Earlier this month, Ford revealed the
Raptor performance version of the Ranger pickup. While Ford
debuted the U.S. version of the Ranger in Detroit in January, it merely hinted that the
Ranger Raptor could make its way to our shores. With the launch of the
Ford Edge ST, though, it appeared that the automaker could be expanding its performance lineup to include SUVs. Now, it appears that Ford is mulling a Raptor version of the Ranger-based
Everest SUV, according to Australian website
Drive.
Ford’s global performance chief engineer Jamal Hameedi said that there was “no reason” not to build an Everest Raptor. “The first F-150 Raptor was way beyond our wildest dreams in terms of success, and that success spawned a Ranger Raptor,” he told
Drive. An SUV does pose a challenge due to packaging, though, he said. “To do an SUV is a little more difficult because you have to figure out how to deal with the rear suspension.”
Drive also talked to Ford Australia product communications manager Damion Smy, who said that “There’s definitely a case for more performance oriented or at least more sports styled SUVs in the future.”
Even if Ford did create a Raptor version of the Everest SUV, we doubt it would ever make its way to the U.S. The possibility of more performance trucks and SUVs bearing the blue oval is promising, though. Frankly we’re pretty jazzed about the idea of a Ford Bronco Raptor. Fingers crossed.
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