Ford's SVT Ranger Gets a Powerful Lightning Engine

author: FutureCar Staff    

Performance pickups used to have their own niche in the enthusiast market. Models like the Chevy 454 SS and the Toyota Tacoma X-Runner showcased their sports car-like performance in the early 1990s and 2000s, respectively. However, there was once a surprising addition to this lineup.

In 2003, Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers decided to transform a regular cab Ranger Flareside into a performance truck. They aimed to keep costs down by utilizing off-the-shelf parts, in case the project received approval for production. Their chosen engine was the 5.4-liter 380 horsepower supercharged V8 from the SVT Lightning. With modifications to the induction system and exhaust, the Ranger achieved even more power than the stock Lightning, reaching 420 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.

Given the high power output, additional bracing was necessary for the small Ranger pickup. The engineers reinforced the frame rails by boxing them and adding cross braces for increased stiffness. To accommodate the engine, the suspension was lowered by two inches, and the control arms and steering knuckles were borrowed from the SVT Lightning. The Ranger also received a 3.73 rear axle from the Lightning, 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, and a heavy-duty transmission from the F-Series pickups.

The interior of the SVT Ranger remained mostly unchanged, except for some custom leather seats adorned with yellow lightning bolts and body color trim on the doors. The result was an impressive little pickup truck. Motor Trend tested it and recorded a quarter-mile time of 13.8 seconds at 108 mph, while MotorWeek achieved 13.5 seconds at 101 mph.

Despite its success, the SVT Ranger was not intended for production. Tom Scarpello, the head of SVT sales and marketing at the time, confirmed this to Motor Trend. Ford claimed that there was no room for two performance trucks in their lineup. It is possible that Ford didn't want the smaller SVT Ranger to outperform its bigger sibling, the Lightning. Nevertheless, it's intriguing to imagine what could have been if Ford had released an SVT Ranger with such power. Such a vehicle could have influenced automakers and their lineups for generations to come.

FutureCar Staff