Ford Claims 405-HP Ranger Raptor 'May Already Be Overpowered': TDS
Jerry Perez
The latest automotive news and reviews, no nonsense
Welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short, The Drive’s morning news summary delivering you the top automotive headlines from around the globe.
The Downshift provides a brief recap of news, along with links to full articles for those wanting more details. Congratulations, it’s Friday! Here’s your update for June 12, 2026.
🛻 Ford does not intend to roll out an even more extreme Ranger Raptor R or Bronco Raptor R, according to Ford Racing's chief engineer Carl Widmann, who noted, “If anything, the Ranger Raptor might already have too much power.” The Ranger Raptor is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 405 horsepower. [Road & Track]
🫧 Ford will recall over half a million Expedition SUVs from model years 2018 to 2024 due to center console chrome plating that may bubble and peel over time, resulting in sharp edges that could cause injury to occupants. [Reuters]
🍾 Additionally, Honda will recall over 1 million tire repair kits included with their vehicles because of a defective sealant bottle that could allow pressure to build up enough for the bottle cap to become a projectile. The affected kits are provided with hybrid versions of the Accord and CR-V. [Reuters]
🆙 In other Ford news, the company has successfully upsold Edge and Escape customers—two discontinued models—to the larger Explorer. The Explorer has seen the most significant sales improvement for Ford this year, with an 18 percent increase. [Automotive News]
📼 Nissan has revealed nostalgic features it is incorporating into the 2027 Z, extending the S30-inspired split grille design across the lineup and introducing a new wheel design that echoes the machined rims on the Z31, along with a fresh green exterior color and a tan interior option. [Nissan]
🏭 Volkswagen is reportedly planning to reduce its workforce by 19,000 jobs in Germany by the year’s end; for context, Volkswagen Group has nearly 300,000 employees in the country and aims to cut at least 28,000 jobs by the end of this decade. [Quartz]
🏎️ Fernando Alonso informed the media that this weekend will likely be “my last Barcelona race in Formula 1,” as the track will not be included in next year’s schedule. The 44-year-old veteran appears to be preparing for retirement, though he has yet to make an official statement. [Motorsport]
🕰️ The #15 BMW hypercar will start on pole at the 94th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans tomorrow, followed by the #12 Cadillac and #35 Alpine. [Motorsport]
🏁 Races to catch this weekend:
94th 24 Hours of Le Mans: Saturday at 10 a.m. on HBO Max
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Pocono: Saturday at 4 p.m. on The CW
Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Sunday at 9 a.m. on Apple TV
GT World Challenge America at Road Atlanta: Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on YouTube
NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono: Sunday at 3 p.m. on Prime Video
Do you have a tip or feedback for TDS? Contact us at tips@thedrive.com
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Ford Claims 405-HP Ranger Raptor 'May Already Be Overpowered': TDS
Don't expect a Ford Bronco Raptor R or Ranger Raptor R anytime soon, either.