A fresh report out of Australia suggests that the next-generation Ford Ranger bakkie being developed for the United States could be offered with a high-output, petrol V6 engine.
CarAdvice has published new spy shots of the 2019 Ranger being tested Down Under, ahead of the badge’s return to the North American market in 2018.
The publication speculates that the mule is running either Ford’s 2,7-litre turbocharged EcoBoost V6 (which makes 242 kW and 508 N.m) or the 3,5-litre version of the six-cylinder mill (worth 280 kW and 637 N.m).
CarAdvice furthermore suggests that the brand’s new 3,0-litre, V6 turbodiesel is another possibility, adding that the adoption of the new 10-speed automatic transmission also seems likely.
The photographed prototype – which is testing an updated version of the current T6 platform – boasts disc brakes all round, as opposed to the current model, which makes do with drums at the rear. An obvious sign of more power? Perhaps.
Exactly how many features – or, indeed, engine options – from this US-spec, next-generation Ranger (which will be built in Michigan) will their way into the local version of the bakkie remains to be seen. We’re just going to have to wait and see.
We’ll leave South Africa’s bakkie fans with one final thought: Ranger Raptor, anyone?
