I FIRST visited the deserts of Namibia some years back as part of what was known as the Ranger Odyssey competition and the candidates from Africa were competing to win a Ranger.
This past weekend we saw history repeat itself as Ford took motoring scribes to the desert to witness the launch of the unrivaled next-gen Ranger Raptor whose beauty is just endless.
We know that Raptor's beauty is not just skin deep, but goes all the way to under the bonnet boasting the best Ford Performance Technology.
Have you heard about the sands that can drown a person? Well, I could not believe my eyes and ears when I saw where Ford planned to take us with their new Raptors.
The launch was adventurous with no hotels and no life around us except camping tents pitched in the middle of the dunes south of Walvis Bay.
The moment you leave the tar road and head south on a gravel road from the airport, you feel what this car is all about and its uncompromising performance.
The front-grille strikes with a bold black Ford but now runs wider as it has dropped the frame. Only the stylish LED headlights and daylights stop the grille from daring.
Not only does Ford Raptor conquer the dunes, but it shows the same strength by smoothly cruising over the most unbearable rocks and yet the suspension absorbs all the pain for you.
That desert gets too soft on the dunes and too hard on rocky mountains, but not even one car out of 15 experienced a burst tyre or any scratches. Salute to the Raptor and the instructors led by the best route-spotter Gideo there!
On the inside, Ford Raptor has every feature you find in a typical performance car including a 12-inch digital instrument structure that keeps you informed. With loads of information including view types, selected drive or exhaust modes and much-needed truck or off-road information, and turn-by-turn navigation.
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Listen, it will not be next-gen without the high-resolution 12-inch center touchscreen with Ford's new-generation Sync 4A connectivity and entertainment offering both Apple and Android wireless smartphone connectivity, complemented by a Bang & Olufsen sound system.
If we start to name all the best features found in the new Raptor, we will never finish.
It is powered by the 3-litre V6 Twin-Turbo Ecoboost 4WD 10-speed auto developing 292kW power at 5650 revs per minute and 583Nm at 3500rpm.
All the strength and power this car proved during the most challenging obstacles you will ever come across is from this combination of tech and engineering found in its engine. It is the most powerful force you'll like.
As refreshing as the experience we got sleeping and waking up in the desert, the Ranger Raptor is quite refreshing.
Yes, that package hits heavy on your pocket but given all the aesthetics and power, it is worth the price of just over R1 million.
