UPDATE: March 18, 2026 Added an official comment from Ford regarding a possible production version of its Raptor T1+ off-road race truck.Ford’s Jim Farley has hinted that a road-going version of its fearsome Dakar Rally off-roader has been discussed behind closed doors. The Blue Oval’s CEO even went as far as to say that Ford “should” be producing such a vehicle for its customers in-line with the equally wild likes of the F150 Raptor, the 700-plus horsepower Raptor R, and the smaller Ranger Raptor. Why Ford Might Consider A Road Legal Dakar Rally Car FordSpeaking with media representatives at the recent Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Farley explained that Ford’s official motorsport programs in F1, sports cars and rally raid weren't just simple (if expensive) marketing exercises. They were, in fact, a “core part of [its] engineering” for consumer vehicles. And not just for the road:“That includes off-road as well, like Dakar, you know, like that T1+ [rally racer] – that should be a product we sell.”- Ford CEO Jim Farley, per DriveWhen asked specifically whether a production version of its Dakar Rally race had been discussed internally, Farley simply answered, “yes.” Understandably, no further details were provided, though this does seem to back up claims made back in January that more Raptor variants are in the pipeline.The Ford CEO went on to suggest that motorsport programs like Formula 1, and the technical experience acquired from this, potentially gives Ford the opportunity to become the “Porsche of off-road.” A far-from outrageous claim, given that the road car division’s already heavy focus on all-wheel-drive SUVs and pickup trucks is an ideal launching pad.CarBuzz contacted Ford for a comment on Farley's statements. A spokesperson provided us with the following statement:"We don’t have anything to announce regarding any kind of future Dakar-based road car at this time. We certainly have not announced any plans to produce such a vehicle." The T1+ Rally Raider That Fueled This Idea FordThe T1+, with which Ford took a double podium at the 2026 Dakar Rally, is similarly styled to the Ford Ranger Raptor. But it's built from the ground up atop a bespoke T45 steel spaceframe chassis. Fox-developed fully independent suspension sits at each corner, at the end of which are unique 17-inch aluminum wheels clad with massive, 37-inch all-terrain tires. This combination provides the T1+ with approach angles of up to 70 degrees, up to 350 millimeters of wheel travel, and 400 mm of ground clearance.Though power and torque figures have not been officially provided, the T1+ does feature a re-tuned 5.0-liter Coyote V8 borrowed from the Ford Mustang, to which a unique dry-sump oil system and a tuned exhaust have been incorporated (it’s speculated that a road-legal version of the T1+ would feature hybridization of some kind). For added traction, the T1+ rally raider features a significantly wider track than the Ranger Raptor, and weighs just over 4,400 pounds.FordClose to 6,500 miles of testing had already been completed before the Ford T1+ made its competitive warm-up at the 2024 Baja Hungary, four months before its high-profile debut at the 2025 Dakar Rally. Whether a production version of the T1+ could usurp the Raptor R as Ford's most important vehicle in North America, however, remains to be seen.