger chassis rails are also employed and new hard-mount points engineered into the rear end.

Bigger brakes are provided, with larger (332x32mm) discs and twin-piston callipers at the front end, while the rear upgrades from drums to discs (332x24mm).

In overall terms, the Raptor stands 1,873mm tall, 2,180mm wide and 5,398mm long, the tray measures 1,560mm wide x 1,743mm long, and towing capacity is 2,500kg.

Styling-wise, the massive grille is unmistakeable from a distance, with the blue oval badge making way for big ‘FORD’ block lettering inside a thick tubular border which sits above a frame-mounted front bumper that is designed to be more durable and incorporates new LED foglamps and aerodynamic ‘air curtain’ ducts.

The front fenders are similarly designed to resist dents and dings that come not only with off-road usage but any typically busy worksite, and are flare-shaped to accommodate the long-travel suspension and bigger 17” wheel and tyre combination. The tyres are 285/70-section all-terrain BF Goodrich hoops that are said to be specially developed for the vehicle.

Various other new body elements are likewise specifically designed to protect the truck from damage that comes from tough conditions like rock spray, sand, mud and snow. These include the step boards and modified rear bumper with integrated towbar and two recovery hooks rated at 3,800kg.

The undercarriage is also reinforced and includes a bashplate made from 2.3mm-thick high-strength steel.

The cabin includes heavily bolstered suede seats, designed for optimum support, comfort and grip, premium detailing in the upholstery (blue stitching, leather accents) and other touchpoints (lightweight magnesium gearshift paddles, for example), a redesigned instrument cluster in keeping with the aggressive tone of the exterior and a multifunction steering wheel with Raptor logo and red strip up top to constantly remind the driver of the centre position.

Ford’s Sync3 multimedia system is also on-board, along with the typically high levels of safety and convenience equipment that are already found at the top end of the Ranger line-up.