Australia’s car culture is cool, but you probably already knew that. While its homegrown cars—including rear-wheel drive utes and big-horsepower, V-8 sedans—have mostly died off, the pickup culture remains strong. To wit, Australia is one of the lucky recipients of the Ford Ranger Raptor, the jacked-up, widebody version of the global midsize pickup we get a version of here in non-Raptor form. The closest we get to the Raptor’s badassery currently is the (pretty cool, but narrow-body) Ranger Tremor Package. Meanwhile, in Australia, the Ranger Raptor is getting gussied up even further with the X package.
The X package is already well known in that country from doing duty on the Ranger Wildtrak trim. The 2021 Ranger Wildtrak X gets a number of upgrades, mainly cosmetic save the snorkel intake, “nudge bar” and LED lighting add-ons. But the overall effect befits the Wildtrak X’s place between the regular Wildtrak and the Raptor in the lineup.
So the Ranger Raptor X is an extension of this philosophy, adding a unique look and a few tasteful upgrades to the already burly truck. Most notable are upgraded 33-inch BFGoodrich tires mounted on black-painted wheels, which feature longer tread life and tougher sidewalls compared to the stock tires. The Ranger Raptor’s tow hooks get a red hue, and new extended sport bars set the truck apart from the regular sport bars which terminate about halfway down the bed sides. Inside, stock sport seats help secure occupants on the rough stuff, but now with red contrast stitching for a little extra visual excitement.
Americans can’t exactly replicate the Ranger Raptor X’s looks or capabilities, and definitely not its 210-hp, 369-lb-ft 2.0-liter I-4 twin-turbodiesel engine. But slap the optional decals on a Ranger Tremor, add Ford Performance’s chase rack, and source some fender flares (of which Ford sells several options as accessories, or scope the aftermarket) and you’ll get pretty close. After all, the Tremor package’s Fox 2.0 monotube shocks are no joke, adding 6.5 extra inches of suspension travel up front and 8.1 in the back, and a total of 9.7 inches of ground clearance. Or opt for any of Ford Performance’s off-road performance packs to take things to the next level. If only X marks the spot for you, well, tough luck—you’re going to need to move down under.
We think a Ranger Raptor will be sold in the U.S. eventually, although the diesel is not likely to make the jump. Until then, we’re jealous of Australia’s Ranger Raptor, and this X package.
