Hennessey Fills Ranger Raptor Void with VelociRaptor Ranger
Limited to 500 units for 2019, new VelociRaptor Ranger gains a big boost in power, tons more off-road capability.
Ever since the Ranger returned to our shores a few months ago, more than a few of us have been wanting more from the midsize pickup. Specifically, a Ranger Raptor to do the things the bigger F-150 Raptor can’t due to the latter’s size. Alas, there are still no plans to bring the mini-Raptor to the United States.
But where there’s a Raptor-sized hole, there’s a Texas-sized shovel ready to fill it with a pile of performance. Hennessey Performance has unveiled its latest addition to the VelociRaptor family, the 2019 VelociRaptor Ranger.
“We are so excited to introduce our 2019 Hennessey VelociRaptor upgrades for the 2019 Ford Ranger truck,” said Hennessey founder John Hennessey. “The demand for our VelociRaptor upgrades for the Ford Raptor truck has been incredible over the past 10 years. We are thrilled to be able to offer increased power, performance – on and off-road all packed in our exclusively branded VelociRaptor package.”
The VelociRaptor Ranger takes the base Ranger to new heights, beginning with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost under the hood. With the help of an ECU tune, a new high-flow air induction system, and a more open exhaust system, the output is increased from 270 horses and 310 lb-ft of torque to 350 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. The big increase in power means a lower zero-to-60 time, hitting 60 mph in 6.1 seconds instead of the stock Ranger’s 7.4 seconds.
Of course, the VelociRaptor Ranger needs to be able to put that power on whatever surface it rolls upon. Thus, Hennessey gave the upgraded truck its Stage 1 off-road suspension kit, lifting the truck four inches higher off the ground. The suspension is connected to the trail via 17-inch alloys wrapped in fat BF Goodrich tires, while the whole thing is capped off with a front bumper equipped with LED lights and optional winch, as well as an optional roof-mounted LED light bar.
If you’d like a VelociRaptor Ranger of your own, you’ll need around $65,000 for the upgrade and a new Ranger, or around $20,000 if you already have a Ranger in the driveway. Production of the mini VelociRaptor is limited to 500 units in 2019, and is available through Hennessey and its network of authorized dealers.
