The Ford Ranger is a peculiar pick-up truck, if I am honest. There’s several reasons for this.
Chiefly, it actually isn’t an all-new Ford product. It’s been available for years in emerging markets. We’re only getting it in the States, now.
In addition, it actually is pretty costly unless you get a stripper XL trim level vehicle. I just checked my local dealers, and guess what? They don’t even stock the XL. That means you’re likely walking away with an XLT or Lariat, the latter of which is the most common Ranger on dealer lots. I just priced an XLT and it was pushing $40,000 with the typical options one would equip their vehicle with.
If that wasn’t enough, the U.S. market doesn’t receive the Ranger Raptor. So, what’s a guy/gal to do?
Hennessey stepped up to the plate and even among its problems have offered up a solution. That would be the Ranger Velociraptor. Equipped with 360 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque, its four-cylinder, turbocharged engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
There’s just one problem: This pumped up Ranger costs just about the same as an F-150 Raptor. So, WHY would one buy this?
To get some insights into this Hennessey build, check out Matt Farah’s one take, below.
The 2020 Hennessey Ranger Velociraptor is a post-title package for the new US-Spec Ford Ranger pickup. We don't (as of July 2019) get the Ranger Raptor in the US, and in Europe, where they do, it's powered by a diesel. This one has Hennessey's tuned 2.3L Turbo-Four making 360 HP and 440 lb/ft of torque through a ten-speed gearbox. Thanks to this truck's FX4 package, there's a proper transfer case with low range and locking rear differential. Hennessey upgrades to ICON coil-over suspension, with new wheels, front and rear bumpers, overfenders, and a host of details. The result is a more reasonably sized Raptor than Ford sells in the US, which goes just as quickly (0-60 in 4.9s), and costs roughly the same out the door.