Hennessey is upgrading the Ford Ranger Raptor

Can the best be the best? If by “better” you mean more power, then Hennessey Performance Engineering’s answer is definitely yes! This is how the Hennessey VelociRaptor 500 was born, which is based on the latest generation Ford Ranger Raptor and as its name suggests, it should offer… more at least in terms of horsepower. In the European market, the Ranger Raptor is available with a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine of 210 hp and 500 Nm of torque that was exclusive to the previous generation, or with a 3-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that has a capacity of 292 hp and 491 Nm of torque. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Ranger Raptor’s only engine is the EcoBoost V6 but for the US version, it produces 405 hp and 583 Nm of torque. All this, until Hennessey catches him.

Thanks to new air intakes, a new and larger intake, and new engine management software, the supercharged V6 has been upgraded to produce 500 horsepower and 745 Nm of torque, which represents a significant gain compared to the stock Ranger Raptor! The more powerful petrol engine is now still mated to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission with permanent four-wheel drive and a two-speed electronic transfer case with front and rear differential locks. Hennessey replaces the Ford bumpers with new ones, adds guards, additional LED lights and 18-inch alloy wheels that are “dressed” with 35-inch tires instead of 17-inch wheels and 33-inch tires that Ranger. The Raptor comes and goes from the factory.

Inside, the intervention is minimal and is limited to more durable floor mats, tailoring house logo stitching on the headrests and a numbered plaque. There is no intervention in the electronic systems of the car or the suspension and why would it be done, since the Ford Ranger Raptor is nevertheless a very capable car that can cope with more serious problems. For the record, Hennessey package cost in the US from $24,950 which includes a 3-year or 58,000km warranty.