What we do know is that Ford Australia is soon to unveil the Ranger Raptor, a high-performance and generally more badass version of the familiar pick-up developed in parallel lines to the larger and even more bonkers F-150 Raptor.
Apart from that, the suspension looks to be raised considerably from the current T6 in standard XLT Double Cab or Wildtrak from, featuring much hardier components, all-round disc brakes, larger and wider all-terrain tyres, and a lot more underbody protection. Those things were fairly obvious from the test vehicle Ford teased, and are congruent with its F-150 progenitor.
However, the list of unknowns is much longer, such as what could possibly lie underneath its bonnet. There’s certainly no shortage of candidate engines from Ford’s catalogue to choose from. The F-150 Raptor, for example, uses a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 that’s similar to the unit used in the exclusive 2017 GT supercar. Could the Ranger follow it over the line into petrol territory? In that case, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder used in the Focus RS comes immediately to mind.
Other possibilities include an up-tuned version of an existing five-pot Ranger Wildtrak engine or, more outrageously, a detuned version of the 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6. But apparently, that’s not the direction the Ranger Raptor will take at all as The Motor Report cites sources close to the new halo ute’s development who revealed some key details about its powertrain, specifically its use of a new 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine from Ford’s EcoBlue range of oil burners that boast improved efficiency, lighter weight, and reduced emissions.
Mind you, this new motor is planned for ubiquity in Ford’s diesel-powered vehicles globally in the coming years, phasing out and eventually retiring the older Duratorq motors that’s at the heart of the current Ranger. While those changes aren’t due until 2019, the Raptor will be the engine’s big entrance, at least regionally, arriving in a considerably higher tune than the units that will follow in lesser models with at minimum 150kW and 470Nm. It should surpass the Wildtrak’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi for pure thrust, thirst, responsiveness.
What’s more is that the Ranger Raptor will also be one of the first Ford vehicles locally to receive their new GM co-developed 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s the same shifter used in the current F-150 Raptor and 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but is most relevant to us as the new auto box coming to the updated 2018 Mustang that’ll replace the existing 6-speeder.
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