Auto Industry News: Truck Yeah! Ford Debuts Ranger & Ranger Raptor, Toyota Accidentally Reveals Tacoma, & RAM Goes Lunar

It’s a big month for truck lovers, and the hits just keep on coming. Both the Ford Ranger and its high-performance sibling the Ranger Raptor debuted this past week, landing with an impressive splash. Then, on the same day, RAM dropped a special new Lunar Edition for TRX and Rebel models. All the while, an impatient Tacoma enthusiast was testing online backdoors to nab glamor shots of the new truck – and very quickly shared their success with the internet. The Engine Block has details on all these trucks, as well as news on the upcoming ZR2 Bison’s debut and some interesting upgrades coming to the historic Route 66 just in time for its 100th birthday.

All-New Ford Ranger Hits A Little Different

The very much-anticipated 2024 Ford Ranger and 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor finally made their grand American debuts last week and, so far, the two mid-sizers are receiving a very warm welcome.

Totally redesigned for the new model year, the fresh-faced Ranger sports bolder and boxier styling – as well as a bigger footprint. The mid-size truck gains 2.3 inches in cab space and bed storage thanks to some tailored wheelbase stretching.

Chassis enhancements not only improve space, but also stability, while new outboard-mounted rear shocks further promote comfort and control. This helps make up for the only configuration being a four-door crew cab with 5-ft bed.

Under the hood lives the same 2.3-liter EcoBoost from last generation, making 270 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. However, higher trims borrow the twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6 found in the Bronco and F-150. Good for 315 hp and 400 lb.-ft of torque, it’s paired with the class-exclusive 10-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, Ford fans will find an entire cubic foot of added passenger room, along with bigger and brighter touchscreens, upgraded assistance tech, and a bevy of functional storage options. Maximum towing stays at 7,500 pounds, but max payload increases to 1,805 pounds and 1,711 pounds for two-wheel and four-wheel drive models, respectively.

Ranger Raptor Lands Stateside

Building upon the Ranger’s upgrades is the long-anticipated Raptor variant.

Wearing a toned-down version of the Bronco Raptor’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, the Ford Ranger Raptor makes a best-in-class 405 hp and 430 lb.-ft. of torque. The automaker’s 10-speed auto is bolted to the engine, mated to an advanced four-wheel drive system with electronically controlled on-demand two-speed transfer case and front and rear locking differentials for improved off-road traction.

Suspension travel greatly increases over the standard Ranger, thanks to new lightweight aluminum upper and lower control arms and a long-travel rear suspension with a Watts linkage and trailing arms. Next-gen FOX Live Valve shocks at all four corners ensure top-notch performance, all day long.

Other notable features include 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain KO3s mounted on 17-inch wheels with available beadlocks, as well as a thick, high-quality steel front bash plate.

RAM Tries to Steal Ford’s Thunder

Just as Ford was gearing up its reveal, RAM’s social channels began promising the arrival of “a new force” on May 10 – coincidentally, the same day as the Ranger’s scheduled debut.

The nine-second teaser clip opens with a camera moving at high-speed over a desolate landscape crisscrossed with tire tracks, as a sandstorm brews in the distance. A quick cut reveals an extreme close-up of that same view seen through the end of a pair of binoculars, only to be quickly replaced with the landscape once more. This time, however, two small lights can just be seen cutting through the storm as a hard-revving engine makes it clear these are truck headlights headed straight for us. A dramatic cut to black then reveals a caption announcing the “landing” of a new force.

Exciting, no?! The internet was certainly abuzz, wondering just what RAM was cooking up for horsepower-hungry enthusiasts. From the return of the Dakota to the reveal of a new powertrain, speculation was flying.

The Rumble Fell Flat

Unfortunately, the build-up resulted in a bit of a let-down. RAM’s grand reveal was none other than… an expensive, limited edition trim package.

“Designed for the outer limits” – and exclusive to the 2023 Ram 1500 Rebel and TRX – the Lunar Edition features a unique Ceramic Gray exterior color, special graphics and, on the TRX, Surf Blue accent interior stitching. Aaand, that’s about it.

There are other curated options tucked into the package of course, though they are existing features readily available at purchase like heated seats, gloss black wheels and a panoramic sunroof. All-in-all, this is largely like last year’s banana-rama yellow Havoc Edition. Which is to say, it looks great but it’s not quite the reveal we were hoping for.

Out of this world? Pricing starts at $72,205 for the Rebel Lunar Edition, and $108,340 for the TRX version.

A New Bison On The Move

The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is set to debut on May 31 with higher ground clearance, bigger tires and what looks to be a noticeably huskier appearance. Teaser photos dropped on Facebook late last month show the upcoming truck in all its camouflaged glory, striking a few poses in an off-road setting.

Details are still a little scarce, but we know the 2024 model will feature 35-inch Goodyear DuraTrac All-Terrain tires on beadlock-capable wheels and long-travel Multimatic DSSV dampers, as well as hydraulic bump stops and roughly two extra inches of height over the outgoing version.

Did You Know…?

GM’s Cruise is expanding. Last week, the self-driving technology company announced it will bring its autonomous taxi fleet to two new Texas cities, adding to its operations in Austin. Supervised testing will begin next week in Houston and then spread to Dallas at an unknown future date. In these initial stages, the Cruise taxis will have a safety driver behind the wheel but eventually, they will provide driverless rides 24/7 as they currently do in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix.

Good Things Come To Those Who (Don’t) Wait

Speaking of strategically dropped vehicle photos, it looks like the people behind Toyota’s never-ending teaser campaign for the upcoming Tacoma may have underestimated enthusiast patience. A resourceful fan decided the automaker’s May 19 reveal date was too far away and after opening an online back door to one of the vehicle’s landing pages, shared images of the next-gen Taco to an enthusiast forum.

The photos, which first appeared on tacoma4g.com show a white 2024 Tacoma with black roof and trim, looking particularly chiseled as it rips through dirt and sand. As expected, it borrows heavily from the Tundra’s new styling language with the bulked-up hood and fenders, and modern black-cladded wheel wells.

According to an interview between Automotive News and the forum’s co-owner Doug Liu, one of the site’s users simply changed the path and file names in a URL from previous model-year Toyota images and landed upon the new pictures. Liu told the publication that he personally verified the image “by sleuthing on the Toyota website and matching up the hosting domain.”

On the bright side, enthusiasts seem delighted with what they see. If anything, this sneak peek may have just drummed up even more excitement… leading one to wonder if the marketing folks over at Toyota are cleverer than we thought.

Route 66 Turns 100, Finally Gets Upgrades

Proving that sometimes good things do come to those who wait — but when those things are coming from the federal government, you may have to wait a very long time — Route 66 is finally getting some much-needed infrastructure upgrades for its birthday. The old girl turns 100 in 2026.

Commissioned in 1926 and fully-paved by the late ‘30s, Route 66 remains one of America’s most famous highways – even if the cross-country road was officially decertified in 1985.

The subject of books, songs, TV shows and many a young driver’s daydreams, the classic highway has long been a symbol of freedom and adventure. And with its centennial celebrations creeping up fast, federal tax dollars are finally flowing in to making the highway safer and more enjoyable to travel.

Hitting the Open Road

The original route started in Chicago, Illinois and passed through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, ending in sunny Santa Monica, California. While you can no longer drive the entire stretch, portions of it have been preserved over the years. It is these sections that will receive the new funding.

The money will go toward a variety of projects, from EV charging stations and wider shoulders, to new signage and architectural pylons.

Some states are pitching in their own money, too. Illinois, which plays host to nearly 300 miles of the historic highway, pledged $6.6 million through two different grant programs to develop and enhance sites along the route. Governor JB Pritzker said the investments will stimulate local economies across the state and highlight its growing EV sector, while also “honoring the history of Route 66 and looking to the future.”

The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to check back Wednesday for a step-by-step on cleaning those nasty exhaust tips, and come back Friday for must-know safety and first aid tips when camping or overlanding.