The Fiesta RS is out, but a Performance-Oriented Ranger Could Happen

Ford Ranger (Credit: © Ford Europe)

The newly consolidated Ford Performance arm has promised us 12 new vehicles by 2020, and we are holding it to that. Today, Motoring.com.au reports that one model many assumed was coming is apparently not, but a new performance rig that hasn’t received much press could be in the works.

In a conversation with Ford Performance’s global communications manager, Paul Seredynski, the Aussie site mentioned the possibility of a Ranger Raptor, and Seredynski called it a “fascinating idea.” While calling this idea fascinating would typically not be newsworthy, the fact that it followed several strong dismissals—including the quick shutdown of a possible Fiesta RS—raises my interest a bit. Maybe this is a “pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” statement to pull the focus off the tiny RS and onto
a vehicle that is little more than vaporware, but just the thought of a Ranger Raptor is sure to get a lot of enthusiasts amped up.

The new F-150 Raptor uses a pumped-up version of Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that produces at least 450 horses in place of its snarling V-8 from the previous generation, leading some to believe a Ranger Raptor using a 400-horsepower version of this engine is a possibility. There is also the possibility of the Ranger Raptor using the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 that produces 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque in its stock setup. It likely wouldn’t be much of a stretch to push this smaller-displacement engine into the high-300-horsepower range.

Of course, Ford won’t directly comment on potential future models, but Ford Performance’s chief engineer, Tyrone Johnson, breathed a little life into the smaller Raptor when briefly broke protocol by saying “sure, it could be considered.”

While this report still includes a lot of speculation, there is plenty of evidence that points toward the Ranger returning to the U.S. in just a few years. The possibility of a Ranger Raptor could rely heavily on whether or not Ford determines there is enough room for it and the F-150 Raptor to exist here in the States.