Ford and Kris Kringle Team Up for the Ultimate Holiday Ride: The Ranger Raptor North Edition
In a holiday collaboration no one saw coming, Ford Motor Company has unveiled the Ranger Raptor North Edition Concept, a futuristic and festive take on its popular pickup. Designed in partnership with none other than Kris Kringle himself, the concept vehicle is billed as an “everyday sleigh” for the iconic gift-giver’s year-round use. While the vehicle is not set for production, it has captured imaginations with its unique design features and advanced capabilities .
An Everyday Sleigh for Work and Play
Explaining his desire for a practical sleigh alternative, Kris Kringle noted, “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” . The Ranger Raptor was selected for its all-terrain capability and creature comforts, making it ideal for everything from running errands to off-road adventures .
Revolutionary Design Led by Ford Australia
Ford Australia designer Kirby Masterman spearheaded the project, with input from global experts, including the North Pole studio and Ford’s Experimental Laboratory Foundation (ELF). The design process was completed in an intense 10-week timeframe, resulting in a sleigh-inspired vehicle at the cutting edge of innovation . “Luckily, I had great support from the team here in Australia, the ELF team in the U.S., and my colleagues at our North Pole studio,” Masterman said .
From Flight to Festivities: Standout Features
The Ranger Raptor North Edition boasts a host of unique features tailor-made for Kringle’s lifestyle. Its flight system combines a reimagined Levacar Mach 1 levitation system with Mistletoe-class rockets, enabling speeds of up to 4,705,882 km/h and a cruising altitude of 60,000 feet, above controlled airspace . The vehicle also features retractable wings for stability during flight .
Other highlights include:
- Heated hot chocolate holders: Redesigned cup holders maintain the perfect 58°C temperature .
- Infinity load box: Capable of holding presents for over 800 million children, it includes a powered cover and safety features for year-round versatility .
- Tailgate barbecue: A self-cleaning, full-width hot plate for outdoor relaxation .
- Roof access: In lieu of standard doors, a roof port allows Kringle to maintain his chimney-entry tradition .
- Gingerbread-crumb SYNC® Infotainment: Advanced AI-powered navigation and list management ensure timely deliveries, even in extreme conditions .
- Enhanced F-O-R-D grille: Made of Unobtanium, the material provides heat and friction resistance at near-light speeds, protecting vehicle occupants .
The Spirit of Collaboration
Dr. Chad McBoffin, ELF’s chief impossible projects officer, praised work on the flight system, which uses a candy-cane-powered micro-rocket engine and incorporates 1950s-era levitation technology . “I’d say we’ve nailed the brief of developing a truly everyday sleigh,” McBoffin remarked .
Max Wolff, Ford’s design director for China and International Markets Group, added, “From all of us at Ford Motor Company, we’d like to wish each one of you a happy holiday, and a big thanks to Kris for trusting us with this project; I’m sure we’ll be cleaning mince pie crumbs out of Kirby’s computer for months” .
With the Ranger Raptor North Edition Concept, Ford and Kris Kringle have shown that the holiday spirit knows no bounds, blending cutting-edge technology with festive flair.
Disclaimers (yes the world is at THAT stage) The Ranger Raptor North Edition is not available for sale. It is a figment of the Ford communication teams’ imagination and will never be put into production…or will it? It won’t. Ford does not work with members of the public on bespoke vehicle designs but chose to work with Kris Kringle to ensure the entire team would stay on his ‘Nice List’. The Experimental Laboratory Foundation (ELF) is all part of the fun. It doesn’t exist anywhere but in our imagination. The 1958 Levacar Mach 1 was a working concept vehicle created as part of Ford’s exploration of air-powered vehicles. It could travel at 15mph at a fraction of an inch off the ground. Retractable wings are a staple of every child’s drawing of a car but unfortunately it is impossible to install them onto a Ranger Raptor. We tried. Mistletoe-class rockets don’t exist but if they did we’re sure they’d be powered by sugary candy canes. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas calculated the optimum temperature for hot chocolate for easy drinking was 58-degrees C. So, there you go. As much as it seems like a really cool idea, Ford is not developing a barbecue integrated into the tailgate. An infinity load box is a nice idea but a scientific impossibility. Gingerbread-enhanced SYNC is not an actual feature available on SYNCÒ 4A. Don’t drive while distracted or while using handheld devices. Use voice-operated systems when possible. Some features may be locked out while the vehicle is in gear. Not all features are compatible with all phones. Unobtanium is not a real substance.
