We’re dizzy from all of the Ford truck and SUV news that’s been swirling lately. From the steady trickle of official (and unofficial) Bronco news, to the next-generation F-150 just around the corner, and now there’s an exciting report about the Ford Ranger coming out of Australia’s WhichCar.
According to the report, the Ford Ranger Raptor is getting its slow-beating diesel heart transplanted with a thumping 5.0L Coyote V8 straight out of the Ford Mustang.
Yes, of course there’s a catch. And you already know what that is. The V8 Ranger Raptor is far from likely coming to America, where it would probably take the segment by storm. Moreover, the skunkworks project has been handed off to an outside company sanctioned by Ford Australia, per the report. The company was not named, but if we look to see what Herrod Performance has recently done with the Ford Mustang, we wouldn’t be surprised if they were the culprits responsible for keeping the faith down in Australia.
As for things here in America, the next-generation Ford Ranger is expected to arrive in a scant two years from now. All signs point to the new midsize pickup truck sharing its architecture with the next-gen Volkswagen Amarok, which will be built in the Wayne Assembly plant alongside the new Ranger and the upcoming 2021 Ford Bronco SUV. The three vehicles are also expected to share a lineup of engines, as well, starting with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, while the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and 3.0L Power Stroke diesel from the Ford F-150 have been rumored to be in the mix, as well.
The scene for the American market Ford Ranger is otherwise far from boring as it stands, however. The 2019 SEMA show had an eclectic display of possibilities for the midsize truck, while companies like PaxPower will go as far as to fit an American Ranger with global Ranger Raptor body panels as its 2.3L EcoBoost engine cranked to 350 horsepower.