DRIVEN + VIDEO: The Hennessey Ranger Velociraptor Gets TESTED — Wouldn't You Just Get An F-150 Raptor And Call It A Day?

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.

MDarringer - 8/4/2019 8:29:07 PM

0 Boost

The engine is the problem with the Ranger.

Some want a conventional 4 cylinder and less cost. Some want a V6. More than a few have walked when they realize the 2.3T is it for engine options. $24K for the base Ranger is pricey for how cheapened out it is, but the 2.3T is still there. I cannot help but think that a conventional 2.3 non-turbo would cost less, so you could keep the same base price and make the experience nicer, or drop the base price down lower.

A Ranger Raptor would be great but it needs to be a V6T.