No R-Rated Rangers or Broncos: Ford's Performance Chief Weighs In

Key Takeaways

• Ford has no plans for R-rated variants of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor.
• The Ranger Raptor may already have too much power for its size.
• The F-150 Raptor R and its 5.2-liter V-8 are safe at the top of the Raptor lineup.
• The Bronco and Ranger will retain their twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 setup.
• Ford could still decide to give the Ranger or Bronco Raptors a boost in the future.

No R-Rated Rangers or Broncos

In my experience, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to create high-performance variants of their vehicles, but according to Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann, there are no plans for R-rated variants of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor.

Widmann told Road & Track that he hasn’t seen any plans for such variants, and it’s unlikely that we’ll see them in the near future. This news may come as a disappointment to some enthusiasts who were hoping for even more aggressive versions of these vehicles.

However, it’s worth noting that the Ranger Raptor is already a highly capable vehicle, with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 producing 405 horsepower. The Bronco Raptor, on the other hand, produces 418 horsepower from the same engine.

The Ranger Raptor’s Power

Widmann suggested that the Ranger Raptor may already have too much power for its size. While this may seem counterintuitive, it’s worth considering the vehicle’s performance in context.

In our testing, the Ranger Raptor was able to hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, which is impressive for a vehicle of its size. However, it’s worth noting that the F-150 Raptor R is significantly faster, with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds.

It’s possible that Ford is being cautious with the Ranger Raptor’s power output in order to maintain a balance between performance and handling. After all, the Ranger Raptor is a smaller vehicle than the F-150 Raptor R, and it may not be able to handle the same level of power.

The F-150 Raptor R’s Dominance

The F-150 Raptor R is currently the top dog in Ford’s Raptor lineup, with a 5.2-liter V-8 producing 700 horsepower. According to Widmann, this vehicle is safe at the top of the lineup, and there are no plans to create a more aggressive variant.

This is likely due to the fact that the F-150 Raptor R is already an extremely capable vehicle, with a powerful engine and a number of performance upgrades. It’s unlikely that Ford would want to create a variant that could potentially cannibalize sales from this model.

Engine Specs

Vehicle	Engine	Horsepower
F-150 Raptor R	5.2-liter V-8	700
Bronco Raptor	Twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6	418
Ranger Raptor	Twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6	405

Future Possibilities

While there are no plans for R-rated variants of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor, it’s possible that Ford could still decide to give these vehicles a boost in the future.

One possibility is that Ford could offer a software calibration that increases the output of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine. This would allow owners to increase the power output of their vehicle without the need for significant hardware upgrades.

Alternatively, Ford could decide to offer a more aggressive variant of the Bronco Raptor or Ranger Raptor in the future. While this is unlikely, it’s not impossible, and enthusiasts should continue to hold out hope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will there be an R-rated variant of the Bronco Raptor?
A: According to Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann, there are no plans for an R-rated variant of the Bronco Raptor.

Q: Is the Ranger Raptor too powerful for its size?
A: Widmann suggested that the Ranger Raptor may already have too much power for its size, but this is a matter of debate among enthusiasts.

Q: Will the F-150 Raptor R remain at the top of the Raptor lineup?
A: Yes, according to Widmann, the F-150 Raptor R is safe at the top of the Raptor lineup, and there are no plans to create a more aggressive variant.