Wondering what will power the next Ford Ranger Raptor? Looking at the new Bronco Raptor should give you a pretty good idea…
The Bronco Raptor revealed for America (and likely ruled out for Australia) is powered by the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine we expect will feature under the bonnet of the Ranger Raptor ute.
The EcoBoost engine in the hottest Bronco will output more than 298kW, and is mated with a 10-speed automatic and full-time all-wheel drive.
A version of the same engine makes 300kW of power and 563Nm of torque in the Ford Explorer SUV sold in the USA, mated again with a 10-speed auto.
“We have no announcements to make about Ranger Raptor at this point in time,” a Ford Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.
Why do we think the new Raptor will feature petrol power? For starters, Ford teased the car at the launch of the wider 2022 Ranger line-up with the sound of a petrol engine revving.
The Bronco is built on the same T6 platform as the Ranger, so the engine will fit, and reports have previously indicated the Ranger Raptor will feature a version of the EcoBoost V6 engine from the Explorer.
Ford has also told CarExpert more powerful engines are coming for its strong-selling ute, and they won’t necessarily be diesels.
What sort of off-road hardware the Ranger Raptor will feature isn’t clear, but the Bronco suggests it’ll be a properly hardcore beast.
The Bronco Raptor is 250mm wider than the base model, and it’s built around a steel frame that’s 50 per cent stiffer than that of the base model. The car rides on Ford Performance-developed axles, and ground clearance is a whopping 333mm.
Fox Racing shock absorbers feature under the skin, allowing the Bronco to hit Baja-style jumps without breaking in half.
It’ll also tow 2000kg – down on the 3500kg that’s now standard across the Australian dual-cab ute market, and the 2500kg the first Ranger Raptor offered.
At launch, the mainstream 2022 Ford Ranger line-up will feature three turbo-diesel engines.
Base models will be offered with a single-turbo 2.0-litre diesel, while the 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine from the current Wildtrak and Raptor will be carried over.
Gone is the 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine offered on the current model. Atop the range, Ford is offering a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with as-yet undisclosed outputs.
MORE: Everything Ford Ranger
