This Ford Ranger 6x6 Hybrid Is Too Hard Core For Regular Showrooms

Yes, there are 6 (SIX) wheels on this Ford Ranger, and for good reason too - it's built for use by defence and security agencies.

What you see here is a current-gen single-cab Ford Ranger that’s undergone a transformation to become perhaps a top choice for defence and security agencies worldwide. Built by renowned UK engineering firm Ricardo, this Ranger has adopted both hybrid power and extra wheels via a 6x6 driveline.

The UK firm behind this creation has got pretty strong credentials, boasting various projects across multiple spaces such as motorsports, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, passenger cars, as well as performance vehicles.

More recently, Ricardo is contracted by Woking-based sportscar manufacturer McLaren to build the brand’s new hybrid V8 engine found in the Artura. Priro to which, Ricardo has been building powertrains for the McLaren since its 12C model in 2011, churning out roughly 34,000 of which to date.

UK engineering firm Ricardo designed and built the Ranger HEX 6x6, which also features a very ingenious electric drive system.

Christened as the Ford Ranger HEX 6x6, the added axle and wheels boosts both this Ranger’s off-road abilities and payload capacity. The latter sees rather dramatic hike to 3,800 KG from the ‘meagre’ 2,800 KG capacity that the base V6 turbo-diesel version of the Ranger Wildtrak sold in the UK and EU has.

The conversion also adopts new De Deion rear suspension hardware and  setup. This, according to Ricardo, proved to be both weight-efficient and robust as it can decouple both the suspension and drive systems, thus allowing flexibility across various terrain types.

The increased cargo capacity and driveline’s added axle warrants extra power, and Ricardo remedied this using its HEX hybrid system. This augments the Ranger’s familiar 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel mill, rated at 249 HP, with an electric motor, the latter driving the four rear wheels and provide an extra 282 HP on demand.

The electric motor is juiced by a battery which can be recharged via regenerative braking or a cable. No battery capacity figure was disclosed but Ricardo notes that it has multiple pack sizes on offer,  depending on what customers order.

Also, to simplify maintenance and repair, these high-voltage components are housed in a single enclosure too. Making this easier is the fact that the Ricardo-built HEX system is designed as a bolt-on upgrade that doesn’t require any alterations to the base vehicle.

The FG-P light tactical vehicle built by Ford Global Fleet Sales (left) and the recently launched Ranger PHEV (right) both use hybrid power as well.

Notably, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the latest-gen Ford Ranger serving as a base to build a specialised vehicle for the defence industry. Similarly, Ford’s Global Fleet Sales arm developed the FG-P light tactical vehicle that also adopts hybrid electric power for stealth purposes.

Speaking of hybrid power, Ford also recently unwrapped a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Ranger. This version of the Ranger pairs electric power with a 2.3-litre 4-cyl EcoBoost petrol mill lifted from the 2014 Ford Mustang, boasting 45 KM pure-electric range too.