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Almost as soon as Ford announced the Ranger mid-sized pickup truck was making a glorious return, our insatiable appetites for high-performance off-roaders called for a Raptor version. Europe and Australia already have the Ranger Raptor , but Ford is holding out in the US market. There’s little doubt we’ll get the Ranger Raptor eventually, but in the meantime, Hennessey will build you a VelociRaptor Ranger to hold you over.
With the Ranger arriving in the US late in its current lifecycle and the next generation due in 2021, it wouldn’t make sense for Ford to force a modified version of a truck it just started building at the plant in Michigan. What does make sense is Hennessey stepping in and filling the gap with its interpretation and massaging the Ranger’s stock 2.3-Liter EcoBoost inline four to 350 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque.
To help give the VelociRaptor Ford Ranger an extra 80 horsepower and 75 lb-ft of torque, Hennessey fitted the Ranger with the same engine management software, high-flow intake and stainless steel catback exhaust system from the F-150-based VelociRaptor. Underneath the flared wheel arches and body kit upgrades sits a four-inch lift kit and 17-inch wheels wrapped in BFG off-road rubber. In true Baja-style off-roading, Hennessey also bolted on an LED lightbar up top and LED fog lights down low in the bumper.
If you want the real factory-built Ford Ranger Raptor, you’ll have to wait until sometime after 2021, when the next generation Ranger hits the road. If you can’t wait, Hennessey’s option makes for a good consolation prize, because you can be damn sure Ford will use it as a benchmark for when they eventually do bring the Ranger Raptor stateside. Just act fast because Hennessey is only building 500 examples and they cost $64,950 a piece.
In the Meantime:
2019 Ford Ranger
2019 Ram 1500 Rebel
2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD off-Road
