Ranger

Make
Ford
Segment
Sports Car

We know Ford is currently testing a US market Ranger Raptor, most recently evidenced by a spy video taken in the Detroit area. So that much is certain. What isn't so certain is what will be under its hood. Now, it must be noted that the Australian and Asia Pacific market Ranger Raptor, which is about to go on sale, is powered by a 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder. Previously we assumed this won't be offered in the US.

However, CarAdvice recently spoke to Ford's vice president of product development for Asia Pacific Trevor Worthington, and he had something of interest to say about why that engine was chosen. Specifically, why not a V6 or even a gasoline engine?

"Well, we haven't looked at that one (referring to a gasoline or diesel V6) because as I've said… the vast majority of the 200 markets that we sell Ranger, and when I say a vast majority I mean 99 percent are all diesel markets," he said. "It'd be like turning up with something that people wouldn't even consider buying." Of course, Worthington indirect's reference to that 1 percent is the US market where diesel is not particularly popular. Then again, Worthington was quite adamant that the 2.0 diesel was the right engine for this truck.

"The job always was what's the best diesel power pack that we can find, balanced across all the attributes, that's going to work in all of those markets and with all kinds of people?" he said. "This customer with this particular utility is looking for a certain level of outcome related to performance, related to fuel economy, we are convinced that this is the right solution, transmission, and engine power pack. I think the only V6 diesel that we have is a 3.0-litre V6 and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit even if we tried to make it fit."

Of course he fails to mention anything about a gasoline EcoBoost engine, such as the 2.3- and 2.7-liters Ford has on hand in the US. Hopefully we'll have our final answer come this January at Detroit.

Another note of interest CarAdvice learned from Ford is, at least in the Asia Pacific region, the automaker will not cover stunt driving and related shenanigans with the Ranger Raptor's warranty. "It's not a stunt vehicle and customers shouldn't use it as a stunt vehicle. I don't want to see Dukes of Hazard stuff," said Damien Ross, chief Ranger Raptor engineer. "What we've done is, if you're an experienced driver and you're driving at your limit off road... we've made sure that it can take that kind of abuse. But we can't warrant it for (excessive stunts)."