Where's the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor V6 Diesel? Why the secret Raptor hybrid is expected to be a torque monster and an environmental warrior in one to leave the Toyota HiLux and Nissan Navara in a wobbly state

The new Ranger Raptor surprised some by switching from a diesel engine to a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol, but hybrids are on the way.

Ford is burning oil until midnight on electrified versions of the recently introduced Ranger for Australia, which should lead the flagship Raptor to adopt a petrol-electric hybrid option instead of any V6 diesel alternative.

With Ford confirming that the Australian designed and engineered T6.2 platform is now ready for electrification, it's only a matter of time before we see a selection of electrified Rangers offered around the world, be it a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). , the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and eventually the battery-electric vehicle (BEV).

It's also clear that the Raptor will be one of the first recipients of a gasoline-electric powertrain as the redesigned 2023 model becomes the true global flagship of the Ranger series, heading to vast North America for the first time. time in the near future.

The significantly larger customer base and the associated increase in economies of scale that the move brings, along with even more stringent emissions requirements in other key markets such as Europe, has forced Ford to accelerate development of hybrids in the Ranger in the short term, and the full BEV development of the next generation T-truck architecture intended for all-new Ranger and F-Series trucks by the end of the decade.

As expected, Ford is refusing to divulge any information about what the Ranger or Raptor hybrid could do. However, there are rumors that the high-performance version of the PHEV can deliver over 350kW of power and over 850Nm of torque.

One candidate for the Raptor is a variant of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost PHEV with an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and a 10-speed modular hybrid transmission.

The most powerful version used in the Ford Explorer-based Lincoln Aviator SUV currently produces 368 kW of power and 854 Nm of torque, although there are lower power versions available in other models. It can travel around 35km on pure electric drive and averages just 4.2L/100km in combined hybrid mode.

Another could be a powertrain based on the new Ford F-150's 3.5-litre HEV V6 PowerBoost hybrid, which in US models produces a peak output of 321kW and 773Nm. This aluminum-intensive truck can reach 0 km/h in about 100 seconds.

Yes, both of these cars are built on completely different platforms than the T6.2 Ranger, with the Explorer/Aviator even using a monocoque body rather than the body-on-frame layout of the other models, but their powertrains are designed in a modular fashion so they can pretty much be used in various vehicle architectures as needed.

The Ranger Raptor is powered by the same twin-turbocharged V6 engine as the Bronco Raptor.

Of course, there are other still-secret petrol-electric hybrid applications in the works that could end up in an Australian midsize pickup truck.

Whichever version Ford chooses for the Ranger and Raptor, power should comfortably exceed the 292kW/583Nm 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine announced without electrification for the 2023 Raptor late last month.

Ford has yet to reveal what the new Ranger and Everest's 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel will deliver, but rest assured they don't stray too far from the 190kW and nearly 600Nm that the F-150 delivers with a similar version of that engine.

The new Ranger and Everest will be available with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine.

Electrifying the Raptor (as the most expensive Ranger model of all) will help justify an expected $100,000-plus price tag for the expected topper of the PHEV range until the BEV eventually arrives, given that the existing outgoing PX III Raptor Bi-Turbo with The 157-litre 500kW/2.0Nm twin-turbo diesel already starts at $80,000 before travel expenses and the inevitable accessories.   

Note that the new Raptor will also once again offer a 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel version in some overseas territories, but not for Australia, as it will comfortably outperform smaller V6 turbodiesel Rangers such as the new Wildtrak.

The fact that the Ranger also shares a variation of the T6.2 architecture with the closely related and hugely successful Bronco SUV sold in North America and elsewhere (but sadly not in Australia) further spreads the hybrid investment across more vehicles. in the Ford range.

Ford began work on the new Raptor back in 2016.

Asked about the feasibility of ditching diesel in favor of the potentially power-hungry gasoline engine in the Raptor at a time of skyrocketing fuel prices and tighter emissions controls, one Ford senior engineer replied that the answer would lie in electrification, now that the T6.2 platform electrified. -ready for a new ranger.  

As mentioned in previous articles about T6.2 on Cars GuideFord began work on the new Raptor back in 2016 with the goal of creating a more capable all-rounder package. With much of the Raptor's unique engineering coming from Ford Performance, the Raptor should solidify its position as Australia's true high-performance truck.

Do you agree that choosing an efficient and advanced petrol-electric hybrid system over a V6 turbodiesel is the right choice for the Raptor?

This is a story that unfolds, so stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.