Speaking to Australia’s caradvice.com.au at the local unveiling of the Raptor in Darwin, Trevor Worthington stated that a V6 EcoBoost similar to the one powering the F150 Raptor or even a V6 diesel was never considered during the Raptor’s development, as there are no demands for such engines where the Raptor will be sold.
“We haven't looked at that one [petrol or diesel V6] because as I've said this morning, the vast majority of the 200 markets that we sell Ranger, and when I say a vast majority I mean 99 per cent are all diesel markets. It'd be like turning up with something that people wouldn't even consider buying,” he said.
Quizzed further on whether a six-cylinder would indeed fit underneath the Raptor’s bonnet, Worthington stated that the twin-charged four-cylinder oil burner, which produces 157kW/500Nm and comes connected to a 10-speed automatic gearbox co-developed with General Motors, provides the ideal balance “across all attributes”.
“This customer with this particular utility is looking for a certain level of outcome related to performance, related to fuel economy, we are convinced that this is the right solution, transmission and engine power pack. I think the only V6 diesel that we have is a 3.0-litre V6 and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't fit even if we tried to make it fit,” he said.
Priced at $74 900 (R732 821) Down Under, the Raptor has already been confirmed for local introduction next year and will be made alongside the regular Ranger and Everest at the Blue Oval’s Silverton Plant outside Pretoria, while production of the engine will take place at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth. Final pricing has not yet been revealed.
Everest Raptor rumours intensifying
With rumours of a possible Everest Raptor continuing to gain momentum, Worthington told the online platform that while the capability exists to apply the Ranger Raptor’s touches to the Everest, it ultimately depends on “whether there's a customer who's looking for that real off road, extreme off road, given the nature of family vehicle”.
“Given the nature of that kind of customer base, I think is something we have to go and take a real look at. The bits are there. Is there an opportunity outside of the existing Everest markets? You have a look at the existing Everest markets. We do a lot in Asia. We do China. We do India. We do Thailand... and we do Everest in South Africa. Not sure that there might be enough volume there to pay,” he said.
Earlier this year, Ford Australia Product Communications Manager, Damion Smy, told the same platform that a Raptor tuned Everest “makes sense” given the rapid shift towards SUVs, and that “there’s definitely a case for more performance oriented or at least more sports styled SUVs in the future”.
Note: Ranger Raptor image from carsguide.com.au. Everest Raptor from Kleber Silva on behance.net
