The Ranger Raptor-based Santamobile is fitted with a tiny rocket engine, an “infinity” bed, and of course wings
December 19, 2024 at 14:00
- Ford Australia created an imaginary Ranger Raptor North Edition for a very special client.
- The truck features wings, a roof hatch, a tailgate barbecue, and a tiny rocket engine.
- The concept was presented in the form of sketches as a Christmas holiday special.
Ford Australia is well into the holiday spirit, presenting a truck concept specifically designed for Kris Kringle (also known as Santa Claus). The Ford Ranger Raptor North Edition adds wings and thrusters to the truck, alongside cool features such as a tailgate barbecue.
The holiday special is the brainchild of Ford Australia designer Kirby Masterman, and is expected to be put into production “sometime never”. The sketches were presented to the bearded customer, highlighting the bespoke features compared to the standard Ranger Raptor.
More: Santa’s Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Sleigh Is Real And You Can See It In LA
The truck gained a bull bar and a stronger grille made of “Unobtanium”. However, the highlight is the large retractable wings mounted on the doors, with additional winglets on the rear fenders and tailgate. These will supposedly help the Raptor stay in the air, after performing one of its signature jumps.
The doors of the Ranger have been removed, in favor of a roof-access system. Inside, the team added heated cup holders that retain hot chocolate at optimum temperature, a “Gingerbread-enhanced” infotainment, and a special glovebox where you can cook your Christmas cookies. At the back, there is an “infinity load box” for presents and an integrated self-cleaning barbeque on the tailgate.
The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine of the stock Ranger Raptor had to be swapped for something a bit more spicy. Ford developed a compressed air system inspired by the 1958 Levacar Mach 1 concept, which is joined by a micro-sized rocket engine.
After checking out the model in Ford’s design studio, the happy customer said: “The sleigh and reindeer are my brand and will always be part of my work life. But I was looking for something that could be used on the other 364 days of the year, or at Christmas if necessary. I guess you could say I was looking for my everyday sleigh.”
Ford said that while they don’t work with members of the public on bespoke vehicle designs, they “chose to work with Kris Kringle” to ensure their team would stay on his ‘Nice List’. They also admitted it is impossible to install retractable wings on the Ranger Raptor, even though they tried.
At least, Ford’s latest Christmas concept is more attractive than the Fiesta-based sleigh from 2015, and nearly as cool as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Sleigh from 2018.
Of course, the only real thing you’ve read in this article is the Ford Levacar Mach 1 concept, created in 1958 as part of Ford’s exploration of air-powered vehicles. The working prototype could travel at 15 mph (24 km/h) while levitating at “a fraction of an inch” off the ground.