The NWM FIA T1+ Ford Ranger in this year’s event is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that produces 402 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. It will be interesting to see whether Ford Performance retains the 3.5-liter V6 for its new Dakar racer.
Interestingly, Ford has said it will use the 2024 Dakar Rally as a learning exercise and apply the knowledge learned here to next year’s project. Speaking ahead of this year’s event, Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, said: “Our first time in Dakar will be a learning adventure that will help inform how we compete in the future,” adding that the company is “not just racing to win, [but also] to help build better products for our customers.”
We look forward to learning more about the next-generation Dakar racer, and we hope it informs future Ford trucks and off-roaders as promised.
