Ford Ranger Raptor: July 2022 release date in Australia for petrol V6 ute

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The new-generation Ford Ranger Raptor super-ute will be released in Australia in July 2022, its manufacturer confirmed today.

A July launch for the T6.2 Ranger Raptor means the top-end ute will roll into Ford’s Australian dealers just one month after the regular variants, all of which use diesel engines.

Australian pricing for the 2023 Ranger Raptor is yet to be confirmed, though Chasing Cars understands that it will climb over the outgoing ute’s tariff of $79,390 before on-road costs.

In a dramatic shift, the 2023 Ranger Raptor has swapped out the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine of the outgoing baja-bashing ute for a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 producing 292kW of power (391 horsepower) and 583Nm of torque.

That is a substantial upgrade over the previous-gen Raptor’s 157kW/500Nm diesel-fed outputs – though many aspects of that car’s platform carry over to the new Ranger.

Brake hardware remains the same as the previous car despite the additional pace, but changes have been made to the suspension that continues to make use of Fox shock absorbers for dune-jumping prowess.

The 3.0-litre Ecoboost petrol V6 features in many North American Ford models, including the sporty Explorer ST large SUV and the Lincoln Aviator luxury crossover. It’ll also be used in America’s forthcoming Bronco Raptor, which shares the Ranger’s T6.2 chassis.

A ten-speed torque converter automatic transmission is the sole gearbox, while a new four-wheel drive system with automatic four-high engagement means you no longer have to run in 2WD on the road.

Launching a month earlier than the Raptor are the everyday Ranger variants, some of which pick up a single-turbo 3.0-litre diesel V6 engine making 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque. The outgoing Raptor’s 2.0-litre biturbo four-cylinder diesel becomes the base engine of the lineup.