We got big news from the Big Blue Oval, the brand new 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is about to hit the road. Ford recently signed a partnership with Volkswagen. The idea behind this was to help the German manufacturer to improve their pickup truck game. After all, Ford knows a thing or two about making good trucks.
But VWs flagship Amarok won’t be competing against the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. The new Ranger Raptor will be a smaller version of the F-150 Raptor. It will be an off-roading beast and there are some stylistic ideas and changes that people are going to love. The platform and frame will remain the same but the new Ranger Raptor is getting upgrades. Mainly in the form of a more powerful engine and long-travel suspension. This was done mainly because of the off-roading aspect of the pickup.
Although there will be only one body style available we are sure this truck is going to sell like crazy. Read along to find out more about the upcoming 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor and all the things it is going to do perfectly.
Interior
The all-new 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is getting some much-needed goodies on the inside. The cabin is going to become a museum of high-tech gadgets. Ford has to compete with other manufacturers that are upgrading their trucks. Most companies try to put as much of the new technology as possible. Some even go as far as all digital dashboards or heads-up displays on the windscreen.
The cabin inside the 2023 Ranger Raptor is going to be spacious for sure. It will be able to seat five people comfortably. This means headroom and legroom to go around. There are going to be sports bucket seats from Recaro if you wish. This offers extra support and keeps the passengers snuggled up. This comes in handy when the road gets bumpy and you press the pedal off the road.
It remains to be seen if these seats are going to be ventilated and heated. Additions like this will be a great idea especially since this is a pickup and it will probably be used for long periods of time. In the middle, we get a 12-inch screen for infotainment. This is just big enough so the back row of passengers can enjoy the fun. Most of the controls will be changeable from here. There are chrome and magnesium accents all around the cabin. This adds to some luxury and style, something Ford could increase the amount of.
There are paddle shifters on the wheel along with the shift stick. As far as upholstery is concerned, we reckon it will be leather, hopefully, a high-quality one. Remains to be seen if there is a choice between several options.
Exterior
There are big moves happening on the outside of the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. We heard about its performance becoming better but what about the styling and exterior?
Well, Ford didn’t disappoint here either. The new Ranger Raptor is coming in more aggressive and maddening than ever before. In the photos, we can see a fresh new front fascia. This means a bigger and wider grille. Unnecessarily big FORD lettering, as usual, is present. The headlights are C-shaped as already seen on some other Ford models.
This is quite refreshing as it is nice to step away from circular headlights. We get a grill made from alternative materials. It is lightweight and looks stylish when painted black. This will improve air circulation under the hood. Better circulation means drivers can push the truck further and faster and not worry about any overheating issues. Not that there were any, to begin with, but you can never be sure.
Although it is an off-roading truck we get only 17-inch wheels, also made from lightweight materials to shave off weight. This means the power to weight ratio is much better and this is what people like to see in a truck. But the tires are beefier and wider to give better drive and grip and control on and off the road.
It is a midsize truck but it will be larger than most of its competitors. The wheelbase is around 129 inches while the body is a bit wider, probably around 80 inches.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor Engine Options
The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will be sold in the US, unlike its predecessors. The last one never came to the US because of its diesel engine. But under the hood, the new Raptor will have a beast.
This means a turbocharged gasoline-guzzling V6. This is the same engine we can see in the Bronco Raptor. The engine is 3.0 liter with twin turbos and anti-lag technology taken from Ford GT. It produces 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The 10-speed automatic transmission is available and it is an all-wheel drive.
We also have a two-speed transfer case that helps front and rear locking differentials.
Some markets will have turbo-diesel variants, but the US won’t. There are some rumors brewing about the Ranger Raptor R version. This would bring us the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 from the Mustang GT. This engine should give much more horsepower but it is made with straight-line speed in mind. There won’t be a long-range gas tank available in the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor, although Ford has one available. This decision is mostly made because of engine efficiency in the new Raptor. We should get around 17mpg in combined environments.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor Release Date and Price
There are no official statements about the arrival of the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor. But we suspect it will be sometime in 2023, probably the first half.
As far as the price is concerned the ballpark is around $45.000 and spending on the optional features might increase the price.
