Get wilder! 2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak X joins the range, bridges gap with hardcore Ranger Raptor

Ford Australia has added yet another variant to the stable of its most popular model, the Ford Ranger, with the Wildtrak X joining the line-up near the pointy end.

Starting from $75,990 before on-road costs, the 2024 Ford Ranger Wildtrak X “bridges the gap between Ranger Raptor and Wildtrak”, adding some off-road focused features to the Wildtrak without infringing on the performance bent of the Raptor.

As such, the Wildtrak X is available only with Ford’s 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, making 150kW/500Nm and paired only with the 10-speed automatic transmission seen in the rest of the range.

While it’s about $8000 more expensive than the same-engined Wildtrak, it’s still more than $10,000 cheaper than the Raptor, and comes with features like Trail Control as seen in the Raptor, as well as upgraded Bilstein position-sensitive dampers that are more broadly adjustable for varying conditions.

“Ranger is more than just transportation: it enables an unlimited lifestyle, giving owners the ability to tackle work, family and play with one, feature-packed vehicle,” said David Grice, Chief Platform Engineer for the Ford Ranger. 

“We have designed and engineered Wildtrak X with the overlanding community front of mind.”

General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres are fitted as standard, while the Wildtrak X is the first of the model to feature full-time four-wheel drive instead of the standard part-time setup.

The X also features Trail Turn Assist, which brakes the rear inside wheel during off-roading in narrow areas, and can “reduce the turning circle radius by up to 25 per cent”, Ford says. A Rock Crawl mode similar to that on the Raptor also allows for more control on tricky surfaces at low speeds.

In terms of design and comfort features, the X's Cyber Orange paint option is exclusive to the variant, while steel bash plates, black badging and trim, and a unique grille distinguish the X from other Rangers.

The Wildtrak X is the first model to feature full-time four-wheel drive.

Terra suede adorns the interior, with matching Cyber Orange stitching as contrast, while the X gains a B&O audio system, and a larger 12.4-inch cluster screen over the regular Wildtrak.

The Wildtrak X is also the first Ranger variant to meet the Light Duty Truck EU Stage 6 emissions.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak X will hit Australian showrooms in the second half of 2023.