Ford Philippines makes the case that pickups have transcended their workhorse reputations and ventured into lifestyle territory. A compelling reason for that argument? At least 10,000 units of the Ranger Raptor rolling off Philippine showrooms in 2020, representing 64 percent of total sales in the ASEAN region.
Philippine sales of the Ford Ranger Raptor account for more than half of ASEAN numbers
Those figures might already seem impressive, but the Blue Oval brand is looking to outdo itself with the coming 2022 Ranger Raptor. Australian car website motoring.com.au cites a report that the next iteration of the high-performance midsize pickup will be equipped with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo gasoline V6 for the U.S. market. The engine, sourced from the Ford Explorer ST, kicks up 402 hp and 560 Nm of torque.
Powertrain options are not as clear-cut for customers Down Under, where the next-generation Ranger (on which the upcoming Raptor will be based) is currently being developed side by side with the new Volkswagen Amarok. The likely candidate is shaping up to be the 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel, also in V6 guise. Part of the engine options for the current Ford F-150 truck in North America, the mill is capable of 250 hp and 597 Nm of torque.
U.S.-spec versions of the Ranger Raptor will reportedly use the same 3.0-liter V6 powering the Explorer ST
The auto industry generally frowns upon developing separate engines for global niche models, due to the added complexity and higher expenses involved. However, the current Ranger Raptor has reportedly exceeded Ford’s sales expectations, so a business case that justifies two powertrain options could allow the company to tap into potential profit margins that the new model could bring.
The new Ranger Raptor's launch is expected to follow that of the upcoming 2022 Ranger (pictured)
One possible scenario is that the two V6 engines will be offered in separate markets where gasoline and diesel are predominant, respectively. The Ranger Raptor is expected to make its U.S. debut with the EcoBoost V6, while the Power Stroke diesel will be introduced in Australia and other diesel-centric territories, along with the 2.0-liter bi-turbo oil burner that powers the current Ranger Raptor and Everest.
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