2023 Ford Ranger Raptor Debuts As All-New High Performance Pickup

February 22, 2022 7:06 am

Ford Authority has reported a number of exclusive details pertaining to the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor over the past several months, including its unique interior features, the fact that it will be lighter than the current-gen model, and that it will be powered by Ford’s 3.0L EcoBoost V6 – which Ford Authority was the first to report nearly a year ago. Now, the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor has been officially revealed, and all of those details have come to fruition on the most powerful version of the pickup to date.

As expected, the 2023 Ranger Raptor shares much of its styling with the recently-revealed international market next-gen Ranger but cranks things up a notch with more aggressive cues throughout. Those include flared wheel arches, a front grille with “Ford” lettering, C-clamp headlights, matrix LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, functional air vents, cast-aluminum side steps, LED taillights, unique 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, and a Precision Grey rear bumper with an integrated step pad and towbar tucked up high to preserve the truck’s departure angle.

On the inside, the next-gen Ranger Raptor features all-new, jet fighter-inspired front sports seats, Code Orange accents on the instrument panel, trim, seats, and ambient lighting, a premium leather sports heated steering wheel with thumb swells, on-center marking, and cast-magnesium paddle shifters, a 12.4‑inch all-digital cluster, and a 12-inch center touchscreen running SYNC 4A.

Under the hood, Ford’s 3.0L EcoBoost V6 produces 288 PS (284 horsepower) and 491 Nm (362 pound-feet) of torque in Europe, which is less than the 400+ horsepower targeted for the same powerplant present in the Ford Bronco Raptor. However, the 2023 Ranger Raptor will make considerably more power – 292 kW (392 horsepower) and 583 nM (430 pound-feet) of torque in Australia. It’s currently unclear how much power will be offered when the high-performance off-roader launches in the U.S. next year, but it’s clear that Ford is using different tunes for different markets.

Regardless, the twin-turbocharged V6 is mated to Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission and uses an anti-lag system for the turbos in Baja mode, which keeps them spinning for up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle. This allows for faster acceleration out of corners or through the gears when the driver steps back on the accelerator. The powerplant is also programmed with an individual turbocharging boost profile for each of the transmission’s gears for optimized performance and breathes through an active exhaust system with Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja modes. Additionally, European customers will continue to be able to spec the 2023 Ranger Raptor with the existing 2.0L EcoBlue bi-turbo engine.

Underneath, the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is quite a bit different than regular Ranger models, sporting unique mounts and reinforcements for the C-pillars, load box, and spare wheel, as well as unique frames for the jounce bumper, shock tower, and rear shock bracket. The suspension has been fortified with aluminum upper and lower control arms, a long‑travel front and rear suspension, a refined Watt’s link rear end, and Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve internal bypass shocks.

The rugged pickup’s capabilities are further enhanced by an advanced full-time four-wheel drive system with an all‑new electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case and front and rear locking differentials. Available drive modes include Normal, Sport, Slippery, Rock Crawl, Sand, Mud/Ruts, and Baja, as well as Trail Control. The Ranger Raptor’s vitals are protected by a 2.3 mm-thick high-strength steel front bash plate, an engine undershield, and a transfer case shield.

The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor will be the first next-gen Ranger model to launch in Europe in Q4 of 2022. The high-performance off-roader will launch in the U.S. sometime next year with a starting MSRP of $52,500, as Ford Authority exclusively reported earlier this month.

We’ll have more on the 2023 Ranger Raptor soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford Ranger news, Ford Ranger Raptor news, and continuous Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.