Ford has certainly embraced the holiday spirit in a big way with its latest, and quite possibly most fun, project of the season: the *Ranger Raptor North Edition* concept, created in collaboration with none other than Kris Kringle himself. Revealed on December 18, 2024, Ford’s cheeky concept is a clever blend of whimsical holiday magic and real-world engineering prowess, all wrapped up in the tough and rugged package of the Ranger Raptor. Let’s take a closer look at this playful concept and how Ford’s team, alongside the jolly old man himself, has crafted the ultimate "everyday sleigh" for Kris Kringle.
Ford’s new collaboration with Kris Kringle is the kind of concept that makes you smile. This lighthearted release features the *Ranger Raptor North Edition*, a one-off vehicle that is, according to Ford, expected to go into production “sometime never.” And that’s perfectly fine, because the entire concept is more about the fun and creativity that go into building something just for the holidays. While this concept will not actually go into production, it’s the perfect way for Ford to showcase its playful side and spread some festive cheer.
Kris Kringle, the world’s best-known gift-giver, has always relied on his sleigh and reindeer to make his holiday deliveries. But as Kringle himself put it, he was looking for something a little more practical for the other 364 days of the year. “I was looking for my everyday sleigh,” he says, and thus, the *Ranger Raptor North Edition* was born. It’s the perfect fusion of capability and holiday whimsy, with features that make this a truck you’d want to take on both off-road adventures and cozy winter nights.
Ford’s design team in Australia led the charge on bringing this playful concept to life, with input from across the company’s global network. The result? A truck that has all the rugged capabilities of the Ford Ranger Raptor, but with several cheeky upgrades that scream holiday cheer. Some of the standout features include:
1. Heated Hot Chocolate Holders: Because what’s a Christmas truck without a way to keep your cocoa warm on those chilly mornings? Ford redesigned the cup holders in the Ranger Raptor to incorporate a special heating element, ensuring Kringle's hot chocolate stays at the perfect 58 degrees Celsius.
2. Infinity Load Box: Kringle needed something large enough to store presents for over 800 million children—and Ford’s design team delivered. This ingenious load box includes a powered cover and a safe return system to ensure Kringle can store and deliver gifts without any mishaps.
3. Tailgate Barbecue: A full-width, self-cleaning barbecue hot plate is integrated into the tailgate, perfect for those off-road adventures or a cozy holiday meal when Kringle isn’t busy flying around delivering presents.
4. Flight System: As any holiday elf will tell you, flight is a non-negotiable feature of any sleigh. Ford engineers reimagined the Levacar Mach 1’s levitation system to lift the *Ranger Raptor North Edition*, adding mistletoe-class rockets for thrust. Kringle’s sleigh can now hit a mind-boggling speed of 4,705,882 km/h—perfect for those tight timelines on Christmas Eve.
5. Gingerbread-Crumb SYNC® Infotainment: This one-of-a-kind version of Ford’s latest SYNC® 4A system brings holiday cheer with a gingerbread-crumb theme. Beyond its festive design, it offers advanced features like list management, navigation, and weather monitoring—essential for ensuring Kringle’s sleigh is always on schedule.
It’s easy to see how this concept truck captures the imagination of both Ford fans and holiday lovers alike. Ford’s *Ranger Raptor North Edition* is a tongue-in-cheek take on the idea of an “everyday sleigh,” combining a tough, off-road-ready pickup with the kind of over-the-top holiday features that only a brand like Ford—and a little help from Kris Kringle—could dream up.
The design process, led by Ford Australia’s Kirby Masterman, was an intense one. Masterman and his team had just 10 weeks to bring this holiday dream to life, with support from Ford’s Experimental Laboratory Foundation (ELF) and even a North Pole studio. The result is a fun, functional, and very Ford take on holiday magic—complete with features that we never knew we needed, but now can’t imagine living without.
In the spirit of the season, Ford has truly outdone itself with this clever concept. While we won’t see the *Ranger Raptor North Edition* in showrooms anytime soon, the concept is a perfect reminder of the lighthearted side of the holiday season—and a great way for Ford to embrace the festive spirit with some humor and holiday magic.
So, as we look forward to the holidays, we can all take a moment to appreciate the ingenuity that went into creating this concept truck, while also giving a big thanks to Kris Kringle for his collaboration. As Ford’s Max Wolff said, “We’ll be cleaning mince pie crumbs out of Kirby’s computer for months.” And we can all agree, that’s a very Merry Ford Christmas.
Want to keep up with all of the latest Ford news? Be sure to follow along on our blog. Plus, check out our available inventory online to see what we currently have available.
Categories:
News