3 Reasons the Ford Ranger Raptor Will Be a Winner
The next-generation Ford Ranger has arrived in a number of international markets. And that means there’s a new Ranger Raptor in town. But, this off-road truck is notably absent here in the States, despite rumors it would be released for the 2023 model year. Don’t worry, though; Ford does have plans to drop a Raptor variant of its mid-size truck in North America. And from the looks of things, it is going to be a winner.
The Ranger Raptor will come with a potent V6
When Ford reintroduced the Ranger truck in the United States, there was one major disappointment. It no longer offered a V6 engine, even as an option. Since 2019, every U.S.-spec Ranger has come equipped with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine which makes 270 horsepower and 310 pound-foot of torque.
According to Ford Authority, for the 2024 model, that is going to change. It is expected that the Ranger Raptor will be powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine. It should generate about 392 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That should certainly provide enough power for a mid-size truck of this size.
This will be a serious off-road truck
Ford reserves the Raptor name for some of its most capable vehicles. The most notable of these is the Ford F-150 Raptor, but there is also the new Bronco Raptor. The Ranger Raptor will complete the trifecta of off-road vehicles. And it should prove itself to have legitimate 4×4 chops.
We don’t know the exact specs of what this mid-size truck will offer. But from various spy shots, it does seem pretty similar to its international counterpart. It will likely have locking front and rear differentials and an improved suspension. This version of the Ranger will also have some heightened ground clearance.
The 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor marks a new Ranger
When the Blue Oval reintroduced its mid-size truck in the States, we did not get the same truck that other markets got. Ford actually opted to bring back the Ranger in form of the previous generation. But once the 2024 model arrives, we will finally be on the same page as the rest of the world in terms of this pickup.
A new generation should mean a revised interior, improved driving characteristics, and of course, the long-awaited Raptor trim.
When can you get a 2024 Ranger?
The 2024 Ford Ranger is not yet available. But it is expected to arrive sometime soon. When it does arrive, getting one might not be that easy, though. If the Ford Maverick is any indication, when a Blue Oval product is popular, it can be hard to keep up with demand.
It would be surprising if when orders for the 2024 Ranger open, they do not stay open for long. Multiple Ford vehicles have been hard to find at dealerships. And reportedly, even the 2023 F-150 is going to have orders closed for certain configurations. So it’s hard to see the Ranger Raptor being widely available, at least at first.
