Daily Archives: August 22, 2018
Europe Is Finally Getting The Ford Ranger Raptor
Ford is making the Ranger Raptor available in Europe by 2019. The announcement was made through the Gamescon video game show as the pickup truck will also make its video game debut in Forza Horizon 4.
Just like its Asian market counterpart, the Ranger Raptor will use a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder engine that can produce 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Pairing this engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the turbochargers can operate in a sequential pattern with the smaller unit operating at lower revs and the larger unit taking the higher rpm band.
The transmission is programmed in such a way that the driver can override the system anytime via the paddle shifters. The chassis, in particular, has been tuned for off-road performance and it also features Fox shocks with Positive Sensitive Damping.
For better handling, the Ford Ranger Raptor is finished with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels. These come standard with a front skid plate made of high-strength steel. There are six modes that the Ranger Raptor can be driven such as Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock, and Baja for high-speed off-road driving.
Inside, the Ranger Raptor will feature Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 8.0-inch touchscreen. The seats are now Raptor-specific sports seats that come upholstered in a suede-like material and leather with blue stitching.
The things that distinguish the Ranger Raptor from a regular Ranger are its unique front grille, flared composite front fenders that can accommodate longer suspension travel and oversized tires, side step boards that also prevent rock spray, and air curtains on the front fender for better air flow.
Sadly, we won’t see the Ranger Raptor on the US soil. This model was made specifically for other markets where the F-150 isn’t sold and diesel is more popular.
Revised Mazda CX-3 Gets Mechanical Upgrades
The facelift for the Mazda CX-3 focuses less on styling and cosmetics and more on the mechanical side of the upgrade. It gained minimum changes to its styling and interior, but more was done on the suspension and engine lineup.
As a rival to the Nissan Kicks, the Mazda CX-3 styling enhancements are very minimal: a touched-up grille and darker pillar trims are the most obvious change. Aside from that, nothing else seems to have been touched by the Japanese automaker. Inside, Mazda ditched the manual handbrake with an electrical item. It freed up space enough for the repositioned infotainment controls, a central armrest, and a cubby space beneath.
Making the front seats more supportive is more padding while the rear seats have a folding center armrest with cupholders. According to Mazda, there are other features such as a thicker roof lining, sound insulation in the doors, and revisions to the door sill trims and rear glazing.
The biggest change can be seen in the mechanical upgrades. Mazda overhauled the springs, dampers, and front anti-roll bar on the new CX-3. Together with a revised steering system, the 2018 CX-3, which was already a fun mini SUV to drive, will ride and handle better than its predecessor.
The engine lineup has gotten a bit of a shake. Though the petrol engines remain the same: a 2.0-liter unit that can produce 119 or 148 horsepower. But the recent adjustments to the pistons and injectors will improve the torque and fuel economy. The previous 1.5-liter diesel was replaced by a 1.8-liter unit, which now makes 113 horsepower, 10 horses more than the current model.
The diesel and the 119-horsepower petrol are paired with a front-wheel drive while the 148-horsepower is an all-wheel drive only.
The revised CX-3 is available starting August 31. The price for the base model is $24,484.46.
