Ford Ranger Raptor Could Have Had a 13-Speed Transmission
If you think a 10-speed automatic transmission is excessive, Ford considered a 13-speed unit for the new Ranger Raptor.
Speaking to Australia’s CarAdvice, John Fallu, transmission and driveline engineering manager for Ford Asia Pacific, confirmed the automaker did simulations that involved 12- and 13-speed automatic transmissions when it came to figuring out what worked best for the new compact pickup. “We actually did simulations during the exhaustive testing process for the optimum number of gear ratios for a rear-wheel drive truck of this size and power,” he said. “We looked at seven speeds, nine speeds all the way up to 12 and 13 speeds, to see if, from a performance perspective and an efficiency perspective, what truly is optimal for the design.”
SEE ALSO: Ford Ranger Raptor Could Arrive in US With Gas Engine
Having been introduced, we now know the Ford Ranger Raptor uses the 10-speed automatic transmission found in the F-150 Raptor, a unit that met “both our refinement and performance benchmarks,” Fallu said. Ultimately, Ford was looking for a uniform shift feel as drivers go through the gears.
The question remains what powerplant Ford will use for the Ranger Raptor in the U.S., but there’s a good chance whichever engine the American automaker chooses, a 10-speed automatic will be attached to it.
[Source: CarAdvice]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Excuse but I think any more research on the gearbox is nonsense. The gearbox has covered up the IC engine's inherent drawback of a differential power & torque delivery character for long but now at the advent of hybrids when the electric motor kicks in during the torque challenged regions of the ICE and defends the engine from a stall, it is better that the conventional gearbox is dumped.
I think a 13-speed manual would be F****** Awesome!