A faster, more powerful 2023 Ranger Raptor is coming

Like the look of Ford’s new V6 twin-turbo Ranger Raptor but want even more power and torque?

A faster and even more powerful version of the performance dual-cab is currently in development and will soon be sold by well-known aftermarket specialist Herrod Performance.

Set to build on the second-generation Raptor’s already impressive factory outputs of 292kW and 583Nm, the enhanced ute will also be offered with a full Herrod Performance warranty.

Herrod Performance is a sizeable player in the Australian aftermarket industry and has strong links with Ford in Australia and also at Blue Oval HQ in the United States. Headed up by Rob Herrod, the company is well-known for its work on the current-generation Mustang which has culminated in models like the limited-edition supercharged R-Spec and 578kW DJR 40th Anniversary.

“We’re very interested in the new Raptor,” Rob Herrod told Wheels. “And we have some programmes already happening which we can talk about soon. So you will see a performance hot-up for Raptor through Herrod that will come with a full warranty.”

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The new-gen Raptor’s switch from diesel power to a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol is what attracted Herrod to offer a performance upgrade.

“We’ve never really been interested in the previous Ranger,” said Herrod. “The engines in the diesel models have been on the limit and tuning them can be tricky and cause issues. But the new potential performance wise of the new Raptor really interests us. The shift is huge.”

Wheels understands the Herrod upgrade will concentrate on the powertrain, meaning the chassis and exterior design will be left largely unchanged from factory spec.

“We’ve looked at that engine before and we’re coming up with a really good product,” added Herrod. “We’ll warrant it and are doing stuff no one else can do.”

While Herrod is clearly excited about the new Raptor’s performance potential, ask Ford’s engineers about how much headroom there is in the new V6 for a more powerful version from the factory and they downplay expectations.

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“From a factory perspective we’re pretty close to where we think the limit is with that engine,” said Ford Performance program manager Justin Capicchiano. “I’m sure tuners will find their way through and make more power but where that limit is, I’m not sure.”

And if you’re hanging onto hope that Ford might build a road-going Raptor with a V8 engine? Ford has ruled it out, but that doesn’t mean a V8 Raptor won’t be built to go off-road racing.

“For us it’s the V6,” said Capicchiano. “That’s what we want to focus on now.”

“That doesn’t preclude doing things off-road and taking the car and pushing it in the world of racing. We’d love to do that stuff. You’ve heard Mark Rushbrook and Trevor Worthington talking about off-road racing being a desire for us. That’d be a great goal.”

One avenue Ford Australia may explore with the race version of the Raptor is to follow the same recipe as the Ford Bronco DR, which shares the same platform as the new Ranger.

Built in partnership with Canadian outfit Multimatic, the Bronco DR uses a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 and is set to make its debut appearance at the 2022 Baja 1000 in November.