SVT Ranger Gets a Powerful Upgrade

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【Summary】Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) once created a performance version of the Ranger pickup truck using off-the-shelf parts. The modified Ranger featured a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine from the SVT Lightning, resulting in 420hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The frame was reinforced, suspension lowered, and various components were borrowed from the Lightning. Despite its impressive performance, Ford had no plans to produce the SVT Ranger, likely due to competition with its larger Lightning model.

FutureCar Staff Sep 02, 2023 4:25 PM PT

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 impressive sports car-like performance in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2003, Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) took on the challenge of creating a performance truck using off-the-shelf parts. They started with a regular cab Ranger Flareside powered by a 2.4-liter I4 engine. The vision was to keep costs down in case the project was approved for production. The chosen engine was the 5.4-liter 380 horsepower supercharged V8 from the SVT Lightning. With a modified induction system and exhaust, the Ranger achieved even more power than the stock Lightning, boasting 420 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque.

To handle the increased power, the SVT team reinforced the frame rails and cross-braced them for added stiffness. They lowered the suspension by two inches and borrowed control arms and steering knuckles 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 largely unchanged, except for custom leather seats featuring yellow lightning bolts and body color trim on the doors. The result was a formidable little pickup. 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 impressive performance, the SVT Ranger was not intended for production. Tom Scarpello, the head of SVT sales and marketing at the time, confirmed to Motor Trend that there were no plans to build the truck. It seems that Ford didn't want a smaller vehicle outperforming its bigger sibling, the Lightning. However, it's intriguing to imagine what could have been if Ford had given us an SVT Ranger with such power. Such a vehicle could have had a lasting impact on automakers and their lineups for generations to come.