Future-focused all-electric SuperVan graced Goodwood

Ready to take the Goodwood Speed Festival by storm, the next generation Ford Ranger Raptor was on display on June 26.

The all-new Ranger Raptor appeared for the first time in pride-inspired “Very Gay Raptor” colours to support the LGBTQ+ community.

The bespoke Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is inspired by the recently unveiled E-Transit Custom 1 – the all-electric successor to Europe’s best-selling van and one of four new all-electric commercial vehicles Ford Pro is introducing in Europe by 2024, following the launch of the E Transit.

The new SuperVan, which was on display at the event’s main paddock between hill climb runs, has been developed to showcase the extremes of performance and productivity-accelerating connectivity made possible by a new generation of electric Ford Pro products. Ford will reveal further details surrounding the new all-electric demonstrator – the latest in a legendary series of crowd-thrilling, high-performance SuperVans stretching back more than 50 years.

“Since 1971, Ford SuperVans have been about exploring what is possible with Transit and pushing the boundaries of performance,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “The new Ford Pro Electric SuperVan ushers in a whole new era of possibilities with an electrified powertrain and the enhanced connectivity of our new, all-electric E Transit Custom.”

Further showcasing the diversity of Ford Performance innovation, the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor makes its European dynamic debut at Goodwood. Taking on the challenging off-road track between hill climb runs, the ultimate performance pick-up is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine.

Revealed for the first time in a dramatic stunt video earlier this year, the second-generation Ranger Raptor delivers enhanced on- and off-road capability with features including FOXÒ Live Valve shock absorbers with position-sensitive damping, as well as seven selectable drive modes for handling terrain from road to rock crawl. Advanced connectivity is enabled by Ford’s new-generation SYNC 4A system, supported by a 12-inch centre touchscreen.

“Very Gay Raptor” on hand for Tough Talks

The Ranger Raptor will also help Ford continue to tackle discrimination, supporting a live session of the company’s new “Tough Talks” series. The conversation – to discuss how the automotive industry can foster a culture of inclusion and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community – was hosted by Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, the first openly gay professional rugby union player.

The original “Very Gay Raptor” was introduced in 2021 after Ford instinctively used its voice and its toughest nameplate to stand against online discrimination and show allyship with the LGBTQ+ community following a derogatory comment on a social media post.
The rendering of a Ford Ranger Raptor in sparkling gold adorned with rainbow graphics and pink heart on the rear received such a positive social media response, Ford made two real life “Very Gay Raptors” in the UK and Germany.

Digit delivers at Future Lab

Ford is also demonstrating at Goodwood how advanced robotics and autonomous technologies can help integrate with Ford Pro products and services to make warehousing and delivery more efficient and affordable for commercial vehicle customers. The company is showing the Digit robot – developed by Agility Robotics – at the event’s Future Lab.

In 2020, Ford became the first customer to purchase a Digit robot, which has arms and legs to work alongside people in human spaces, to explore applications including indoor or first-mile logistics and last-15-metre delivery. Ford is also researching how Digit robots can communicate with connected Ford Pro vehicles for optimised efficiency.

The manufacturer is invested in the future of autonomous delivery, and announced a European Self-Driving Vehicle Research Programme in 2021. As part of the programme, Ford partnered with leading consumer delivery specialists Evri and adapted a Transit to allow a hidden driver to operate the van to evaluate how pedestrians and businesses interact with driverless vehicles.

TFZ-P1 debuts new GRID Legends livery

To celebrate its gaming debut in GRID Legends from June 23, a full-scale version of Team Fordzilla’s TFZ-P1 racer was displayed at the Go Electric stand.

Visitors got the chance to sit in the TFZ-P1 cockpit, where they utilised its simulator abilities and experience both the physical and virtual vehicle at the same time.

First revealed at Gamescom 2020, the TFZ-P1 was the first virtual racing car designed in collaboration between the gaming community and designers from an automaker. Team FordZilla – Ford’s e-sports racing team – subsequently unveiled a full-scale prototype of the vehicle three months later.

The TFZ-P1 is available in-game as free downloadable content and features in the GRID Legends Trackday Hypercars class.

Source: QuickPic