2022 Ford Ranger Raptor: Performance ute spied

UPDATE, February 22, 2022: New Ford Ranger Raptor revealed!

The new 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor has been unveiled at last, and we've got a comprehensive rundown on everything you need to know. Catch our stories and big reveal video at the links below.

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January 21, 2022: The 2022 Ford Ranger Raptor has been snapped undergoing testing in Thailand, this time wearing a digital camouflage wrap.

The performance flagship of the Ranger line-up is believed to be in the final stages of development, with the Raptor expected to be teased by Ford ahead of its full unveiling in the coming months.

The Ranger Raptor appears to lose the innovative step integrated into the rear bumper found on lower models, but looks as if it will continue to get the side-steps as standard, according to these images posted by the Kurdistan Automotive Blog.

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Larger wheel arches, redesigned front quarter panels with unique vents, dual exhaust tips, and chunky all-terrain tyres also feature on the new ute, together with bi-LED headlights reserved for range-topping models.

While there’s no confirmation on powertrains, previous teaser videos from Ford have the model sounding very similar to an V6 EcoBoost petrol engine rumoured to be coming in the Raptor.

Rumours suggest this could be the 336kW/692Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 from the US-market Explorer ST, but the 242kW/542Nm 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine from the F-150 and Bronco cannot be ruled out at this stage.

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Artist X-Tomi's impression of what the new Ranger Raptor could look like.

Another possible option is Australia could receive a version of the 3.0-litre Power Stroke turbo-diesel V6, as has already been outlined for selected Ranger variants, while North American markets get an EcoBoost V6.

Ford recently announced it was investing US$39 million (AU$54 million) to modernise its Straundale engine plant in South Africa’s Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), with manufacturing lines dedicated to the 2.0-litre single and twin-turbo diesel engines, as well as the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6.

“Through this investment we are introducing a third diesel engine to the Straundale operations, in the form of the new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine that will power selected next-gen Ranger models when production commences next year,” Ford South Africa Vice President Operations Ockert Berry said.