Yesterday

ZeroNine Design liberates 100hp in Ranger Raptor

Ford's turbo V6 is strangled for Europe - but where there's a will, finally someone has found a way... 

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It’s a great truck, the Ford Ranger Raptor. Not so long ago we proclaimed it the best thing that Ford sells, and that view definitely still holds up. There’s all the rufty tufty attitude of the original, another level of off-road ability, and now with a useful uplift in performance over the diesel. No wonder they’re popular.

But it could be faster still. In other markets free from filters, its 3.0-litre Ecoboost V6 is almost 400hp strong - in Europe, it makes just 292hp and 362lb ft. Which is sufficient enough, if still a little frustrating knowing that the engine is capable of so much more. Which is where ZeroNine Design comes in. They do a lot of Ford stuff, and their most recent work focuses on the Raptor. For £650, they can free up the power the V6 always should have had - specifically 395hp and 445lb ft. Which is going to make a big difference to performance, both off the line and in gear. ZeroNine reckons it ‘adds a massive amount of drivability’, creating a Raptor that you’d always expect to find. And which some customers in other markets already get. 

ZeroNineDesign’s work is pretty non-intrusive, too, requiring nothing more than the OBD port and an app to deliver the goods. It doesn’t require busting open the ECU, or hours with the laptop, or even popping the bonnet. The upgrade includes the option to keep a Raptor at standard power, which might be handy in everyday use; then, when there are tanks to outrun (see the video), there’s the best part of 400hp to call upon. It sounds like a win-win. 

Especially as there are plenty of Ranger Raptors around that would benefit from £650 of ZeroNineDesign fettling. A new one is going to cost you £52k before the vodka and tonic, still with the same 292hp. But there are trucks like this one around, on a 25 plate but with just 100 miles, for £10,000 less than that. And you don’t need your own business to see the value in that: with another 100hp for an extra few hundred quid on top, Ford’s best vehicle would look even more appealing. We’ll get behind the wheel as soon as possible. 

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[DodgyGeezer]

best vehicle that Frod sells? I'll grant it might be fun (actually, I can definitely see the attraction/fun) but, given the choice, I'd have a Mustang as the best that the blue oval sells across here

[Dr G]

They appear to have consulted a 12 year old rather than a marketing agency for the video. A decision I fully approve of.

Let's have a TANK and some mud and burnouts and make it night time so it's scary

[JerryF]

Love it - well done all. Think the Can-Am looks like tremendous fun too.

[Bill]

Dr G said:

They appear to have consulted a 12 year old rather than a marketing agency for the video. A decision I fully approve of.

Let's have a TANK and some mud and burnouts and make it night time so it's scary

So bad it's great!! Looks like they got Barry from accounts to play the thief too.

[Cryssys]

Bill said:

So bad it's great!! Looks like they got Barry from accounts to play the thief too.

That's not Barry from accounts, it's Bill from HR you plank.

[RB Will]

Presumably knackers the warranty unlike Mountune stuff? Does make it a much more interesting proposition though.

[Bernt Tuakrisp]

I watched the vid and now I have a neck tatoo and my names Walt. Looks alot like Mr Hewes yard at the end of that, in which case all is forgiven.

[Jon-mfhn7]

RB Will said:

Presumably knackers the warranty unlike Mountune stuff? Does make it a much more interesting proposition though.

I believe the last Mountune remaps with any sort of warranty with Ford were the MK7 Fiesta ST and MK3 Focus RS.

[Glenn63]

Motorsport and Performance have been getting 475bhp and an extra 220ftlbs out of these with a remap for a while.

[Tubbycharged]

Aren't Caterpillar doing a CAT truck?

[CraigyMc]

Tubbycharged said:

Aren't Caterpillar doing a CAT truck?

Cat got out of on-road vehicles about 20 years ago. Is there a rumour they will come back to it?

[Decky_Q]

Diesel pumps UK have a Cat 4.4 4 cylinder defender available.

[nismo48]

Bernt Tuakrisp said:

I watched the vid and now I have a neck tatoo and my names Walt. Looks alot like Mr Hewes yard at the end of that, in which case all is forgiven.

[andyj007]

do these still have that wet belt engine ?

[heisthegaffer]

I never thought id see the day i say this but i quite like them.

Being a boring old Insurance bod, i have no need for one though.

[alex_2015]

Ofc the tattooed arms up to neck demographics are in such a need for 100hp extra so that they can tailgate you more efficiently then slow you down while refusing to let you pass. While completely obstructing your visibility. Such class citizens whenever you bump into them.

Edited by alex_2015 on Tuesday 9th December 17:56

Edited by alex_2015 on Tuesday 9th December 17:58

[ChrisCh86]

Mountune now also sell a 400hp flash map to the ECU for these that unlocks 400ps, so someone must have recently managed to crack the ECU.

It's the default power level in Australia, so won't be much additional strain on the engine, bit of a no brainer if you can get insurance sorted.

Mountune also offer some sort of warranty with their package too (on the vehicle)

https://www.mountunestore.com/products/mtune-smart...

[thejaywills]

Mad to think that it came so watered down in the UK. Sort of defeats the point. We got the full 400bhp here and my inner child loves it. Just booked in to have it rounded out to 500 bhp which is wholly unnecessary but welcome nonetheless and by all accounts still very sustainable, longevity wise.

I wouldn't want to pull out a perfectly good motor but I've seen a supercharged coyote dropped into one and it's basically all I've thought about this week slippery slope.

The only car I've ever bought new and its been a blast for work and play. Absolutely get your hands on the extra 100bhp if you can.

Edited by thejaywills on Tuesday 9th December 23:03

[biggbn]

thejaywills said:

Mad to think that it came so watered down in the UK. Sort of defeats the point. We got the full 400bhp here and my inner child loves it. Just booked in to have it rounded out to 500 bhp which is wholly unnecessary but welcome nonetheless and by all accounts still very sustainable, longevity wise.

I wouldn't want to pull out a perfectly good motor but I've seen a supercharged coyote dropped into one and it's basically all I've thought about this week slippery slope.

The only car I've ever bought new and its been a blast for work and play. Absolutely get your hands on the extra 100bhp if you can.

Edited by thejaywills on Tuesday 9th December 23:03

Enjoy man, ignore the ignorant comments this thread is bound to become littered with.

[normalbloke]

andyj007 said:

do these still have that wet belt engine ?

Gotta love the wet belt buzzword….