2024 Ford Ranger the mid-size truck segment is about to undergo a major overhaul. Nissan has shown us the new Frontier. Chevy will soon launch the new Colorado. And we are all waiting for the next generation Toyota Tacoma.
But another truck we’re excited about is the new Ford Ranger set to hit dealerships next year. Ford whetted our appetites by revealing global models first.
Here’s what we know about the Ranger pickup Americans will get.
Ford launched the global Ranger last November. The US version will look almost identical. A significant change will be a boxier, more sculpted look which will be more on trend for modern trucks. It will also have styling cues that tie it visually to the new F-150 and Maverick pickups.
When Ford brought the current-generation Ranger back to America, they didn’t bring the Raptor version of the Ranger. But that will change. Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed the Ranger Raptor is coming to the US with the next generation. It should be similar to the global model Ford revealed in February.
2024 Ford Ranger Review
The SuperCrew outsold the SuperCab by a tremendous margin, but on the other hand, many potential customers were deterred by the length of the bed. Unwilling to lose another customer to a rival segment, the suit at Dearborn appears to have decided to extend the wheelbase and SuperCrew box for the 2024 model year. A prototype in this configuration was recently spied on by Automotive News testing in Dearborn, Michigan.
Unlike the global Ranger produced in South Africa and Thailand, the North American variant is mated to the Bronco. Manufactured at Wayne at the Michigan Assembly Plant, the body-on-frame utility vehicle showcases the evolution of the T6 vehicle architecture, internally referred to as the T6.2 by Ford Motor Company.
As for evolutionary developments, General Motors will do almost the same thing with the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Both will drop the 31XX vehicle architecture in favor of the 31XX-2.
As part of the switch to the 31XX-2, Detroit’s biggest of the Big Three is expected to drop all three of its current engine options in favor of the four-cylinder turbo. The 2.7-liter mill of the Silverado 1500, to be more precise, is more than adequate thanks to 310 horsepower at 5,600 revs per minute as well as 430 pound-feet (583 Nm) at 3,000 rpm.
Ranger, on the other hand, is believed to be carrying a 2.3-liter EcoBoost with minimal upgrades over the 2023 model. Higher up the spectrum, the Raptor will be offered in the United States with the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 Bronco Raptor.
The Australian-spec Ranger Raptor produces 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet (583 Nm), while the US-spec Bronco Raptor should put out 418 horsepower and 440 pound-feet (597 Nm).
New Update 2024 Ford Ranger Midsize Pickup Truck
The 2024 Ford Ranger will almost certainly be available at U.S. dealerships by the end of next year although its whereabouts are not a mystery at all. As the Ford Authority previously reported, the next-generation midsize pickup is currently in the first phase of its global rollout, with Australia being one of the first countries to receive the truck.
That said, at least one disguised example has been captured with a longer bed in a SuperCrew configuration that boasts North American electrical outlets. Now, our photographer captured a similar truck carrying its goods – but this time the pickup in question is being tested in the United States.
If The Blue Oval decides to offer the 2024 Ford Ranger SuperCrew with a long bed option in the United States, it will be a big problem, as the current model can only be ordered with a six-foot bed in a regular or SuperCab configuration.
After all, not much is known about the North American version, aside from the fact that it is definitely scheduled to arrive sometime in 2023. Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed that timeframe as soon as the Ranger Raptor debuted.
As the Ford Authority previously reported, the Michigan Assembly plant is expected to move on to manufacturing the next-generation model the following spring and is scheduled to receive a cash infusion .for the upgrades required for its production.
Before moving on to producing redesigned trucks, the plant will produce a possibly cut 2023 model year pickup, which will represent the final year for the current generation of models.
The 2024 Ford Ranger will be part of the expected eight years for the next generation of pickups. While powertrain details are unknown, the North American pickup will most likely launch with the same Ford 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost as the current model, with the Ford 3.0L V6 EcoBoost being standard on the Ranger Raptor.
Sync 4 will likely be the standard infotainment setting, as the global variant features the technology, albeit with two different screen sizes, depending on the model. In addition, the next generation of models is expected to have DIY-friendly features.
Ford Ranger Production 2024
The $2 billion Ford Ranger will be spent on three assembly plants in Michigan. First and foremost, the production output of the F-150 Lightning will increase to 150,000 units per year at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn.
The new Ranger pickup truck, based on the Bronco T6.2 platform, will be manufactured at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne. As for the All-new Mustang, codenamed S650, the pony car will be assembled at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant after the discontinuation of the S550 generation.
The S650 is expected to be launched as a 2024 model in April 2023 with built-in engine and transmission options. Ranger is also expected next year with the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo engine and the same 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 for the Raptor off-road truck.
$1.5 billion will be funneled to the Ohio Assembly Plant to assemble an as-yet-unnamed electric commercial vehicle.
Production is expected to begin sometime in the middle of this decade. As for the state of Missouri, the Kansas City Assembly Plant will receive a lot of money to increase production of the combustion-engined Transit and electric E-Transit.
Ford Ranger 2024 Engine
Ford launched the Global Ranger with three engine options. All three are diesel engines and are unlikely to make it to the American market. So not much preview to work from there.
The best bet is that Ford will track with the Bronco for its base engine, returning the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four. The global Ranger Raptor gets a 392 hp twin-turbo V6. We’re willing to bet that the American version received the same engine.
Read next: The New 2024 Ford F250 Review: What We Know So Far
New Ford Ranger 2024 Hybrid and Electric
Ford hasn’t confirmed anything yet. But we hope the answer is yes on both sides – in the end, if not for its official launch. Ford’s plans to go hybrid and electric only in 2026 in Europe show they’re going to rock the Ranger.
What appears to be a Ranger PHEV prototype has been spotted being tested in Europe. Reports have Ford collaborating with VW on an electric Ranger pickup for 2025. Ford specifically filed a trademark application in Europe for the Ranger Lightning as well.
2024 Ford Ranger Release Date
Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed the Ranger and Ranger Raptor will enter the American market in 2023. The question is whether it’s for the 2023 or 2024 model year. Ford Authority has production of the new Ranger starting in May 2023, which suggests it will be a 2024 truck. That might mean a late 2022 or early 2023 reveal.
2024 Ford Ranger Price
Currently, the F-150 Lightning starts at around $9,000 more than its ICE counterpart. As we expect Ranger 2024 to start at around $27,000, Ranger Lightning 2024 can be expected to start at around $35,000 MSRP.
2024 Ford Ranger SuperCrew
Ford Authority revealed spy photos of the new Rangers testing with what looks like a Ranger test with a larger SuperCrew cabin and a six-foot longer bed. On the current model, you’ll need to have the smaller SuperCab configuration to get a longer bed.
2024 Ford Ranger Lightning
With the early success of the Ford F-150 Lightning, it was no big surprise when the automaker first hinted at the arrival of another electric pickup. The new Ranger was the perfect candidate and the truck’s chief engineer later confirmed that the truck’s new platform was ready to be fully electrified.
Further evidence emerged when Ford trademarked the name Ranger Lightning, as discovered by CarBuzz. While the reveal appears to be years away, we expect a lot from Ford’s midsize electric truck. This should bring a new level of performance and refinement to the segment.
When will the 2024 Ford Ranger Lightning come out?
The release date of the Ford Ranger Lightning 2024 remains a mystery at this point. The new-generation Ranger is expected to be out in late 2022 in the US, and given that the electric F-150 Lightning only arrived about a year and a half after the combustion-powered F-150, we can assume that the Lightning Ranger will be shown in late 2023 or early 2024.
However, that’s the best-case scenario, and it’s possible that Ranger Lightning will only arrive in the US after the middle of the decade.
How much does Ranger Lightning 2024 cost?
The price of the Ford Ranger Lightning is not yet known. However, the F-150 and F-150 Lightning give us some clues. Currently, the F-150 Lightning starts at about $9,000 more than its ICE counterpart.
As we expect the Ranger 2023 to start at around $27,000, the Ranger Lightning 2024 can be expected to start at around $35,000 MSRP.
Rivals should, of course, include electric versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, but neither has yet. Toyota could be closer to the Ranger Lightning competitor, as the electric pickup concept has already been revealed.
New Lightning Ford Ranger Exterior and Colors
The exterior design of the Ford Ranger Lightning 2024 has not been revealed. It is likely to be descended from the handsome new Ranger which has a more square look than its predecessor.
The futuristic light bar, unique alloy wheels, unique badge (pictured below on the F-150 Lightning), and a closed grille are elements that are likely to be inherited from the F-150 Lightning. Importantly, Ranger Lightning should have a practical opportunity ahead.
The color of the Ford Ranger Lightning pickup shouldn’t be much different from any other Ford. Antimatter Blue, Iconic Silver, Rapid Red, and Carbonized Gray are some of the popular Ford colors that can be applied to this new electric truck.
Ford Ranger Lightning Dimensions
When the dimensions of the Ford Ranger Lightning are published, we expect to see only minor differences between it and the new Ranger. Ford USA hasn’t released the specs for the new Ranger yet, but Ford Thailand has released them.
Based on this, most Ranger double cabins are 75.2 inches wide, 211.4 inches long, and 74.2 inches high. The upcoming Lightning Ranger should reflect these numbers.
The difference between the Ranger and Ranger Lightning lies mostly in their curb weight due to the heavy battery of the electric model. The F-150 Lightning weighs about 6,500 pounds, about 1,000 lbs heavier than the heaviest F-150.
We expect the smaller Ranger Lightning to weigh around 5,500 lbs depending on the model.
Read next: 2024 Ford F150: Next-Gen Ford F-150 Exclusive Review
Ford Ranger Lightning Engine And Performance
The hood pop and the regular Ford Ranger EcoBoost engine won’t be seen, likely replaced with a handy frunk. As for what will power Ranger Lightning, what we know for sure is that it will be electricity.
Like the new F-150 Lightning, we expect the Ranger Lightning to sport two electric motors, standard and long-range batteries, and four-wheel drive. An underpowered single-motor variant that only drives the rear wheels is also more likely for the Ranger, as the current Ranger comes with RWD as standard.
Being lighter, smaller, and cheaper than the F-150 Lightning, the Ranger Lightning will have less power than the previous 452-horsepower and 582-hp options. However, it should be more powerful than the current Ranger with a 270-hp turbo-four. Expect a fast 0-60 mph time too.
Range, Charge and Battery Life
Again, we can look to the F-150 Lightning for hints on what Ranger Lightning will have to offer here. The former has a 98-kWh or 131-kWh battery. With a larger battery, the F-150 has a range on a full charge of 320 miles. The lighter and smaller Ranger Lightning can do this very well.
The F-150 Lightning can support charging speeds of up to 150 kW or get the truck from a 15-80% charge state in just 40 minutes. Since Ranger Lightning is still a long way off, Ford may have increased the charging speed by then.
We’d also like to take a look at Ford’s excellent Onboard Pro Power generator in Ranger Lightning. It can power small appliances or even charge other EVs.
Ford Ranger Lightning Interior And Cargo
The interior of the new Ford Ranger Lightning will be a big step up from the current Ranger sold in the US. Already, we’ve seen the Ranger 2023 cabin (pictured below) featuring a 12-inch touchscreen on the top trim, Ford’s Fast Sync 4 software, and a fully digital instrument cluster.
Sturdy materials and a variety of discreet storage spaces for valuables and finishes have also made their way into the new Ranger.
The Ford Ranger Lightning seats will likely be finished in the strong fabric in each row for the base model, but leather – or at least, faux leather – should be available in the upper trim.
We expect the Ford Ranger Lightning’s cargo space to outperform all other midsize trucks, and that’s because the electric powertrain will free up space for the frunk.
On the F-150 Lightning, the frunk is a massive 14.1 cubic feet, but even if the Ranger frunk ends up being half that size, it will still be very useful. Together with the bed in the back, the Ranger Lightning would make a very practical truck.
Look out for driver-assist technologies like adaptive cruise control, 360-degree cameras, and even the Blue Cruise Ford.
2024 Ford Ranger Raptor Codename
The first time we heard Redback as the code name for the T6.2 Ranger Raptor. In the binomial nomenclature taxonomy for the red-backed spider is Latrodectus hasselti. Originally from Australia, this small crawler is very dangerous for humans for two reasons.
The F-150 Raptor R is the cognomen used for the most badass half-ton pickup ever produced by the Ford Motor Company.
That’s a fitting name if you remember what’s hidden under the hood of this absurd truck. It is also worth remembering that the 5.2-liter Predator V8 of the Shelby GT500 can be renamed carnivore for this particular application.
The biggest difference between these factories doesn’t really concern the power plant given that the F-150 Raptor R is four-wheel drive almost everyone is looking forward to a torque-converter automatic rather than a dual-clutch transmission in the ‘Most powerful highway handlebar ever.
Introduced for the 2020 model year, the Shelby GT500 flaunts 760 horsepower at 7,300 revs per minute and spins up to 7,500 revs per minute.
Equipped with a cross-field crankshaft instead of a flat-plane crankshaft of the 5.2-liter Voodoo V8 of the Shelby GT350, the forced-fed Predator belt produces 625 pound-feet (847 Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm.
As for the Ranger Raptor, the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 is a twin-turbo affair that has been confirmed in two conditions so far.
Expected in the United States as a 2024 model year, the mid-size pickup truck develops 392 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet (583 Nm) of torque at 3,500 revs per minute. Emissions regulations strangle this engine to 284 horsepower and 362 pound-feet (491 Nm) of torque in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
