Ford looks set to deliver a complete Ranger product portfolio when the new generation Ranger touches down in the next few months.
And if you didn’t get it in the Black Hawk Down-esque headline, US military Ranger squads are defined as ‘chalks’. The senior officer or non-commissioned officer would be a Chalk leader.    
Even before the regular Ranger model has broken cover, the Blue Oval has released more information on the Ranger Raptor than it has on the everyday model ute, suggesting a definite direction in ute marketing from Ford.
There does seem to have been a huge amount of work gone into all aspects of Ranger Raptor’s development, suggesting the new generation model is being groomed to be more than the top selling model in name.
It starts with the under-bonnet magic, where Ford has installed a three-litre, V6 twin turbo engine – an EcoBoost engine, BTW – which produces up to 292kW and 583Nm of torque, which kind of trumps the figures of the two-litre twin turbo of the outgoing model.
This will please Ford owners in the land of Big Red Rocks especially. If I may digress for a moment, the arrival of the two-litre Bi-turbo met with quite a bit of resistance from the Ford Fickle who can’t seem to get their heads around the “no replacement for displacement’’ theory.
The new engine’s cylinder block has a graphite iron construction giving it a strength and stiffness increase of around 75 percent over conventional iron blocks.
And speaking of gears, Ranger Raptor runs the tried and true 10-speed automatic with each gear featuring its own boost profile to work with the engine outputs.
A chassis design exclusive to the Ranger Raptor puts a greater level of distinction between the performance variant and the working Ranger line-up, affecting the C-pillar and back end especially, and the shock absorbing components of the suspension system.
This has also led to a redesign of the Raptor Ranger’s suspension system and some serious underbody protection.
Another first for the Ranger Raptor is the inclusion of a (big breath!) advanced permanent four-wheel drive system with an all-new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case.
This is combined with front and rear locking differentials and should be all you need to get into the off-road vehicle scene, with no need for additional upgrading.
And on the off-road topic, there is another facility offered by the Ranger Raptor; this is Trail Control, which can best be likened to cruise control for off roading. The system manages acceleration and braking in off-road environments, allowing the driver to focus on steering.
There is ‘show’ to match the go, with Ford’s engineers giving the Ranger Raptor flared wheel arches, bold F-O-R-D lettering on the grille, the bumper separated from the grille and Ford truck DNA C-clamp headlamps.
These are Matrix LED headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and, as well as being auto dynamic levelling, are speed dependent, adjusting the intensity of the beam.
The headlamps also offer both static and dynamic bending capability as well as glare-free high-beams that help block light which could otherwise temporarily blind other drivers and cyclists.
At the rear, LED taillamps provide a signature link to the front.
The cabin features all-new, jet fighter-inspired sports seats – both in the front and rear – which are not only more comfortable but also more supportive during spirited cornering.
Raptor’s ambient lighting is enhanced by the Code Orange accents on the instrument panel, trim and seats.  
Next-Generation Ranger Raptor boasts a fully digital cabin, with high resolution 12.4-inch digital cluster and 12-inch centre touchscreen incorporating Ford’s SYNC 4A5 connectivity and entertainment system, which offers both Apple and Android6 wireless smartphone connectivity. Compatible smartphones can be wirelessly charged via a pad at the base of the centre console. A Bang & Olufsen7 sound system provides the soundtrack of your choice.
Pricing for the new generation Ranger Raptor has yet to be announced.