SVT Ranger Gets a Boost from Lightning Engine

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【Summary】Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) once created a high-performance Ranger pickup truck using parts from the SVT Lightning. The modified Ranger had a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 420 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The frame was reinforced, and the suspension was lowered, resulting in impressive speed. However, Ford decided not to produce the vehicle, likely due to concerns about it outperforming the larger SVT Lightning.

FutureCar Staff Sep 03, 2023 11:26 PM PT

SVT Ranger Gets a Boost from Lightning Engine

Performance pickups used to be a popular choice among car enthusiasts. In the early 1990s, the Chevy 454 SS and the Toyota Tacoma X-Runner in the early 2000s were known for their sports car-like performance. However, in 2003, Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers decided to create a performance truck using off-the-shelf parts for cost efficiency.

The project began with a regular cab Ranger Flareside powered by a 2.4-liter I4 engine. SVT Engineering Director John Coletti and his team had a specific goal in mind: to equip the truck with the 5.4-liter, 380 horsepower supercharged V8 engine from the SVT Lightning. With modifications to the induction system and exhaust, the Ranger produced even more power than the Lightning, reaching 420 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.

However, the increased power required additional bracing to ensure stability. The frame rails were boxed and cross-braced for added stiffness. The suspension was lowered by two inches, and the control arms and steering knuckles were borrowed from the SVT Lightning. Other modifications included the installation of 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 stock, except for custom leather seats featuring yellow lightning bolt designs and body color trim on the doors. The result was an impressive little pickup truck. Motor Trend tested the SVT Ranger and recorded a quarter-mile time of 13.8 seconds at 108 mph, while MotorWeek achieved a time of 13.5 seconds at 101 mph.

Despite its success, Ford had no intentions of putting the SVT Ranger into production. Tom Scarpello, the head of SVT sales and marketing at the time, confirmed this decision to Motor Trend. Ford believed that there was no room for two performance trucks in their lineup. It's possible that the SVT Ranger performed so well that it posed a threat to its bigger sibling, the Lightning, and Ford didn't want that competition. 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.