Hard-core SUV brother for Ranger Raptor ute appears in unofficial images, but Ford Australia says ‘no plans’
The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor is one of the most sought-after new models in Australia, and if buzz among Ford Everest owners’ forums is any guide, a Raptor version of the ute’s SUV sibling would be a smash-hit as well.
Tapping into this rich vein of anticipation, Russian graphic designer Nikita Chuiko at Kolesa.ru has produced a set of stunning new renders that seamlessly blend the Everest’s body with the aggro desert racing aesthetics of the Ranger Raptor, including the hero burnt orange paint job.
The standard Everest front-end has been swapped out for the extroverted fascia of the Ranger Raptor, along with an adapted front skid plate, black wheel-arch extensions, chunkier wheel and tyre combination and contrasting black roof rails.
Digital image: Kolesa.ru
The look is continued at the rear by a bush-friendly black plastic bumper, improved departure angle, Raptor graphics on the rear haunches and twin chrome exhaust tips.
As per Ranger, the Ford Everest Raptor would be powered by a 292kW/583Nm twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and ride on a comprehensively overhauled chassis with advanced off-roading suspension components and bespoke drive system tuning.
Ford Everest Wildtrak
It sounds almost too good to be true, so we asked Ford Australia for a progress report and received the bluff response that there are “no plans to introduce a Raptor variant” of Everest.
A spokesperson did, however, add that the company loves “how Australian customers have embraced Everest”.
There might not be a dedicated Raptor version in the pipeline, but count on a new off-road flagship – bearing a different moniker – sitting atop the Ford Everest line-up before too long.
Digital images: Kolesa.ru
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Keyword: Wild Ford Everest Raptor rendered