Ford Motor Company has announced a new ECU upgrade for its North American Ranger Raptors which boosts power and torque by a healthy 37kW/144Nm.
The retrofittable software upgrade costs $US895 ($A1315) and will see the performance pick-up output a total of 339kW/727Nm, harnessed by a matching upgrade of the transmission control unit software.
Ford says the upgrade has no impact on the Raptor’s stateside three-year warranty seeing as it’s a genuine accessory, with customers able to order it either from the outset of purchase it after delivery.
The catch is it’s unlikely to be offered in Australia any time soon seeing as Aussie Raptors develop 10kW less than the American versions from the outset – stemming from differing emissions regulations.
Instead, it will be left to third-party Ford tuners like Herrod Performance to extract more power and torque from the rabid ute and in turn, thanks to its close relationship with the Blue Oval, preserve the local five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Herrod already has a locally-developed ‘Power Pack’ for the Raptor which adds an extra 88kW/197Nm to the equation.
The pack costs a heady $6480 but does admittedly include new hardware like a fresh intercooler, upgraded transmission oil cooler and an engine remap.