Next-Gen Styling: Explore Ford Mustang Raptor 2026 Look!

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Next-Gen Styling: Explore Ford Mustang Raptor 2026 Look!

This fixation on transforming every vehicle into an off-roader has left the trails behind. Porsche transformed the legendary 911 into the mud-splattering Dakar. Instead of the Urus SUV, Lamborghini has the 602-horsepower Huracán Sterrato ready to get filthy. Kids are going to vomit chicken nuggets in no time at all in the Sienna Woodland Edition, a lifted minivan even from Toyota. Ford has now added to the frenzy.

There is an attitude to Raptorize everything deep within Ford's Dearborn headquarters. The idea was born from the F-150's decision to go all out in the desert racing role. The next obvious choice was the Bronco Raptor. It is reasonable to assume that the philosophy will permeate the soon-to-be-released Ranger Raptor. It doesn't appear like much of a stretch to even treat the Explorer and Expedition. However, it appears to be an overkill to convert the Mustang into a trail-ready coupe. Is that so?

The sixth-generation Mustang's splined front hubs should have alerted us to this development years ago. We were under the impression that all-wheel drive would one day allow for lightning-fast acceleration, not transform rural areas into rally tracks.

While the Mustang can accommodate a wide variety of Ford engines, the Raptor will arrive with the 5.0-liter V-8 that Bronco fans have been longing for—almost 500 horsepower. Unfortunately, there is no choice for manual transmission here. You shouldn't also anticipate a transfer case with two speeds. The 10-speed automatic transmission uses an electronically controlled center differential to distribute torque to all four wheels, making the most efficient use of the drive tunnel's limited area. Naturally, a Mustang Raptor R using a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 producing more than 700 horsepower will be introduced at a later date—after all, why not?

Fox Live Valve dampers will protect the Raptors' legacy by absorbing impact when Bo and Luke Duke make an appearance. The Mustang's vitals will be protected by an abundance of underbody bash plates, while a 2.0-inch raise will be provided by bespoke suspension components and lengthened springs. Fenders shielded by cladding will conceal all-terrain tires.

The Raptor version should be available in 2026, as the seventh-generation Mustang hits showrooms later this autumn, followed by the street-oriented performance variants that are sure to follow. It won't be cheap, but compared to a lifted Lamborghini, it'll be a steal. Mudflaps will increase the price of the limited edition off-road Mustangs, which should start at around $90,000.

A mustang-versus-mustang test matched an equine member against a Fox-body Mustang GT convertible on a dirt track in February 1992, long before anyone at Ford conceived of an off-road Mustang. The quarter mile took 34.3 seconds at 25 mph for Tang the horse and 17.0 seconds at 89 mph for the Mustang GT. The horse came out on top according to its as-tested value.