Ford Off Road Cars

Roush Performance is pulling out all the stops with its new tuning package for the Ford F-150. The program comes with upgrades and modifications to the F-150’s exterior, interior, engine, and suspension. It’s as extensive a kit as you can find for the Blue Oval’s popular hauler. It doesn’t come cheap, though. The price of turning the Ford F-150 into the Roush F-150 SC adds up to $22,999, and that doesn’t include the price of the base F-150 unit.

Off-roading can be a lot of fun - from exploring the great outdoors, to finding the right line through a challenging bit of terrain, to extracting every ounce of capability from your vehicle, it’s just the right activity to get away from it all. Now, Ford hopes to make it more accessible with its new Trail Control system for the 2019 F-150 Raptor, which the company likens to “cruise control for off-road driving.” Color us skeptical.

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One thing is for certain. The new Ford Ranger Raptor is cool, capable, and off-road ready right from the production line, and it’s definitely an interesting proposition even for big-truck-loving Americans.

Sizewise, it is a truck similar to the Colorado ZR. “Characterwise,” it is a dune-fighting fun machine designed for the most intense off-roading tasks. While we in the U.S. are still waiting for Ford to confirm that the Ranger Raptor will come, the rest of the world is basking in the greatness of the potent truck. The thing is that the Ranger Raptor for the rest of the world is actually powered by a small diesel engine - not something that’s very popular here, is it?

While I am among those who believe the Ranger Raptor in the U.S. will get a 2.3-liter EcoBoost, I have to tell you a number of reasons why you should not be disappointed even if we end up with the diesel Ranger Raptor.

In March 2018, Ford unveiled its plans for the next two years, which includes many new models and a shift toward crossovers in the U.S. The bigger news includes dropping most cars in favor of SUVs, a hybrid version of the F-150 truck, and a revival of the iconic Bronco. The latter will be joined by a smaller sibling with similar boxy cues. A baby Bronco!

Described as a vehicle "designed to win a growing number of people who love getting away and spending time outdoors with their families and friends," the compact SUV was partially revealed in a teaser photo. And based on what we can see, it’s aimed directly at Jeep. Specifically, while the new-generation Bronco will go against the all-popular Wrangler, the smaller crossover will take on the Renegade. There’s no official name for it yet, and details remain a mystery, but it could roll out for the 2021 model year.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming "baby Bronco."

I read a lot of Bronco stuff in my research for this article and let me tell you right away that we are in for the ride of our lives. Ford has some balls and, if we are lucky, it will probably give us just what we wanted - a retro looking 2020 Ford Bronco with live axles, three doors, a cool “no-roof” mechanism, a modern engine, and a freaking spare tire slapped at the back. A gazillion rumors have surfaced over the past few years about the new Bronco, but the last teaser picture revealed a lot.

The Bronco always was a cool vehicle. All the way from 1966, but it wasn’t until that OJ Simpson situation that it reached the status of an automotive icon like no other. Interestingly enough, we’ve had to wait a quarter of a century for Ford to reveal an all-new Bronco, a vehicle that will be a staple of American off-roading culture and the first one in a long time to attack the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

This is what we know about the 2020 Ford Bronco.

Despite a strong move towards more crossovers and trucks, Ford isn’t ditching all the good stuff its got going with its line of sedans. The latest is that the Blue Oval’s upcoming “baby Bronco” will take its underpinnings from the Focus four-door.

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The Ford Ranger Raptor has the makings of becoming one of the most popular Ford pickups in the industry. It’s essentially a smaller and presumably more affordable version of the F-150 Raptor. But as fascinating as the Ranger Raptor is, there is one point of contention surrounding the Ranger Raptor, specifically the absence of a gas-powered V-6 unit. Well, don’t get your hopes up because Ford doesn’t appear to have any plans of offering the Ranger Raptor with a gasoline or diesel-drinking V-6.

Ford has announced that pricing for the Ford Ranger Raptor in Australia will start out at AU$74,990 or about $57,457 at current exchange rates. It has also be said that Thailand prices will come in at 1.699 million bhat or about $54,400 at current exchange rates. As of now, the Ranger Raptor isn’t expected to come to the U.S. market – we’ve got the larger, F-150 for that – but it hasn’t been conclusively ruled out either. The Ranger Raptor is available with Ford’s new ten-speed automatic transmission and a brand-new 2.0-liter diesel that’s good for 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. If you want to know more, you can slide on over to our full review of the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor.

Ford raised the bar yet again when it moved the Raptor name over to the new F-150 design. Along with the new design came that lightweight aluminum bodywork, and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. That engine, as fate would have it, raised a lot of concern over power output. That concern was short-lived, however, once Ford announced that it delivers some 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque when drinking on some 93 octane. That’s a hell of a lot more than the outgoing 6.2-liter V-8 at 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet. Ford even went so far as to strengthen the Raptor’s frame – it cut back on the weight reduction, naturally, but it’s still 500 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. Throw in thinks like Fox Racing shocks, BFGoodrich All-Terrain K02 Tires, and a whole host of other off-road goodies and you’ve got yourself an off-road demon. Even if you don’t have one in your driveway, you can have it on your desktop, so check out our awesome selection of wallpapers.

The 2019 Ranger Raptor is making headlines as it finally debuted in Bangkok, Thailand. As expected, the truck takes the same approach to high-speed off-roading as its big brother, the Ford F-150 Raptor. There are a few major differences, however, not the least of which is the Ranger Raptor’s suspension.

The mid-size truck does use Fox Racing Shocks at all four corners, an independent front suspension, and a solid rear axle. However, the similarities stop there. All four of the Ranger Raptor’s Fox shocks measure 46.6mm in diameter for improved off-road refinement on high-speed bumps compared to the standard Ranger. Fox uses Position Sensitive Damping technology to give the shocks variable rates. With mild bumps, the shocks provide a soft ride thanks to lower damping forces. Driven hard over rough terrain, the Fox shocks provide higher damping deeper into the shocks’ travel. This keeps the truck from hitting its bump stops while still providing a tailored ride in a variety of situations.

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Ford’s new 2019 Ranger Raptor is making big waves as its debut in Thailand reaches America’s shores. Anticipation for the truck garnered nearly limitless speculation from industry analysts and journalists. Everyone basically knew the Ranger Raptor would be wider, taller, have a dolled-up interior, and ride on Fox Racing Shocks. Those were easy guesses. But one thing nobody saw coming was Ford’s new twin-turbo, 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel under the hood.

The new engine was designed to offer more power and better fuel economy, but with less weight than traditional turbodiesels. Ford’s engine testing included running the engine wide open nonstop for 200 hours with both turbos glowing red hot. The engine was then subjected to countless miles of off-road driving and other extreme regimens. The result, hopefully, is an engine that will last the life of the truck without major mechanical issues.

Speaking of the turbos, Ford is using the age-old trick of compounding the turbos. Rather than having two identical turbos, they are different sizes. The smaller, high-pressure turbo works to combat turbo lag since its smaller size allows it to spool more quickly. This turbo then feeds the larger one, which runs at a lower pressure but with much more air volume. Combined – or compounded – the two turbos work to quickly spool at lower engine revs but deliver big boost pressures at higher engine speeds.

Ford’s result is this: 210 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

The longitudinally mounted engine mates exclusively with Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission, which it co-developed with General Motors. Both the engine and transmission are specifically tuned for the Ranger Raptor, including for severe off-road duty.

Despite the Ranger Raptor’s soft, off-road-oriented suspension, it’s rated to tow 5,511 pounds on its standard two-inch receiver hitch. That’s 511 pounds more than the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Duramax is rated to pull. As for power, the Ranger Raptor boasts 29 horsepower more and the same torque figure. Add to that the Ranger Raptor’s four additional gears in its transmission.

Stay tuned to TopSpeed.com as we continue our coverage of the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor.

Ford has finally pulled the covers off its much-anticipated 2019 Ranger Raptor. This is the hard-core off-road version the world has waited for. It boasts many similar attributes to its big brother, the Ford F-150 Raptor, but benefits from a smaller size, a Watt’s link and coil spring rear suspension, and a twin-turbodiesel powerplant. The debut event took place in Bangkok, Thailand, where pickups are extremely popular. And while Ford hasn’t admitted it yet, the Ranger Raptor will arrive in the U.S. Keep reading to learn all about it.

How do you make a Ford F-150 Raptor any more awesome? Hennessey Performance has a great answer – stick an extra axle under an elongated cargo bed then add 150 horsepower. Hennessey is no stranger to making outlandish vehicles with insane levels of power. The Texas-based tuner has done several Raptor upgrades before, and naturally, their bread-n-butter is adding more horsepower to stock vehicles. But this marks the first time a 6x6 configuration has been involved.

Mercedes started the 6x6 trend in 2013 with the G63 6x6. Since then, a handful of aftermarket companies have followed those tracks. The idea behind the 6x6 setup is added traction, better payload and towing capacities, and shear badassery. One look at the G63 6x6 or the Hennessey VelociRaptor 6x6 confirms that. Hennessey can’t confirm how well the VelociRaptor 6x6 handles in the dirt, however. The first example already has customer money on the hood. It’s also the same truck Hennessey took to the 2017 SEMA show. With SEMA over, Hennessey had only a few days to ship the truck to its owner in Florida.

Want to know more? Keep reading for details on the VelociRaptor 6x6.

We love it when a builder goes just a little bit of crazy, creating something over-the-top, but only just. This extensively modified F-350 from Hellwig is exactly that. Dubbed “The Operator,” Hellwig started with a stock 2017 Ford Super Duty F-350 Lariat Crew Cab, then added upgrades until it had created the “ultimate recon adventure vehicle.” The most obvious thing to pick out is the large UTV this truck is hauling in its bed – or rather, above its bed might be more accurate. But there’s more to it than just that. “From recon runs in the desert to family camping trips in the dunes, the Operator is capable and comfortable,” says Hellwig, and we believe it. In addition to the usual off-roader gear outside, there’s nice stuff inside the cabin as well, plus a few choice upgrades under the hood to round it out.

All told, while the UTV certainly has our attention, it’s the little details in this build that really impress us. Hellwig didn’t neglect a thing in building its idea of “ultimate,” and in the end, we can’t help but stand back and admire the handy work.

Continue reading to learn more about the Ford F-350 By Hellwig.

The Ford F-150 Raptor is the undisputed king of off-roading pickups – at least in the full-size segment. And now with the Raptor having entered its second generation for 2017, Ford upped the ante with whiz-bang tech that makes this Baja blaster even more capable in nearly every driving condition. Much of that tech centers on the Raptor’s 4WD system. But rather than some dogleg shifter protruding from the floor, the Raptor’s transfer case is multi-talented. It can be both 4WD and AWD, not to mention having modes for RWD and neutral. Hang on to your thinking caps, kids.

In order to make the Raptor a true all-terrain monster – meaning good on-road performance and good off-road performance no matter the type of terrain – Ford developed a special transfer case that intelligently distributes power to where it’s needed. There are four main modes, all of which are electronically controlled via both the dash-mounted knob and the Raptor’s drive modes. While the Raptor is the only vehicle that currently employs this exact system, other vehicles have had similar drivetrain setups with automatic 4WD. General Motors debuted its Autotrac system in the late 1990s. It could operate in RWD, 4WD, or a 4WD Auto mode. Likewise, the Toyota 4Runner offers a full-time 4WD system with a similar operation, minus a RWD mode. Technically speaking, this means the 4Runners has a full-time 4WD system rather than a part-time 4WD system. Land Rovers are perhaps the best-known SUV for having a full-time 4WD system. All come standard with a computer-controlled full-time system that diverts power to whatever wheels have traction. Many models go a step further by adding a 4WD Low range, which uses different gears within the transfer case to multiply torque that’s sent to the wheels. 4WD Low is best for low-speed crawling or pulling a heavy load at low speeds over a short distance, like recovering a stuck vehicle or pulling a tree off a trail.

But how’s the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor’s 4WD system work? Glad you asked; Keep reading for more – and that informative video from Engineering Explained.

Truck fans will instantly recognize the Lightning name – it belongs to Ford and its two generations of performance-minded F-150s from back in the 1990s and early 2000s. These were short-bed, single-cab trucks with lowered suspensions and big V-8s under their hoods. Sadly, Ford dropped the F-150 Lightning in 2004 and has since kept its SVT team busy with the F-150 Raptor. That’s left the street performance pickup niche rather cold, with only the 2014 F-150 Tremor showing any signs of hope.

But like in the late 1960s, a dealership has launched its own performance upgrade for the current Ford F-150.

Pioneer Ford in Bremen, Georgia put together an “F-150 Lightning Tribute” that turns a single-cab, short-bed F-150 into a 650-horsepower monster with a side exhaust, 22-inch wheels with street rubber, and a Roush supercharger bolted to that 5.0-liter Coyote V-8. Yep, it’s got the right number of cylinders and none of that EcoBoost stuff under the hood. It doesn’t get any more American than this!

Keep reading for more on the Pioneer Ford F-150 Lightning Tribute.

Ford is headed to the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and is bringing an impressive lineup with it, one of which is a special edition of Europe’s best-selling pickup truck, the Ford Ranger. It may not look the part at first glance, but the Ford Ranger Black Edition is just that, thanks in part to a limited production of just 2,500 examples across the continent. Of course, it comes dressed in black, hence the name “Black Edition.”

It’s fitting that Ford is bringing a special edition Ranger with it to Frankfurt. The pickup, after all, is regarded as Europe’s best-selling pickup, a title it has earned after posting record sales this year, including 23,100 units sold in July 2017 alone. What better way to celebrate the Ranger’s status than by dressing it up, slapping on new exterior detailing, dialing up on the standard features, and then showcasing it at one of the world’s biggest auto shows. It’s a good move that adds an extra layer of intrigue into the Ranger Black Edition, even though there’s not much about the pickup that counts as an “exclusive” other than the selling point of it coming in “all black” garb. Still, it should make for an interesting vehicle in Frankfurt. And considering the Ranger’s popularity in Europe, Ford shouldn’t have any problems selling the 2,500-unit inventory of the special edition.

Continue reading more about the Ford Ranger Black Edition.

The Ford F-150 Raptor was supposed to be a specialty truck designed to last a few model years before being retired. That was in 2010. To Ford’s surprise, the desert-running truck struck a nerve and people lined up to buy them. The Raptor jumped generations with the 2015 F-150’s switch to aluminum body panels, returning to showrooms for the 2016 model year. Well, Ford decided to capitalize on the Raptor’s success and capability by extending the same hard-core off-road tech to the mid-size Ford Ranger pickup.

Debuting for the 2019 model year, the Ranger Raptor is wider, taller, and rides on Fox Racing Shocks and all-terrain tires similar to its big brother’s. Ford also decided the Ranger Raptor needed its own powerplant, electing to design and build a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel that makes a respectable 369 pound-feet of torque.

Ford’s initial debut of the 2019 Ranger Raptor happened for the Asia Pacific market that includes countries like China, Thailand, India, the Philippines, and Australia. The U.S.-spec model is expected to debut in the coming months, if not weeks.

Update 02/08/2018: Ford has debuted the 2019 Ranger Raptor for the Asian Pacific market. We’ve got all the details in the review below.

Ford has built a one-off, 2017 F-150 Raptor with an aeronautical theme for a charity auction for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual Gathering of Eagles fundraiser. The truck is dubbed the “F-22 Raptor” in an obvious hat-tip to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth tactical fighter jet. The F-150 sports several modifications, including a grille with the F22’s silhouette, off-road lights, a custom graphics package, a larger wheel and tire setup, and modifications to the EcoBoost engine giving it 545 horsepower.

Ford design manager, Melvin Betancourt, headed the build with backing from the Ford Performance Team, meaning this isn’t some aftermarket hack job. “This F-150 Raptor is a new look at Ford’s tradition of building unique vehicles in support of EAA’s youth aviation programs,” Betancourt says. “We know this truck will create an unmatched buzz around this year’s Gathering of Eagles auction.” Last year, Ford built a Shelby GT350 Mustang called Ole Yeller to pay homage to the P-51D Mustang fighter from WWII. That car raised $295,000. This year’s F-150 F-22 Raptor goes under the gavel on Thursday, July 27 at the EAA’s AirVenture aircraft show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. All proceeds will help inspire and educate youth about flying.

Continue reading for info on the F-150 F-22 Raptor.