The Ford Ranger has already proven itself to be a very capable mid-size pickup since the current generation returned to U.S. shores several years ago. But that doesn’t mean that all has gone swimmingly for Ford, with some buyers wishing that their Ranger could have more horsepower to allow it to have a bit more zing in its step when going about the rigors of the daily commute. Ford has answered the call, and has unleashed an all new performance package that is compatible with 2019 and 2020 model year Rangers.
Of course, it’s important to note that this is not a traditional performance package from the factory, but rather, it serves as an add on part that buyers can purchase from Ford’s Ford Performance division. The $825 dollar Power Pack gives the Ranger an infusion of much needed muscle, with the pack helping the 2.3 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine produce 315 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. This is a gain of 45 horsepower at 4500 rpm, and 60 lb-ft of torque at 2500 rpm respectively, and that should help the Ranger be more confident when out on the road. Ford reps also claim that the Power Pack improves drivability and throttle response across the rev band, though the fore-mentioned gains are only found in the listed areas of the rev band.
That’s nice, but how does the Power Pack achieve these claims? It all starts with what’s formally bundled in here, with the kit including a Ford Performance engineered Pro Cal 4 calibration delivery tool, and a higher flowing K&N air filter. The Power Pack does require a swap in what kind of fuel you put into the truck, with Power Pack buyers being asked to use premium fuel only to maintain the enhanced performance. The upgrade is legal in all 50 states (California gets to get in on the fun too) and it even comes with a three year/36,000 mile warranty providing the installation is done by a Ford dealer or a technician that is ASE/Red Seal certified.
The Power Pack builds upon the already robust aftermarket support for the truck, and can serve as a good stepping stone towards other performance upgrades, especially if buyers choose to add the $1,095 custom exhaust system, as well as the $1,495 Internal Floating Piston front and rear shock kit with select components from Fox. Ford reps even told us that a Ranger equipped with this calibration could achieve over 320 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque which are hearty figures.
As for more extensive upgrades, we suspect that Ford is waiting until the next generation Ranger model to roll those out. The current generation Ranger is nearing the end of its life (it was in the international markets a few years prior to its U.S. arrival) and it could make its appearance globally as early as 2021. U.S. buyers would have to potentially wait until 2022, but the wait would be worth it since the truck will have a number of components that will be shared with the next generation Volkswagen Amarok.
This international crossbreeding is the result of a recently inked partnership between Ford and VW which will see the two companies work jointly on certain vehicle projects. While the broader focus will be on EV and green vehicles, the budding first steps will be in the commercial and pickup segments with the next gen Ranger being a prominent example of this.