Ford Boss Says The Smaller Raptors Aren’t Getting The R Treatment

Leading The Pack

The Ford F-150 Raptor changed the paradigm for performance, giving power and off-road prowess to America's best-selling truck. Ever since its launch, it has become a global icon, demand has expanded from the U.S. to other territories, and it has solidified the Raptor nameplate.

With the Raptor gaining popularity, it's no small wonder Ford has attached the name to an additional 2 models, the Bronco Raptor and Ranger Raptor. However, only the F-150 Raptor bears the "R" variant, giving it the ultimate distinction of a massively powerful V8. It seems that Ford intends to keep it this way, with the F-150 Raptor as the halo model, and the Bronco and Ranger keeping the status quo.

No Plans

In an exclusive one-on-one with Road and Track,Ford Racing production vehicle chief engineer Carl Widmann was asked whether the popularity and high sales of the Bronco Raptor and Ranger Raptor are enough to warrant the addition of the "R" treatment for both models. Widmann was quick to reply that he hadn't seen any plans to do just that yet.

Widmann proceeds to justify Ford's current thinking by saying they believe the Ranger Raptor is already pushing the platform's capabilities. Currently, the Ranger Raptor has a significant amount of power, with no direct competitors coming within 30 hp of it, a significant buffer. He even said that "if anything, the Ranger Raptor might already have too much power."

Time Will Tell

Both the Ranger Raptor and the Bronco Raptor share the same 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6. However, the Bronco receives a slightly higher power bump at 418 hp due to a different calibration, while the Ranger enjoys 405 hp. Widmann did say that because the Ranger is smaller and lighter, the power difference is less noticeable.

Of course, Windmann's candid admission of not seeing any plans is definite but also open-ended. While there are no plans at the moment, it doesn't mean that it may never happen. At the moment, though, if you want a V8 in your Raptor, you'd better be willing to spring for the F-150 Raptor R.

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