FORD RANGER GETS 50 EXTRA HP FOR LESS THAN $1,000

For the majority of people out there looking to get into the truck market, a midsize option like the Ford Ranger makes a lot of sense. Not quite as small in stature as it once was, the current Ranger is a well-portioned pickup truck for those who don’t need the added capability on offer from the full-size truck segment. The truck’s only real drawback since it launched here in the states is that there’s no engine upgrade – just a 2.3L EcoBoost on every trim level. Luckily, Ford Performance have finally created an official solution to this problem via the Ranger EcoBoost Power Pack Performance Calibration, and there’s no need to visit a tuning shop.

From the factory the Ranger puts out 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is respectable but certainly not what we’d call ample. The new 50-state-legal tune from Ford helps the little truck pick up some pretty substantial gains: horsepower increases by 45 and torque goes up by 60 lb-ft. The end result is 320 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque on tap.

It’s as if The Blue Oval had been expecting that Chevrolet and GMC would eventually feature the robust 2.7L L3B turbo engine in the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. We could see 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque from that in GM’s midsize trucks in a few years.

The upgrades don’t come entirely from software tweaks however, as Ford will also fit EcoBoost Power Pack Rangers with a Ford Performance high-flow K&N air filter. While we won’t say that this creates the U.S. market Raptor Ranger of your dreams, who would be opposed to picking up nearly 50 extra horsepower? Or an official suspension kit?

Perhaps the best part of this new tuning package from Ford Performance is the fact that it can be installed by your local Ford dealer, and that it is covered by a 3yr/36k mile warranty from new when installed by said Ford dealer or an ASE/Red Seal certified technician. As much as we love tuning shops, it is hard to beat the service available from a dealer, especially if something is to go wrong.

The Ford Ranger EcoBoost Power Pack Performance Calibration costs $825, which is really a drop in the bucket when compared to other solutions on the market. Ford Performance hasn’t commented on the impact on fuel economy, but chances are it won’t take that big of a hit. Now if only they’d sell an EcoBoost V6 engine swap kit for the Ranger.