The 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor is a mid-sized off-road performance truck, and while I probably shouldn’t get too excited about it until I at least drive the non-Raptor U.S. version, what can I say, I’m a sucker for cutaways and this video is a neat quick deconstruction of the truck.

This clip sounds like it’s narrated by a computer with an Australian accent, which is entirely possible, and doesn’t go into a ton of detail about the Ranger Raptor’s specifications but it does give you glimpse of the truck’s inner-workings in a way I can appreciate.

Out of the box, the Ranger Raptor’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel four makes a Ford-claimed 211 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Which sounds... fine? Though according to most test drivers who have reviewed the Ranger Raptor so far, the truck’s a lot of fun in the dirt but a little light on power when you want to make a pass on the highway.

That sounds like pretty typical small-displacement diesel behavior. Perhaps the aftermarket will step up to make this truck’s engine a little more voracious.

In the meantime, just enjoy climbing inside of it through the miracle of animation.

Remember last week when Ford accidentally made its configurator live for their eagerly-awaited non-colossal truck, the 2019 Ranger? Then Ford said that the prices ($24,300 for the base, $24,000 if you don’t want a truck bed) were all wrong. Well, it’s back up, and those prices are still there.

UPDATE: It seems Ford has made the pricing official, and, with shipping, the ranger starts at $25,395. The headline has been updated as well to reflect shipping costs.

Last week, Ford told us that:

...and, true to their word, the regular cab option is gone, with just SuperCab and SuperCrew options available. There’s still an option to get one without the box for $300 less, which seems like a steal for a whole brand-new truck bed. Really, if you want just a truck box (for a novelty bed to sleep in, for example) and you have a pal who wants a truck with no box, just pay your friend the $300 and unbolt that thing, because I bet even just the taillights are worth $300 as a service part.

I love seeing a base-level mid-size truck with steelies on a configurator. I really hope that’s accurate, and not just for fleet sales. A stripped-down, small(er) truck is what America needs right now, I think.

The SuperCrew four-door versions start at (well, if this is accurate) $26,520, and the XLT higher-spec version comes in at $30,115. There appears to be only one engine/transmission combination available, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost, with the electronic 10-speed auto, though you can specify two or four-wheel drive.

There’s also the Lariat highest-spec model, which is likely what people who aren’t planning on hauling lawnmowers and manure and perhaps one or two cranky goats will likely pick. That model has a pretty decent color selection as well:

Sure, it’s mostly the usual greyscale non-colors of modern cars, but there’s a red, orange, and blue as well!

The base truck, on its noble steel wheels, just gets the orange and blue, which is better than nothing.

So, may as well go here and play around, before Ford decides to take it away again. It should be officially live very soon, so soon we won’t have to be sneaking around.

I’m still just happy to see a truck that’s not the size of a pair of mating bison. Perhaps someday we’ll even see new, actually compact truck again!

How much can the new 2019 Ford Ranger haul and tow? We obtained a copy of the U.S.-spec Ford Ranger product guide, and it clearly lists GVWR, payload, and towing capacities for the midsize truck.

The Ford Ranger returns to the American market with one engine/transmission option (for now). It’s a 2.3L EcoBoost turbocharged engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission.

2019 Ford Ranger

Maximum Payload Capacity: 1,840 lbs (for 2WD extended cab)

Maximum Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 6,050 lbs

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): 12,500 lbs

The guide lists payload capacities for 2WD & 4×4 models and different cab configurations. The 4×4 trucks will start with a payload capacity of 1,500 lbs.

How do these specs compare to competition?

The segment leading Toyota Tacoma has a maximum payload of 1,620 lbs and maximum towing of 6,800 lbs.

Chevy Colorado has a max. payload of 1,566 lbs and max. towing of 7,000 lbs for the gas-powered truck and 7,700 lbs for the turbo-diesel Colorado.

Nissan Frontier is rated at a maximum of 1,460 lbs of payload, and maximum towing of 6,710 lbs.

According to this guide, the gas-powered Ford Ranger is leading the segment in payload/towing ratings for (gas-powered) midsize pickup trucks.

The 2019 Ford Ranger is coming this year, but the list of accessories you're able to buy from Ford just leaked online via the Ranger5G forums. There are countless accessories offered, but we'll highlight a few more significant ones for you.

With the available wide fenders, bull bar and body graphics, it seems you can deck the truck out to look pretty aggressive. There's also a set of 18-inch wheels available that probably ups things further. Unfortunately, there weren't a bunch of pictures to go along with the leak, so we're not sure how close all this extra body stuff gets you to making the truck look like the Ranger Raptor (pictured below).

Ford will be offering what looks to be a ridiculous amount of roof-carrying cases to suit a variety of purposes. From bedliners to towing packages, Ford appears to have a pretty comprehensive list here, so check out the forums to see if what you want is on it.

We recently learned some of the 2019 Ranger specs as well. It'll produce 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, while towing as much as 7,500 pounds. Pricing begins at $25,395 and tops out at $39,480 for the highest trim level.

The midsize pickup truck segment will really heat up with the Ranger's arrival, and we can't wait to get our hands on it to see where it stacks up against stiff competition like the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma.

The new 2019 Ford Ranger is coming to the United States within the next month or two. We are getting very close to thoroughly testing the new U.S.-spec Ford Ranger, and we know people are excited about the new Ford midsize truck in America because of all the questions we get. One of the popular questions is: how does the upcoming U.S. Ford Ranger compare to the Ranger trucks available in Europe and elsewhere around the world?

Here is a detailed look at the specifications and features between the U.S.-spec and U.K.-spec Ford Rangers.

The European Ford Ranger is currently available with three engine options, and five possible powertrain combinations when you consider the manual and automatic transmission options.

• 2.2L I4 diesel 128 hp / 243 lb-ft torque : 6-speed manual
• 2.2L I4 diesel 158 hp / 283 lb-ft torque : 6-sp man/auto
• 3.2L I5 diesel 197 hp / 346 lb-ft torque : 6-sp man/auto

The European truck offers three cab & bed length configurations: single cab, super/extended cab, and a double/crew cab.

The new U.S. Ford Ranger starts out with one engine & transmission combination.

• 2.3L I4 turbo gas 270 hp / 310 lb-ft torque : 10-sp auto transmission.

The U.S. truck offers two cab & bed length configurations: super/extended cab, and a crew cab. Both versions ride on the same wheelbase and chassis. In fact, the US and Euro Rangers all have the same wheelbase (see table below).

Style / Function

It’s interesting to see that the U.S. Ford Ranger has a restyled front-end and a clear separation between the grille and the lower steel bumper. The European version has a styled plastic bumper cover in the front. What do you think about the different style choices? Let us know in the comments below.

The Euro. Ford Ranger base regular cab has handy tie-downs on the outside of the bed. This is a unique feature that is not available on any American trucks.

Ford also states that the 2019 U.S. spec Ranger has a unique fully-boxed frame with six cross-members and steel bumpers and 4×4 skid plates that mount to the frame.

Interior

The interior of the two trucks is very similar, with just minor differentiation: button, switch, and control placement.

Technology

The Euro-spec Ranger offers the following tech with various optional packages: SYNC2, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Load Control (ESC), Emergency Brake Assistance and more.

The US-spec goes a bit further with optional: SYNC3 with 8-inch display, Co-Pilot system that includes an array of driver-assistance technologies, automatic emergency braking, and Trail Control (slow speed cruise control for off-roading).

Trims

The Euro-spec Ranger has a wide array of interesting trim levels: XL, XLT, Limited, Black Edition, Wildtrak, Wildtrak X, and the upcoming Ranger Raptor.

United States get three main trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat; with several noteworthy packages: SXT, Chrome, Sport, and FX4. This is the way the Ranger launches. Will the new midsize truck offer more choices in the future? It’s likely, but we don’t know yet what they all are.

Conclusion

The U.S. and Euro specs Ford Rangers are actually very different, yet similar. They have very similar dimensions and slightly different look, but the powertrains and weight ratings are very distinct. It has a lot to do with different government regulations and customer needs. Ford does not sell the F-150 pickup truck in the U.K, so the Ranger needs to fill the gap with higher payload ratings and a single cab offering.

Please stay tuned, much more on the U.S. 2019 Ford Ranger is coming soon.

The return of the Ford Ranger is upon us, and in bringing the new truck back, Ford decided that it was only going to award it one engine at launch: a 2.3-liter EcoBoost. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and according to a statement released Tuesday morning, some pretty good fuel economy numbers, too.

The 2019 Ranger in rear-wheel-drive delivers 21 miles per gallon in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. According to Ford, that makes it the most fuel-efficient gas-powered midsize pickup truck on sale.

Most people will likely opt for a four-wheel drive truck, and that's okay, because the numbers there are also pretty solid. The four-wheel-drive Ranger delivers 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and a combined rating of 22 mpg.

“Midsize truck customers have been asking for a pickup that’s Built Ford Tough,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “And Ranger will deliver with durability, capability and fuel efficiency, while also providing in-city maneuverability and the freedom desired by many midsize pickup truck buyers to go off the grid.”

To achieve these numbers, the 2019 Ranger has Ford's 10-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, start-stop kills the engine at traffic lights to help save fuel.

The choice of running only the 2.3-liter EcoBoost wasn't just a fuel economy play. The truck is still capable of towing, when properly equipped, 7,500 pounds. That's best in class, at least until the all-new Jeep Gladiator goes on sale. Oh, and the Ranger will also carry 1,860 pounds of payload.

The new Ranger starts at $25,395 (with the $1,095 destination charge) and is in production now at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant. Expect to see it on dealer lots at the beginning of the year.

The 2019 Ranger marks Ford’s return to the midsize pickup truck segment in the United States, but the range’s most desirable model probably won’t be coming Stateside.

Yes, we’re talking about the Ranger Raptor, a diesel-powered version that’s already on sale in markets such as Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe. Officially, Ford says it would be too costly to make the Ranger Raptor comply with U.S. regulations, as the performance variant is based on the international version of the Ranger.

However, patent images surfaced earlier this year in the United States, pointing at an eventual launch in Ford’s home market. Unofficially, rumor has it Ford is afraid the Ranger Raptor would steal sales from the larger, more profitable F-150 Raptor. So, is the Ranger Raptor really that good?

As it turns out, it is. Autoblog went to Australia to drive the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor and find out whether U.S. customers should feel sorry about it not coming to America. Well, they should because the performance truck is mighty impressive off-road.

Chances are you’ll reach secluded places more easily in the Ranger Raptor than in the F-150 Raptor, given the former model’s smaller footprint. Factor in the Fox shock absorbers, rear coil-over setup with Watts linkage, Terrain Management System, as well as the impressive ground clearance and off-roading angles, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Ranger Raptor would get stuck.

Not everything about it is perfect, obviously. The reviewer points out that the 2.0-liter four-cylinder bi-turbo diesel engine lacks a bit in the power department. True, 210 hp (213 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque don’t sound that bad, but the 2019 Ranger Raptor is a heavy vehicle and needs to be floored at highway speeds when the need of overtaking arises.

How much power does the new 2019 Ford Ranger put down to the ground in stock form on 93-octane gasoline? This is precisely what the guys at 5-Star Tuning had to find out before they create a tuned version.

Ford rates and certifies the new Ranger and its 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder at 270 hp & 310 lb-ft of torque at the crank. This is specifically rated with 87-octane fuel.

Here is what Ford says: “The 2.3L Ranger engine is certified to achieve 270 horsepower and best-in-class 310 lb.-ft. of torque using 87-octane fuel. This octane is consistent with the rest of the Ford Truck lineup, with the exception of the performance high-output EcoBoost 3.5L in Raptor and F-150 Limited which achieves horsepower and torque ratings using 93-octane fuel. We list the maximum power ratings using the certified 87-octane, because that’s what our customers can expect to achieve when using the recommended fuel in accordance with their owner’s manual.”

The best run showed 263.7 hp @5,150 rpm and 290.8 lb-ft of torque @3,250 rpm to the the wheels.

What do you think it translates to in power at the crank? It could be getting close to 300 horsepower.

The 2019 Ford Ranger is undoubtedly one of the new model year's most hotly anticipated new models. Unfortunately, just as the first wave of these new midsize pickups are arriving at dealers, the model is already finding itself under recall for a potential shifter interlock problem.

According to an official Ford press release, the wiring from the PRNDL shifter bezel (which displays what gear the transmission is in), could prevent the shifter interlock override from operating properly. As a result, it may be able to shift the automatic transmission "out of park with the vehicle off and without a foot on the brake pedal." While Ford doesn't spell it out, that means the vehicle could be inadvertently left in neutral, creating a rollaway risk.

The recall campaign covers around 3,500 Ranger pickups in North America, including around 3,000 units in the US and a further 500 in Canada.

Beyond the fact that Ford says it's unaware of any accidents or injuries as a result of this potential issue, the good news is that most of these new 2019 Rangers are likely still in transit or sitting on dealer lots. The company recently moved to a quarterly earnings report cycle, so it's hard to know exactly how many Rangers have been sold so far. However, company officials recently disclosed that they were expecting to sell 1,200 trucks in January.

The word came amidst news that Ford is already swamped with early demand for its new truck, and is responding by ratcheting up overtime shifts at its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.

According to Ford, dealer techs will inspect the shifter interlock and see if it's capable of moving the lever out of park with the engine turned off and a foot on the brake. If that condition is observed, service techs will determine if there's any wiring interference. If so, they'll relocate the wires and retest, all at no cost to the customer.

Having a recall this early into a production run isn't unprecedented, but it is a black eye for an important new model for the Blue Oval. Fortunately, it sounds like it was caught early.

Texas-based tuning company Hennessey Performance Engineering debuted its own take on the Ford Ranger Raptor this past week.

Dubbed the Hennessey Ford Ranger VelociRaptor, the pickup promises to be more powerful and more capable than the standard version of the mid-size pickup, helping it take the fight the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.

What does HPE do to transform the regular Ranger into a VelociRaptor? For starters, the company installs a high-flow air induction system for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and a less restrictive stainless steel cat-back exhaust system. It also retunes the ECU and increases the 2.3-liter turbo’s boost, bringing output to around 350 horsepower and a meaty 385 lb-ft of torque.

This is an off-road truck, so the engine takes a back sat to the suspension. HPE hasn’t released too many details on what it has in store for the VelociRaptor’s suspension, with the company only saying the “stage 1 kit” will include a four-inch lift. There’s also an off-road oriented front bumper with a skid plate, 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in BF-Goodrich off-road tires, aftermarket LED lights, an optional winch upgrade and an optional roof-mounted LED light bar.

With more much more power, the Hennessey Ford Ranger VelociRaptor would be quite a bit faster than a Colorado ZR2 or Colorado ZR2 Bison. But the Chevy, with its sophisticated DSSV shocks and OEM tuned suspension, would probably prove to be the more capable and refined offering. Ranger buyers looking for added capability are also pretty much forced into an aftermarket offering like the Ranger VelociRaptor, with Ford electing not to sell the new Ranger Raptor in the United States.

Only 500 units of the Ranger VelociRaptor will be built, with prices starting at an eye watering $64,950 – including the donor truck. If you already have a Ford Ranger, the package will cost $19,950 plus vehicle shipping. A 3 year/36,000 mile warranty is included as well.

Last December, Ford announced its all-new 2019 Ranger was "the most fuel-efficient gas-powered midsize pickup in America.” The EPA rated the reborn Ranger at 21/26/23 mpg city/highway/combined. Prefer the 4x4 variant? You’re looking at 20/24/22 mpg. Not bad at all. Unfortunately, those figures could be inaccurate.

Automotive News reports that a new lawsuit seeking class-action status has just been filed that accuses Ford of customer deception regarding the new Ranger’s fuel economy ratings, as well as a few other vehicles. This information came to light following the already announced criminal investigation into Ford’s emissions certification process. The very same firm that led class-action suits against Toyota for unintended acceleration and Volkswagen for on diesel emissions, Hagens Berman, just filed a complaint alleging Ford "deliberately miscalculated and misrepresented factors used in vehicle certification testing.”

More alarmingly, that process allegedly "includes a mileage cheat device.” In response to the allegations, a Ford spokesperson said the company hasn’t "been served with this complaint yet. When we are, we’ll review it and respond appropriately.”

If you recall, last month we reported the US Justice Department opened an investigation into Ford for allegedly not adhering to emissions standards. Ford said at the time it will fully cooperate with the government and that it had also hired an outside law firm as part of its own investigation. Ford adamantly denied using defeat devices. This still does not satisfy some 2019 Ranger owners who accuse the automaker of lying.

"Ford deceptively advertised its Rangers to consumers as 'best-in-class' in fuel economy,” Steve Berman, the firm's managing partner, said in a statement. "Ford knew that consumers pay a premium for fuel efficiency and that less fuel burned means less emissions, and therefore more profits.”

In response, the automaker said "there's been no determination that this affects Ford's fuel economy labels or emissions certifications.” This isn’t the first time Ford has been accused of incorrect fuel economy claims. For example, C-Max hybrid owners were compensated for extra fuel costs after Ford decided to lower the vehicle’s fuel economy after real-world mileage proved to be considerably less than advertised.