Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
Redesigned from the ground up on the T6 vehicle architecture, the 2011 Ford Ranger has served the Blue Oval rather well. The Ford Motor Company made a case for the Raptor as well, but for some reason or another, the off-road pickup isn’t available in the United States.
Because the Ranger is ten years old in 2021, the Dearborn-based automaker is working day and night on the next generation of the mid-sized truck. On this particular occasion, the Blue Oval is testing the Raptor in the United States with the Bronco Warthog in tow, and this sighting isn’t a coincidence.
For starters, the Bronco is based on the ladder-frame chassis developed for the all-new Ranger. Secondly, the Raptor and Warthog are pretty much the same vehicle under the skin. Similarities include the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 rubber shoes, very expensive and smart Fox shock absorbers, and the kind of ground clearance that won’t disappoint you off the beaten path.
Equipped with a dual-tipped exhaust system that flanks the full-size spare wheel under the bed, the Ranger Raptor for the U.S. market is referred to as Project Redback under the P703 codename. Although camouflaged, this prototype fails to completely mask the FORD lettering on the front grille.
The carparazzi highlight “nearly identical engine and exhaust notes,” referring to six cylinders and forced induction. What’s not exactly clear is what EcoBoost V6 hides under the hood of the Ranger Raptor and Bronco Warthog, but there are two candidates you should take into consideration.
Sensibly speaking, the optional 2.7-liter engine of the Bronco is capable of more suck-squeeze-bang-blow from the factory. But on the other hand, the 3.0-liter engine of the Explorer ST would be my choice thanks to its compact packaging, 400 ponies, and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm) of torque.
As for the European specification of the Ranger Raptor, the Ford Motor Company is expected to switch from the gasoline-fueled V6 to the EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel with 2.0 liters of displacement. Similar to the 2021 model year, the next generation may drop the very capable BFGoodrichs in favor of General Grabber AT3 tires produced by Continental Tyre South Africa.
For starters, the Bronco is based on the ladder-frame chassis developed for the all-new Ranger. Secondly, the Raptor and Warthog are pretty much the same vehicle under the skin. Similarities include the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 rubber shoes, very expensive and smart Fox shock absorbers, and the kind of ground clearance that won’t disappoint you off the beaten path.
Equipped with a dual-tipped exhaust system that flanks the full-size spare wheel under the bed, the Ranger Raptor for the U.S. market is referred to as Project Redback under the P703 codename. Although camouflaged, this prototype fails to completely mask the FORD lettering on the front grille.
The carparazzi highlight “nearly identical engine and exhaust notes,” referring to six cylinders and forced induction. What’s not exactly clear is what EcoBoost V6 hides under the hood of the Ranger Raptor and Bronco Warthog, but there are two candidates you should take into consideration.
Sensibly speaking, the optional 2.7-liter engine of the Bronco is capable of more suck-squeeze-bang-blow from the factory. But on the other hand, the 3.0-liter engine of the Explorer ST would be my choice thanks to its compact packaging, 400 ponies, and 415 pound-feet (563 Nm) of torque.
As for the European specification of the Ranger Raptor, the Ford Motor Company is expected to switch from the gasoline-fueled V6 to the EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel with 2.0 liters of displacement. Similar to the 2021 model year, the next generation may drop the very capable BFGoodrichs in favor of General Grabber AT3 tires produced by Continental Tyre South Africa.
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