If the baby Raptor makes it to the US, which engine do you expect to see under the hood: Turbo or naturally aspirated?
It’s a fact that the Ranger Raptor will be introduced to various non-US markets, including South Africa and Australia. With the new Ranger destined to hit the US in late-2019 or early-2020, there is a good chance that the baby Raptor will be offered alongside the F-150 variant.
For our newest “Question of the Week,” we want to know which engine you think Ford will use for the Ranger Raptor in the US market? Again, assuming it comes our way.
The current global Ranger in foreign markets is available with three engines: 2.5L gasoline, 2.2L turbo diesel, and a 3.2L turbo diesel, with availability varying by region. With the popularity of diesel engines in those markets, it seems possible for the Ranger Raptor to sport a high-performance version of the 3.2L diesel.
There is a possibility for the alleged US Ranger Raptor to go the gasoline route, quite possibly one of the four or six-cylinder EcoBoost engines offered right now. A modified version of the EcoBoost 4-cylinder from the Focus ST or the Mustang could provide comparable power to the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 used in the F-150. In the end, there is no question that one of the EcoBoost V6 engines would open up a greater world of performance capabilities.
Finally, there is the possibility (albeit a longshot) that Ford will use different engines for the midsize badass, offering a diesel engine in foreign markets and a gasoline-powered EcoBoost engine in the US.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
