Watch the video to make your decision.
These spy photos of a Ford Ranger Raptor don’t show the usual variety. The vehicle in question doesn’t have any camouflage, except for some silly tape covering the rear and front of Ford badges. The Raptor’s current-generation Ranger is easily identifiable by its bulging fenders and beefy tires. It also has a prominent front skid plate. The dual exhaust that hangs low to the rear is what makes this Raptor special. Our spy team believes it was singing a gasoline-powered V6 tune.
This is it very It is interesting to note that the Ranger Raptor is currently only available in overseas markets and has a single engine, a boosted 4-cylinder diesel. Spy photographers captured this prototype milling around Ford headquarters near Detroit. While it is not unusual to see Euro- or Asian-market vehicles testing the States’ roads, the combination of gas engines seems unusual.
The spy team claimed to have taken photos and a video of the prototype. It is difficult to identify the truck’s engine note due to ambient noises and traffic. However, there is an audible growl as well as a few strange squeaking sounds we don’t believe are engine-related. Take a look at the video at top of this article. . . What do you think?
The 2.7-liter EcoBoost is an option if there’s a V6. It is currently an option on the F150, where it produces 325 horsepower (242 Kilowatts), and 400 pound-feet (542 Newton-meters), of torque. This would be a significant improvement on the 270-hp four cylinder in the US-spec Ranger. Even the diesel is beaten by the EcoBoost’s torque by a few numbers.
Ford repeatedly stated that it does not intend to bring the Ranger Raptor back to the US, at least not in its current configuration. It doesn’t mean it won’t be arriving with the next-generation Ranger. This truck is expected to arrive in 2022. We reported early this year that such an Raptor scenario might be very likely. However, nothing is yet official. This could be a test mule for the powertrain of the future truck.
Ford may be changing course in order to compete with the Jeep Gladiator or Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. The latter is selling like candy coated in gold. We expect the baby Raptor to be released as a 2020 model if that is the case.