It's pretty much guaranteed that Ford will be releasing a next-generation model of the Ranger Raptor, considering how successful the model is in the Asia Pacific region. Now though, we have more confirmation of its future existence thanks to these spy shots from Thailand.
Weirdly enough, however, while the photos were captured in Thailand, these photos come from kurdistan_automotive_blog_. Nevertheless, the Ranger Raptor that we now see here is wearing Ford's promotional camouflage, which is similar to what they've done with prototypes of the upcoming Everest.
If the official Ford promotional camouflage is anything to go by, this probably means that the next-generation Ranger Raptor's official unveiling is happening sooner rather than later.
The camouflaged prototype does not reveal a lot of details so far, but we could easily decipher the pickup's wider fender flares, dual exhaust pipes, matte black side steps, and all-terrain tires. Since this is a Ranger, after all, its high-performance sibling still utilizes the same C-shaped LED headlights and LED taillights as the standard model.
Unfortunately, there are no available shots of the pickup's front end, but we're definitely sure that it will come with an F-O-R-D grille just like in every other Ford vehicle that's been blessed by the Raptor gods. And then as for the interior, we also expect it to be similar to the standard Ranger, but with the added benefit of sportier seats and steering wheel.
We also must talk about those aforementioned dual exhausts. Whereas the previous model came with a single outlet, the dual exhaust layout pretty much guarantees that it won't come with the previous model's 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine.
Instead, it's safe to say that the Ranger Raptor might come with a gasoline V-6 engine, based on the engine note in this teaser that Ford Australia posted just after the Ranger's global debut. This could either be the Explorer ST's 3.0-liter turbocharged unit that produces 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque or the F-150 Raptor's 3.5-liter turbocharged unit that produces 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque.
It must be noted, however, that a gasoline-powered pickup isn't the most popular option in the Asia Pacific region, so this could also mean an upgraded version of the standard Ranger's 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel engine is a possible engine option in select markets.
Based on Ford Australia's teaser video, the Ranger Raptor will debut in February 2022, which means we won't have to wait that long before Ford's upcoming midsize high-performance pickup is finally unveiled.