Ford has found a particular vein of fortune in its Raptor sub-brand. Starting with the F-150 Raptor and since expanding to the Ranger, the Raptor nameplate has brought massive attention to the brand, as well as carve out a new niche of fast-moving off-road vehicles. (You know you’ve found a good niche when your rivals give their competitive products names that riff on yours.) And given Ford’s desire to use its popular nameplates on more and more models — see: Bronco, Mustang — to spruce up their images, it’s perhaps surprising that Ford’s latest Transit Trail van doesn’t wear a Raptor badge to go along with its Raptor-esque grille.
Still, while it may not pack the hardcore hardware of a Raptor, the Transit Trail is a rather badass van in its own right. All-wheel-drive with drive modes optimized for mud, ruts and slick conditions and a lock mode that splints power 50/50 between axles is an option; standard, however, are a heated windshield, 16-inch wheels and leather seats. And should you decide, for some reason, not to opt for AWD, you can take heart knowing the front-wheel-drive version boasts a standard mechanical limited-slip differential inspired by the sort found in the likes of the Fiesta ST and Focus ST.
Given that the Transit is already one of the primary choices for building a new camper van, you can imagine how this all-terrain-capable (or at least more-terrain-capable) version would make a spectacular base for a boxy domicile on wheels. But if you’re already mentally building your dream camper van off the Transit Trail, we’re afraid we’re about to burst your bubble: it’s not available in the United States. Only folks in Europe can enjoy the capability in this Raptor-faced van. Still, considering America’s love of all things off-road (and saurian), we wouldn’t be shocked to see something like it make its way Stateside before long.
The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories. Read the Story
Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.
