FORD is beefing up its toughest pick-up truck with the launch of the Ranger Raptor Special Edition which the company says shows off its ‘bad-ass' character.

Due for release in October, the Raptor special will be built in limited numbers and comes with racing stripe decals, a matte black trim and red interior highlights.

It has been developed by Ford Performance as the ultimate Ranger model and features an ultra-strong chassis, special suspension and tyres, and a high-performance EcoBlue diesel powertrain.

The Raptor Special Edition is powered by Ford's 213ps 2.0âlitre EcoBlue Bi-turbo diesel engine developing 500Nm of torque,mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox that is shared with the Ford Mustang sports car.

The vehicles terrain management system enables drivers to tackle a wide range of driving scenarios, and includes a Baja Mode - named after the famous Baja 1000 desert rally - for optimum off-road performance.

Complementing the racing stripe on the body, the Raptor's front tow hooks are finished in red while the flared wheel arches, front and rear bumpers, door handles and signature Ford-embossed grille feature a matte black finish to create a more imposing appearance than the standard Raptor's grey exterior details.

Inside the Ranger Raptor Special Edition's double cab interior there is red stitching for the steering wheel, instrument panel and door cards while high-grain leather seats are designed to be comfortable and supportive whether tackling rough terrain or smooth highway.

A Special Edition-only Raceway Grey instrument panel adds further exclusivity.

The Special Edition model retains Ranger Raptor's unique Ford Performance chassis which is ptimised for high-speed off-road driving and the Raptor features a 150mm wider track and 51mm taller ride height than Ranger XLT for greater off-road capability.

The suspension uses aluminium double wishbones at the front and a multi-link rear architecture, including Fox shock absorbers with position sensitive damping that moderates damping forces in response to changing driving scenarios.

Prices for the Raptor Special Edition are still to be announced but can be expected to be higher than the vehicles regular £48,265 starting price.

"The new Ranger Raptor Special Edition adds even more dramatic style to our ‘bad-ass' truck, with unique exterior touches and cabin enhancements that make our off-road performance pick-up even more distinctive and desirable," said Stefan Muenzinger, manager, Ford Performance, Ford of Europe.