Ford Performance has expanded its catalog, adding tunes for the Mustang and Ranger that should make mashing the right pedal a tad more exciting. While the pony car kit is basically an extension of the staged Power Packs already on sale, just for the 2018-2020 model years, the Ranger package is rather novel — as this is the first factory tune available for the model in North America.
It also happens to offer noteworthy performance gains.
The tune adjusts the engine and rejiggers the shift schedule, which Ford claims should yield an additional 45 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 60 pound-feet of torque starting at 2,500 rpm. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost also gets a high-flow K&N air filter for good measure. Considering the pickup starts out with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, customers are bound to notice the difference after one trip around the block.
Officially, Ford estimates peak output after the the kit’s installation to be closer to 320 hp and 355 pound-feet. The tune just optimizes the power band to bring in maximum torque earlier in the rev range while allowing horsepower to spike a bit later.
Ready for more not-bad news? Unlike some aftermarket kits, this one happens to be legal in the entirety of the United States/Canada and comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. If you’re interested, Ford Performance is asking $825. Availability may be wonky while the coronavirus is in full swing, but you should be able to place an order soon. In the meantime, here’s a PDF of everything you could possibly want to know about the kit and how it should be installed.
Now we just need a factory brake upgrade.
[Image: Ford Motor Co.]
I like the idea, the price and the warranty behind it. Would I buy a used truck with it installed? Only if it came with an extended power train warranty to 150,000 miles. Not a big fan of blown turbos at 65,000 miles. I know these engines are generally speaking solid and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a stock Ecoboost of any kind but tuned? Let’s see the longevity first
What’s this Ranger rated to tow and does this up that rating?
It’s rated at 7500 lbs which is already best in class but for the GM mid-sizers with the diesel.
No idea if this will up that number. My guess is no as HP/torque is just one consideration in setting tow ratings.
That’s about what my ’07 ‘Hoe w/tow package is rated at. Agree that more to towing than HP and doubtful Ford would increase tow rating as 7500lbs. is pretty hefty already for a 4 cylinder truck.
Well Gladiator is rated at 7650…
But power is rarely the final limiter to tow rating. Its usually cooling, braking, and suspension. However, I’d bet that this makes it feel much easier to tow up to the max.
I like it when companies do this kind of package. GJ.
“Well Gladiator is rated at 7650…”
Cannot imagine close to 4 tons behind a Gladiator. That would more than likely be a “white knuckle” experience. Problem with tow ratings is most are born in the marketing, not the engineering departments.
As far as a pick-up used primarily for towing, I don’t think you could do worse than a Gladiator.
Once it leaves the factory, there’s nothing you can do to change its tow/payload rating.
More power should increase confidence and the tow experience, but once you’re over 6K lbs combined, you’ll wish you had a V8, even an ancient 140 HP 350 GM.
As a non-truck, non-Ford guy, this sounds like a win-win-win. Smart, reasonable gains, and cheap for everybody involved – well done.
Weird. I said they they should have offered this from the start along with the Raptor body kit.
Everyone poo pooed that. God it feels good to be right yet again
“it feels good to be right yet again’
Life is so much easier when you exist in your own version of reality!
I wouldn’t know but I’ll take your word for it.
“I wouldn’t know”.. That fits the majority of your comments but not knowing one is in a deluded reality fits the profile. Perhaps saying ” I’ll take your word for it” indicates that your not as lost as you appear to be.
Whatever you say kiddo…this is too easy.
I like the concept but am curious about the execution…
Agree I would pass on this but I am glad that Ford offers this for those who want it. I never would need or use anymore horsepower than this truck offers–this truck has more than enough horsepower for me.
More torque and horsepower from the factory? Reasonable price? Always a “yes.”
Well, maybe a qualified ‘yes.’ With reference to the Powershift debacle, I’d like to know what the powertrain engineers think of the modifications, and the long-term durability implications. That’s the info we rarely get to see.
It is the F150 10 speed isn’t it? Should be fine in this application.
How many recalls on that transmission already?
His concern is valid.
As many VeeDub owners knows this is one of the beauties of turbos. ECU tuning, boost adjustments, intake and exhaust changes… all are cheap and easy ways to squeeze more go out of FI engines. A factory K&N kit? Very interesting as many people laugh these high-flow air filters off as a waste of money.
If done right, along with other factory modifications, a cold air intake can add a few horsepower. No, I am not talking about a big metal shiny pipe on top of the engine with a K&N filter stuffed in it. That will experience heat soak and get even less power than stock.
That’s the thing with these “cold air” intakes. If the filter is jammed under the hood and sucking in air that has passed through the radiator, whatever gain you might have made with less intake restriction has been thrown away by ingesting hot air.
Yeah most aftermarket CAI are actually warm air intakes. On my 350Z that was the case, the factory box actually had a pass-thru to draw air in front of the rad where the aftermarket “upgrade” was behind the rad. Made no sense.
My surprise here is the K&N filter as recommended part in a factory kit. I’ve lost track of how many K&N good / bad internet forum threads I’ve read. Its on the list along with oil and catch cans as never ending topics.
When I had a Cobalt SS, Chevy offered a performance pack similar to this. It was the best money I’ve ever spent modifying a car. I had it done at the dealership so there was no questions. It took about 2 hours. Brilliant. I’m not going to rush out and buy a small truck but I always love this kind of factory kit.
My CAI (*edit, I’ve only used decent ones with casings or shrouds) experience is they add very little to peak HP (maybe 1-3% peak) but they make the part of the graph where HP starts to fall after peak stay flatter so you have more oomph to redline. So I have had higher average hp and torque in the top 1/3 of the band.
As we fear/prepare for a lull in auto sales, special editions and performance upgrades might be the bait needed – to bring folks to the market.
I’ve driven a few of these and they’re pretty powerful, it doesn’t need more power. It would be nice to get the recalibrated transmission without the engine upgrades. The transmission is psychotic and hangs on to a gear until it begrudgingly downshifts at the behest of your right foot and then practically burns rubber. Very nonlinear and frustrating. It’s hard to drive it smoothly. I liked it a thousand times more than the awful Tacoma, if the transmission behaved better I’d buy one.
Doesnt everything need a bit more power? :)
I have driven several Rangers and they were fun and quick. Ride was extremely rough in FX4 guise. Interior was plain but not awful in Lariat. But add a few HP and it would be a rocket!
Many peopl complain about Ford’s transmission programming. It’s frankly garbage.
New Explorer (the one that is absent of any level of quality) get a ton of complaints too.
This is relevant to my interests…
I’d have a good time with a tuned turbo Ranger.
This would also be neat set up as a sport truck street cruiser. A fun bit of perspective… the GMC Syclone weighed ~3,600 lbs. and made 280hp/350ft.lbs. with it’s turbo 4.3 V6.
While the lightest configuration of the new ranger appears to be ~3,900 lbs., this 2.3T four banger can be equipped with ~320hp / 355ft.lbs. with this tune with a warranty right out of the box.
Sounds to me like a recipe for a fun street truck with some suspension tuning.
This is an interesting option and I’d never criticize making these available for people who want them. We bought a Ranger in January to allow us more towing capacity. We’ve bought a new trailer with a 4300 lb dry weight so our all-up weight will be well within capacity and the overall length will be more than manageable and safe for the Ranger. But, based on my experience with the truck so far, without having hauled a trailer, I think it’ll be perfectly fine with the stock tune.
But… it’s nice to know that this exists as an option if I think we need some extra oomph.
Im curious to see how your towing experience will turn out. Cruising power, grade power, stability, etc.
The 2.0 and 2.3 Ecoboost are supported by piles of performance parts builders. The Ford Performance Parts list is mostly Mountune parts. This particular offering is the same as for the Focus ST except the ST gets a snorkel extension to the air intake to put directly into the airflow. According to the ST community, the Ford tune isn’t as aggressive as those from the Independents, but peace of mind can be had by buying a tune that includes a 3/36 warranty from FRPP.
I like it. I perused the Ford website a bit but could not find something similar for the v6 Mustang.
the what?