2023 Ford Ranger Lightning: Electric dual-cab ute imagined

The 2022 Ford Ranger has been one of the most hotly-anticipated models in recent memory.

But the company has made no secret of its move towards electrification, with aims to drop petrol and diesel models in Europe by the end of the decade.

Earlier this week, Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed the US car giant was preparing to launch a second battery-powered ute, after the F-150 Lightning.

While the company is remaining tight-lipped on which model will adopt an all-electric powertrain, a spokesperson did say it would be a “next-gen” pick-up, which suggests it’s more likely to be the Ford Ranger rather than the smaller Maverick sold overseas.

UPDATE, July 2022: New Ford Ranger review – it's here at last

The new 2023 Ford Ranger is now on sale in Australia, and the local media launch has been run. The Wheels and 4x4 Australia teams have both driven the new Ranger, and you can find their stories at the links below.

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Rendering by Theottle.

With the next-generation Volkswagen Amarok being based on the Ranger, comments made in recent weeks by Volkswagen executives about a potential electric Amarok also increase the likelihood that Ford has something in development.

Enter the Ford Ranger Lightning – the next electric ute from the Blue Oval.

These digital renderings by artist Theottle provide a glimpse at what the vehicle could look like, adopting the F-150 Lightning’s blanked-off grille and full-width LED daytime-running light, as well as the aero alloy wheels to help reduce drag and improve driving range.

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Rendering by Theottle.

With some modifications to the ute’s chassis, Ford could potentially borrow battery packs and motors from the electric E-Transit van, set to launch in Australia in mid-2022.

This could see the Ranger Lightning using a 68kWh battery to power a 198kW/430Nm electric motor at the rear axle, with a driving range of roughly 300 kilometres to be expected from a single charge.

In performance terms, this would roughly place the Ranger Lightning’s powertrain between the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel four-cylinder which puts out 154kW and 500Nm, and the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 producing 184kW and 600Nm found at the upper end of the line-up.

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“We are accelerating our electrified future in Australia,” said Ford Australia President CEO Andrew Birkic at the launch of the E-Transit.

“We are anticipating the needs of each type of customer and bringing the best of our global line-up to meet those requirements.”

Ford recently announced it was splitting into two separate businesses – Ford Blue will be dedicated to petrol and diesel vehicles, while Ford Model E will develop the company’s electric vehicles.

What do you think of the Ford Ranger Lightning? Let us know in the comments section below.