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]

Discuss this story on our Ford Ranger Forum