The VelociRaptor 500 built by Hennessey Performance Engineering just showed off the potential of the V6 Ranger Raptor. It’s only been a week since we saw the top-of-the-line Ranger’s launch in the PH, and news quickly followed that Ford PH is not closing the door on the V6-powered truck just yet. If anything, here’s a quick show of what that power plant and a Hennessey build can achieve.
VelociRaptor 500 packs a 500 HP wallop, double the PH-spec Ranger Raptor
Photo: Hennessey Performance
Let’s put it out there, though, that Hennessey Performance Engineering did nothing to the truck’s interior. The VelociRaptor 500 is still a plain Jane Raptor on the inside, but it did get a few changes to the exterior, and more importantly, under the hood.
The VelociRaptor gets an extended steel front bumper as well as a massive skid plate, with 2 LED off-road fog lights mounted on either side. It also gets black 18-inch alloy wheels that are wrapped in chunky 35-inch tires that will make the handling of the added power easier. Apart from these, you don’t get much on the aesthetic side.
Photo: Hennessey Performance
As for the mill, the VelociRaptor 500 gets a lot of upgrades. Hennessey plugged in an upgraded engine management software that handles the addition of a new high-flow air induction system, a larger front-mounted intercooler, and a new blow-off valve. All these bumped up the power and torque figures to a beastly 500 HP (surprise!) and 746 Nm of pull. That’s 95 HP and 163 nm more than the stock V6-powered Raptor.
The engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission sending power to an all-wheel drive system that has locking front and rear differentials, and a low-range transmission for additional off-road capability.
Photo: Hennessey Performance
This is a very far cry from what we got. The Ford PH-spec Raptor got a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine and compared to the VelociRaptor (heck, even the stock V6’s potential) puts out a “conservative” 210 HP and 500 Nm pull. A lot will probably argue that that’s more than enough, and those who may be able to get their hands on a V6 specimen might argue the same way. This post here is just to show what more – much more – a V6 power plant can make.
That, and share that the Hennessey Performance upgrades to make a VelociRaptor 500 all add up to USD 24,950. Let the tears flow, ladies and gents. But one can always dream.
