Is the United States Missing Out With No Ford Ranger Raptor?
As a midsize truck, the Ford Ranger brings a lot to the table. You get a body-on-frame pickup, a turbocharged engine, and the option for some off-road goodies. But here in the United States, we might be missing out on the ultimate Ranger. And that is the Ford Ranger Raptor, which is essentially a baby version of the Ford F-150 Raptor.
Is there a Ford Ranger Raptor?
On the global market, there is a Ford Ranger Raptor. We just don’t get it here in the States. That could soon change though, as it’s rumored that the Blue Oval will bring this midsize truck to our shores. And that is a fairly exciting prospect.
According to Car and Driver, Ford has actually confirmed a Ranger Raptor for the USA. But it is not expected to arrive until the 2024 model year. We aren’t sure how much it will cost, but it will surely be the ultimate and most expensive version of the Ranger.
The Ranger Raptor is on its way
In terms of what engine the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor has, it’s expected to get a 3.0-liter V6. This powerplant will have two turbos, probably making 392 horsepower and 430 pound-foot of torque. That is certainly more powerful than the current Ranger, a truck that doesn’t even have an optional V6 engine.
Other changes will include front and rear locking differentials. These will help you keep traction if you opt to go off-roading with your midsize truck. And if you’re getting the Ranger Raptor, that is definitely something you should do.
The Ranger Raptor will also have some improved ground clearance and other things to help with life on the trail. Just to share my opinion, on paper, this looks like an extremely fun truck. If you are familiar with Ford’s other Raptor models, like the Bronco and F-150, you know these vehicles are built for adventure.
Can you get a Ford Ranger Raptor?
If you want to get this midsize truck, it might be fairly difficult. The Blue Oval has struggled to keep up with demand of its popular vehicles. Think about how hard it’s been to go out and buy a new Maverick truck. Doing so is nearly impossible in the current climate.
Because the 2024 Ford Ranger will mark the latest generation of this pickup, it is sure to be a hot commodity. When Ford first reintroduced the Ranger for 2019, we actually got the older version as opposed to places like Australia. Because of that, it felt a bit dated from the get-go.
With the next-gen Ranger, it’s easy to see folks having a lot of interest, especially for the Raptor model, which will give this midsize truck even more capability. Of course, we won’t really know until Ford opens up the order books officially.
Overall, it does feel like we have been missing out with no Raptor version of the Ranger. But it looks like the Blue Oval is going to remedy that by introducing it here in the States.
