Ford has revealed that it is looking at the possibility of introducing a production version of its Dakar off-road racer, the Raptor T1+. This news was shared by Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, according to CarExpert.
Farley reportedly said that Ford is working on a new production vehicle that will serve as the headliner of the Blue Oval brand’s performance division, which is Ford Racing. Farley added that “in the forward world of technology and [enthusiasts], I don’t think customers need to make such difficult choices between fun off-road and fun on-road.”
The said statement points to the direction that Ford is most likely aiming to introduce a vehicle that could deliver both superb off- and on-road driving capabilities, along with notable performance that’s adopted from its Ford Racing division.
While not mentioning any specifics, Ford CEO’s statements lean towards having the possibility of seeing a road-legal version of the Raptor T1+, an off-road racer powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine based on the Mustang’s Coyote power unit. Of note, Farley did not share further details, such as when to expect the launch date of the new production vehicle.
The Ford Raptor T1+ first debuted at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is a rally car that’s developed with M-Sport LTD, which is the car brand’s long-standing World Rally Championship partner. Aside from the 5.0-liter V8 engine, the Raptor T1+ that raced in Dakar features a carbon fiber body, 400mm of ground clearance, BF Goodrich tires, four coilovers, four Fox external bypasses, and eight Eibach springs, among others.
Ford Racing closed out the 2026 Dakar Rally with a double podium finish and six stage wins, reinforcing the strength, depth, and momentum of the Ford Raptor T1+ program at arguably the world’s toughest off-road race.
“Dakar is the ultimate proving ground, not just for outright speed, but for durability, teamwork, and trust in the vehicle. To leave Dakar with a double podium, multiple stage wins, and all-Ford podiums, and strong results from both our factory and customer teams says a lot about how far this program has come,” said Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook.
Autocar’s Take
Ford is hinting at the possibility of introducing a new Raptor production vehicle, which could most likely be based on its Dakar off-road racer, the Raptor T1+. While no specifics have been confirmed as of this writing, Ford CEO Jim Farley is floating the idea that the Blue Oval brand intends to launch a road-legal vehicle that could deliver superb off- and on-road performance.
The said vehicle will be developed based on the data it has gathered from its Ford Racing Division. This strategy is similar to what other car brands are doing, such as Toyota. In fact, Toyota has also pitted its own Dakar Rally challenger through its Gazoo Racing division. Toyota’s Dakar challenger is called the DKR GR Hilux.
