Back in February, Ford Authority spies spotted a left-hand-drive 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor prototype for the very first time, which seemed to cement the fact that the Ranger Raptor will finally be coming to North American when the next-gen Ford Ranger launches next year. Now, Ford Authority spies have spotted yet another LHD 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor prototype, but this one looks quite a bit different than the first one.
For starters, this new prototype is not wearing the odd-looking metal front bumper and grille camo seen on the earlier prototype. The new pickup features more conventional camo that Ford uses on almost all of its prototypes, which consists of mesh material used to conceal what appears to be a more production-ready front end.
Like the first LHD prototype, this pickup is also equipped with running boards and Raptor-like wheels wrapped with beefier off-road tires. It’s also wearing what at first glance might appear to be a bed cap, but it’s a bit too small to be a prototype part like the one Ford Authority recently spotted on a Ford Maverick prototype.
Instead, this cap is yet another form of camouflage, being used as a cover to hide something that Ford doesn’t want us to see. What that might be is unclear, but the cap camo is most definitely designed to disguise whatever lies underneath it. Otherwise, the rear of this prototype is identical to the earlier one, with a pair of exhaust pipes flanking each end of the rear bumper. This Ranger Raptor prototype also lacks the sail panels present on a prototype Ford Authority spies captured on film earlier this month.
As Ford Authority exclusively reported in May, the next-gen Ranger Raptor will be powered by Ford’s 3.0L EcoBoost V6, mated to FoMoCo’s 10-speed automatic transmission. The next-gen Ranger will continue to ride on Ford’s T6 platform, albeit with some modifications. The Ranger Raptor will also continue to feature a bespoke suspension with Fox shocks and a coil spring rear suspension when it launches next year.
We’ll have more on the 2023 Ranger Raptor very soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Ranger news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comment
I’ve no clue what they might be hiding (if anything), but it appears to be a Softopper on back…..which has an aluminum tubular frame and a convertible top-type covering. I have one on my Avalanche.