There have been rumors swirling for a while that a Ford Ranger Raptor R pickup truck would soon join the lineup. However, there was no news of whether or not the performance model would get a V8 engine under the hood. Now, according to Motor1, there’s a new rumor in the works that it might just happen. Cross your fingers because this could be the next big thing in the pickup truck world. What’s so great about the V8 engine the Ranger Raptor R could have?

Ford Ranger Raptor R rumored to get V8 engine power

According to Motor1, Australia’s Cars Guide suggested that the Ford division down under is working on a Ranger Raptor R with a V8 engine. Allegedly, a pair of executives are pushing the automaker to build a performance model of the midsize pickup truck.

Additionally, Motor1 reported that Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook also hinted at a Ranger Raptor R., saying that there would be a lot of shared between the Bronco DR and Ranger platform. Since the Bronco DR uses a V8 engine, it’s safe to assume the Ranger Raptor R might get one too.

The Ranger Raptor R with a V8 could face limited production, like the Ford Bronco DR

The Ford Bronco DR is the competition-only version of the popular SUV. These models are only for drivers that compete in off-road racing, and it comes with the power to boot. A 5.0-liter V8 making 400 horsepower is under the hood, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission; the Bronco DR is nothing short of a beast. The suspension includes Multimatic’s DSSV dampers with 80-millimeter bodies and billet aluminum lower control arms. However, the Ranger Raptor R could share all of that and more with the competition SUV.

Consequently, the Ford Bronco DR will have an initial run of only 50 models, which will become available in late 2022. The performance version of the SUV starts at a high price, around the mid-$200,000 range. Could the Ranger Raptor R face the same limited production? Although it’s unlikely it’s only 50 models since the Bronco DR is for competition-only, it could still be in short supply. Especially since recently everything is in short supply, just try to get your hands on a standard Bronco or Ford F-150 Lightning right now.

The Ranger Raptor R V8 engine is a costly upgrade from the standard model

As for the Ranger Raptor (not the rumored Ranger Raptor R), the engine is unannounced, but we know the performance model is coming. The standard Raptor model debuts in February and rumors speculate it will have a twin-turbo V6 engine. It’s likely either the 330 horsepower, 2.7-liter from the Bronco, or the 400 horsepower 3.0-liter from the Explorer ST.

Although the price of the truck is unknown, we’d imagine the V8 upgrade would be costly. An F-150 Raptor R with the most powerful engine is coming next year, and that’s going to be expensive. A 2021 F-150 Raptor with a V6 costs $65,840 already, so the sky is the limit for the price point. We wouldn’t be surprised if the V8 Ranger ends up higher than that as well.

Will the V8 engine be available in the US?

Every rumor surrounding this powerful machine comes from Australia. It wouldn’t be the first time an automaker made a truck in Australia and didn’t bring it to the US market. While we don’t know for sure, we think the Ranger Raptor R would be a home run in the states, so it seems like a no-brainer. However, the same can be said of the Toyota Hilux or other models, and they’re not available in the land of the free. Could the Ranger Raptor R come to the US without the V8 option?

If the Ranger Raptor R does make its way to the US, will it have the V8 engine? There’s a possibility that the performance model is less powerful than the ones overseas. For whatever reason, automakers often leave out key features from imported products. Since design and production are taking place elsewhere, the V8 engine might not make it to the US.

In conclusion, a powerful Ford Ranger Raptor R with a V8 engine would be a welcomed addition to the lineup. It would likely be very costly but more affordable than the previous V8 F-150 Raptor model. A midsize pickup truck with this kind of power would also be virtually unmatched in the market. That is until Toyota decides it needs a V8-equipped performance Tacoma. For now, the Ranger Raptor R remains just a rumor, but we’re hopeful it’ll come true.