If the regular Ford Ranger isn’t tough enough for you, Walkinshaw Performance has turned the dial to 11 – just don’t expect any extra power.
The Australian-based aftermarket company – once famous for making some of the most hotted-up Holdens as HSV – has announced it’s offering a limited-edition off-road focused version of the best-selling Ford Ranger ute.
Only 25 examples of the WAU Ford Ranger are being built, honouring the company’s Supercars team, Walkinshaw Andretti United, which began running Ford Mustangs last year.
The limited-run Ranger is “coming soon” to Walkinshaw Performance agents, and to get the chance to purchase one of these limited-edition utes you need to register your interest on its website.
While Walkinshaw hasn’t detailed what version of the Ranger is being modified, the provided imagery showcases a kitted-up Ranger Wildtrak with the more powerful V6 turbo-diesel engine.
The majority of the changes Walkinshaw has given the WAU Ford Ranger are suspension-related and cosmetic. There’s no mention of extra power or torque, so the V6 turbo-diesel’s outputs are still likely 184kW and 600Nm.
Highlighting the inclusions are unique WAU-tuned Bilstein dampers with a two-inch lift, new front coil spring and spring rate, altered upper control arms, front drop links, 0-150kg rear two-inch lift rear springs, rear leaf bush and shackle kit.
Walkinshaw Performance also included a rear tailshaft realignment as part of the package. Tailshaft vibrations were a problem for new-generation Ranger V6 owners when deliveries first started back in 2022, with certain utes being grounded before delivery.
Cosmetic changes include 17-inch machined alloy wheels with Walkinshaw-branded centre caps (shod in 285/70 tyres), a fender flare kit with integrated parking sensors, Baja Designs roof-mounted driving lights, a WAU decal kit, and Walkinshaw Performance tailgate badging. There’s also a build plate inside the cabin.
Other inclusions as part of the WAU Ford Ranger package are two tickets to local Supercars events with a garage tour and two signed hats, as well as a Walkinshaw Performance gift pack.
Pricing for the WAU Ford Ranger has yet to be disclosed, though a standard Ranger Wildtrak V6 starts at $74,840 before on-roads.
Walkinshaw Performance is covering the WAU Ford Ranger with a three-year warranty.
The Ford Ranger is the latest in a long line of utes to undergo tuning by Walkinshaw. Examples include the previous-generation Volkswagen Amarok and Mitsubishi Triton, as well as right-hand drive conversions for the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500.
Another Walkinshaw-tuned ute that’s understood to be in the works is a tougher-looking Isuzu D-Max. A government approval filing for the vehicle called the Blade was published recently.
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