Hennessey is dyno testing the new 2019 Ford Ranger midsize pickup, but what could it be for?

After seven years, the Ford Ranger has finally returned. Frankly, we’re not sure why it ever left, but we can’t complain that it’s back and here to take on the Toyota Tacoma and Chevy Colorado.

Under the hood is a 2.3-L EcoBoost turbocharged 4-banger with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Ford’s 10-speed automatic puts power to either the rear or all four wheels, with plenty of other upgrades depending on the trim you opt for.

But as usual, that’s not enough for Hennessey. In every car they get their hands on (with the notable exception of the Ford GT), they demand more power, more torque, and more general insanity than Ford would ever consider due to legal reasons.

So we see Hennessey has got their hands on a 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat in all black. Dyno testing reveals that the rear wheels put down 243 hp and 267.88 lb-ft of torque, or a loss of about 10%. That’s pretty good for a transmission, but we’re sure whatever Hennessey has in store, that number is sure to get bigger.

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It’s hard to make an efficient powertrain with more horsepower than the truck knows what to do with.

What does Hennessey have planned for this Ranger? It’s hard to say. Hennessey’s website mentions two power levels, a 300 hp and 375 hp upgrade, but doesn’t specify what changes are to be done for each. Normally, Hennessey would separate the two out into HPE300 and HPE375 upgrades, but that isn’t the case here.

It could be that Hennessey is still determining just what the Ranger can endure in terms of upgrades. If that’s the case, this dyno test might be the first step the tuner takes toward making a ludicrously powerful Ranger.

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