No Longer a Pipe Dream: The Ford Ranger Raptor Is Coming

The Ford off-road performance community has a reason to celebrate today. In a heart-pounding demonstration video, Ford Australia confirmed this morning that the Ranger Raptor will be available in Australian and New Zealand markets in 2018. While stateside we're still waiting for the standard Ranger's 2019 reemergence, this is a good sign that we can expect our own Ranger Raptor down the road. Read on for further details, speculation and Ranger Raptor media!

With a shorter wheelbase and narrower track than the F-150, it's no surprise to see the Ranger Raptor performing like a true trail-runner off the pavement. Ford is being tight-lipped about the smaller, lighter Raptor's official specs, but the F-150's 325-horsepower 2.7L EcoBoost seems a likely engine choice considering its middle-of-the-road placement in the F-150's engine lineup.

The proportions look similar to the global T6 Ranger, albeit with the Raptor variant's signature wide fenders. Whether the US version will share the same dimensions or arrive as a completely different model, we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, Ford's official prototype testing video is sure to keep you on your toes: