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Ranger Raptor conquers arctic winter with all-new Geolander A/T4
18/03/2024
A serious machine calls for a serious tyre. We investigated if Yokohama’s new Geolander all-terrain offering is a match for Ford’s ultimate go-anywhere pickup.
When it comes to specialised, high-performance off-roaders, few come more extreme than the Raptor. Producing over 290 bhp and 440 lb-ft from its EcoBoost V6, the hopped-up Ranger has serious firepower, and the modifications don’t stop there. Compared to its run-of-the-mill Ranger cousin, the Raptor touts high-end Fox Live Valve Dampers, diff locks, seven different driving modes, and even an anti-lag system for the turbochargers.
But, as we’ve already established, snow and ice driving present a unique set of challenges, and fitting the right rubber is the key to overcoming them. No matter how much power, torque, or fancy off-road systems a vehicle might boast, if traction’s absent, you’re going nowhere. In fact, you could argue that in such bitter conditions the Raptor’s enormous grunt and weight put it at a disadvantage compared to regular SUVs, as increasing both metrics places a greater demand on the tyres.
It's a good job our test car was fitted with Yokohama’s all-new, dedicated all-terrain model: the Geolander A/T4. Taking things up a notch from the already highly capable BluEarth V906 SUV, the A/T4 sports a more aggressive block tread pattern and deep, wide, shoulder grooves. Plus, a triple polymer compound offers better durability and a longer tread life.
Image credit: Blackcircles.com
The net result of all this off-road technology? Around the same unforgiving winter proving ground as we tested BMW’s X3 and Volvo’s XC60, the Raptor was able to claw into the compacted snow and ice with efficacy equivalent to its dinosaur namesake.
While the SUVs we trailed felt like admirable all-rounders with a useful dollop of off-road potential, the Raptor felt like a creature born to tackle the most inhospitable environments imaginable. Courtesy of the A/T4’s unshakable grip and stability, the Ford goads you into taking frozen turns, sharp climbs, and steep descents, with more vigour than you ever imagined a car could.
The A/T4’s benefits don’t stop when the driving’s over, either. Just as the tyre perfectly complements the Raptor’s dynamic ability, it also completes the hot Ranger’s rugged aesthetic. Yokohama’s 2-in-1 Dual Sidewall design ensures optimum taction and kerb appeal, thanks to enlarged tread blocks and a prominent logo – the cherry on top for the Raptor’s aggressive look.
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Image credit: Blackcircles.com
Ford touts its pinnacle Ranger as an “all-conquering” machine in the promotional literature, and in our extreme arctic testing, Yokohama’s Geolander A/T4 all-terrain tyre allowed it to realise this mission statement, and some…
Hero image: Yokohama