Ford Ranger Raptor to Arrive in the U.S.

For the longest time, Ford has maintained its position that the Ranger Raptor has no place in its U.S. lineup despite customer demands and instead focused on rolling out other nameplates.

But it seems Ford could be singing a different tune soon as a recent report claims the next generation of the Ranger Raptor will make its way to America equipped with a V6 engine.

According to an article published by CarExpert, this particular variant of the well-loved Ford Ranger is finally bound for the U.S. after years of being exclusively available in Australia and other global markets. The report cites sources said to be familiar with product plans within the company.

Ford declined to comment on the rumors, saying it does not discuss future products as part of its company policy.

CarExpert, however, stands by its sources who allegedly confirmed the Ranger Raptor will be offered in the U.S. with a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine. Moreover, the powertrain reportedly delivers up to 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, which would be a huge improvement from the current 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft torque that the model offers.

In other auto markets, the Ford Ranger Raptor is offered with a 2.0-liter turbodiesel I4 and a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6. CarExpert said all three engines will be available and paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

To further its claims, CarExpert also cited a patent registration that Ford apparently filed in 2018 with images of a Ranger Raptor that has a sliding rear window. This feature is notably only available on the U.S.-spec Ford Ranger.

At the moment, it still sounds a bit of a stretch. But for fans of the Ford Ranger who are still hoping for the automaker to bring the Raptor to the U.S., this could be something to bank on.