Ford Mustang Raptor could be released in 2026

What do you get if you put a Mustang in a Raptor cage?

The answer isn’t dinner for the dino, but rather a ballistic new crossover that could just be so unique it sells like hotcakes, as you can see by these speculative renders by wb.artist20 at Instagram.

Yes, Ford is reportedly looking into the idea of a high-riding, all-terrain Mustang Raptor which, according to Car and Driver, could debut as soon as 2026.

Concrete details are as hard to come by as an actual dinosaur, but the US website (loosely) cites sources deep within the Blue Oval’s product management who claim the concept is being explored to a certain degree given the success of Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.

The report goes on to claim the 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor will feature the S650-generation’s 5.0-litre Coyote 5.0-litre V8 paired exclusively to Ford’s widely used 10-speed automatic transmission and, crucially, power all four wheels via an electronically controlled centre differential.

In classic Raptor form, the all-terrain Mustang will supposedly ride some 50mm higher than standard on bespoke springs and purpose-built off-road shock absorbers – more than likely courtesy of Fox – to help soak up all kinds of terrain during high-speed off-roading.

More comfort and composure will be injected by an aggressive set of all-terrain tyres which will not only be off-road focused in their tread design but air volume as well, more than likely accommodated by a bold set of wheel-arch extensions.

The underbody will inevitably be bolstered by an armoury of bash and skid plates to help protect its vitals on what will easily be the lowest-riding Raptor product to date.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of a Mustang Raptor being the works, but it is the first time the project has been linked to Ford’s latest-generation pony car or been given a timeframe.

Rumours of an all-wheel drive Mustang had been circulating prior to the S650’s debut, but plans for the iconic muscle car to switch across to the CD6 platform under the existing Explorer SUV were apparently shelved.

Plug-in hybrid power – as per the Explorer PHEV sold in Europe – was also thrown into the mix at one stage, but we now know none of that hardware eventuated for the new Mustang.

Tipped to be a limited-run offering much like the Dakar and Sterrato, Car and Driver is tipping the Mustang Raptor will be priced from around $US90,000 – or $A133,940.

Whispers of a supercharged 5.2-litre Raptor R version are also circulating, so stay tuned.

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