Ranger

Make
Ford
Segment
Sports Car

According to the Blue Ovals' latest internal Fleet Distribution News Bulletin, the order banks for the all-new Ford Ranger will open on April 17, 2023. The Ranger6G forum posted an image of the bulletin, also confirming previous rumors that production of the 2024 Ranger will begin on July 10, 2023. That means first customers are in for a relatively short wait of almost three months.

Ford's new midsize pickup has been available in other markets since 2022, and there's still a lot we don't know about the US-spec Ranger, but we do know that it's still built on the T6 platform used by the outgoing model.

Thankfully, the T6 platform has enough room for several engine options, but the only common denominator across global markets is the powertrain used by the Ranger Raptor. It's a gas-powered twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 392 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque, which is slightly less than the Bronco Raptor that uses the same engine.

Other engine options outside of the USA include a turbocharged V6 diesel and a series of 2.0-liter single- and twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel powertrains. None of these are expected to go on sale in the USA.

The most likely candidate is the existing 2.3-liter EcoBoost but ramped up a bit to make it more competitive against the equally new Chevrolet Colorado.

Alternatively, Ford can use a detuned version of the twin-turbo V6 as used in the Raptor. The Raptor has been neutered in Europe due to emissions laws, and across the pond, the engine only produces 288 hp. This engine could be used as filler between the EcoBoost and the full-fat Raptor. Since Ford filed a trademark for Ranger Lightning, an all-electric model is also a possibility.

We know there's at least one Ranger Raptor in the USA already. It was spied on the production line in Michigan earlier this year, sporting a few tweaks to make it legal in the USA. These changes include amber reflectors on the front fenders, a third, high-mounted brake light on the cab, and a sliding window at the rear.

Since Ford has already conducted tests with the all-new Ranger Raptor on the assembly line, Ford could launch the standard Ranger and Ranger Raptor simultaneously. The 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine is made at the Lima Engine Plant in Ohio, while Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 produces the 2.3-liter EcoBoost.