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The Ford Bronco and Ranger Raptors have an enviable reputation as some of the most capable off-road vehicles on the planet that you can still drive home. Ford’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost® V6 powers both models and while the horsepower and torque of either model aren’t exactly lacking, who doesn’t crave more power in vehicles like this? Consequently, Benna Ford is pleased to pass on the news that both models can significantly boost power through a new software calibration from Ford Performance Parts. Available on the 2024 Ranger Raptor and the 2022 – 2024 Bronco Raptor, the power increases are significant, particularly for low-end torque: · Ranger Raptor: Torque increases from 430 to 536 lb.-ft. Horsepower increases from 405 to 455   · Bronco Raptor: Torque increases from 440 to 536 lb.-ft. Horsepower climbs from 418 to 455 The changes significantly improve throttle response, and part of the upgrade includes optimized shift logic to accompany the new power figures. The MSRP for the upgrade is $825, which is a pretty affordable means of that degree of power boost. It can be purchased using Ford Pass Rewards points and installed right here at Benna Ford. Also worth noting is that the calibrations meet Ford durability standards and thus are covered by the vehicle’s three-year, 36,000-mile Ford Performance parts warranty. However, you can get the upgrade for less. The catch is you have to enjoy the heck out of your Ranger or Bronco Raptor at the Raptor Rally, an exclusive one-day event for Raptor owners only near the Ford Performance Racing School in Fairfield, Utah, on Sept. 21, 2024. At the Raptor Rally, you will be able to fly over trails, crawl over rocks, catch air on small hills, test your skill on a Baja-style course, improve your skill with tips from off-road professionals like Vaughn Gitting Jr., Loren Healy, and Chris Voorde. The event is exclusively for Raptor owners and will also include expert workshops, hot lap opportunities, Ford news, exclusive giveaways, meals, and more. All for $500. For Ford Bronco and Ranger Raptor owners, there is an additional incentive: All who attend the rally will receive a 20% off coupon good for the power upgrade as well as other eligible accessories at performanceparts.ford.com. Terms and conditions apply. If you can attend the rally, that would be great! But we understand that not everyone can just take their Raptor 1400 miles to Utah without significant planning. If you are interested in the power upgrade anyway, contact the Benna Ford Service department and discuss it with them.

Rallying is one of the most challenging competitions in motorsports. Vehicles run on-road, off-road, in all kinds of terrain and weather conditions, and the driver often doesn’t even know what is ahead but for turn-by-turn commands from their human navigator. Yet rallying has never really caught on in the states as other motorsports have, possibly because it is not very television-friendly. It is a point-to-point event, making it hard for cameras to cover it adequately. Plus, entrants compete for time, not position, so you don’t have vehicles closely battling for a lead. So, to make a rally edition of the Mustang Mach-E may pose a marketing challenge. However, Motor Authority found the vehicle itself to be nearly brilliant. This Benna Ford review follows their findings. Motor Authority leads their review with a general truism: “ The fastest, most powerful models in any lineup can often end up as one-trick ponies.” This is particularly true for performance-focused model lines, where the pursuit of the lowest quarter-mile time or highest lateral-G on a slalom often leads to sacrifices that compromise the car when it is out of its element or asked to perform the more mundane duties of providing transportation. The multiple talents required of a rally-focused vehicle help mitigate that for the Mach-E Rally. The basic go-and-stop components of the Mach-E Rally match the Mach-E GT’s with the latter’s 480 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque from motors at the front and rear and the 15.0-inch Brembo front brake rotors. Unlike the GT, the Rally is all about having fun and plenty of speed off the road. Thus, it sits about an inch higher, and the MagneRide magnetic damping system - also found in the GT - has been tuned for both on- and off-road action. There is more wheel travel and quicker rebound while reducing the chances of bottoming out. Also retuned is the power distribution between the front and rear motors, which have the advantage of responding with electronic rather than mechanical quickness. This is most noticeable when you switch to RallySport drive mode, which, as Motor Authority describes: “...makes the accelerator more linear, and it ramps up the steering boost—because you might need to go opposite-lock at any moment.” Ford tested the Mach-E on an unpaved course in Michigan and sought input from rallycross drivers. Both an advantage and a challenge in terms of control is the instant torque of electric motors, meaning that 700 pound-feet can be accessed at any given moment. The Motor Authority author had rally experience, which included putting the hammer down early so as to have the torque built up to where you need it when the moment comes. With the Mach-E, you must recalibrate to bring on the power precisely when needed. Front/rear power distribution can go as far as 20:80, and with 700 pound-feet at your foot, swinging the tail on an unpaved surface is not a challenge. While the Mustang Mach-E Rally is designed for off-road performance, it also excels in everyday highway driving. The magnetic dampers, known for their ability to reduce road harshness, ensure a comfortable ride even on rough roads. Plus, with its all-wheel drive system, the Mustang Mach-E Rally offers excellent traction in rain and snow. The is notably not rally-car spartan but instead features flagship model comforts like ambient cabin lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, memory settings, a power tailgate, and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, which, thanks to the quiet electric powertrain, can be enjoyed even at high speeds. The Mustang Mach-E Rally is instantly recognizable by its unique design elements. The raised height is accentuated by white rally-style 19-inch wheels wrapped by Michelin CrossClimate2 tires and a front “grille panel” with integrated fog lights. The front splitter is reshaped for a better approach angle, enhancing the vehicle's off-road capabilities. Another general truism of a model line’s performance model is reduced efficiency. Internal combustion engines manifest this in fuel efficiency. With EVs, the metric is operating range. The raised height and rugged tire/wheel combo knock just 15 miles off the GT’s 280-mile range, though, of course, neither performance model approaches the 320 miles from single-motor Mach-Es. Such is the price to pay for rally-style fun, and as Motor Authority concludes: “In an era when driving fast often involves merely pushing the accelerator to the floor while electronic nannies do all the work, it’s refreshing to feel a system that acts primarily as an aid to the driver in a vehicle that feels like it channels a kind of all-electric fun that hasn’t been emphasized enough. It’s certainly not a one-trick pony.” The Mustang Mach-E Rally is now the flagship for the Mach-E model lineup and a must-see for anyone who enjoys off-road performance and appreciates the advantages of EVs. If you are interested, check in and see if Benna Ford has one in inventory, and if not, ask one of our sales professionals to find one for you to try out.

2024 is the Mustang’s 60th birthday. As it turns out, the car in Mustang GT3 form gave us the present with a podium finish in its first run in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 88 Mustang GT3, driven by Dennis Olsen, Giorgio Roda, and Mikkel O. Pedersen, hit the 24-hour mark third in the LMGT3 category. The No. 44 car, driven by Christopher Mies, John Hartshorne, and Ben Tuck, finished close behind in fourth place. This Benna Ford blog post elaborates on this achievement. It is generally understood that you don’t go to Le Mans the first time to win. You go with the hope of just finishing. You then lick your wounds and determine what you need to do to actually win. Even the now Hollywood-famous Ford GT failed to finish in its first run at LeMans in 1964, only to have its legendary 1-2-3 win two years later. While there is nothing like taking first place, reaching third and fourth in a car’s first LeMans run is quite the accomplishment. As an additional victory, all three Mustang GT3s that entered the race finished it 24 hours later. 2024 is not only the Mustang’s 60th anniversary. It is also the 60th anniversary of the nameplate’s first racing win in France when the freshly born 1964 Mustang won its class in the 1964 Tour de France, another automotive endurance race that is now better known as the multi-day bicycle race of the same name. Of the 117 cars that started that race in 1964, only 36 finished. The winner of the Touring 3.0-liter+ Class was the 1964 Mustang, which snatched a victory from Jaguar’s sedans, which had won the class for the previous four years. The third Mustang GT3 entered the 2024 LeMans was #77, driven by Ryan Hardwick, Ben Barker, and Zacharie Robichon. The car experienced early challenges on the track during the race but completed the 24 hours in the 17th class position. They had a victory earlier in the week when they recorded the fastest qualifying lap on Thursday, advancing to the Hyperpole, a pre-race ceremony of the fastest cars in each class to qualify. It also marked the first lead qualifying position by a Mustang GT3 after four rounds of WEC racing so far in 2024. “Today’s podium performance shows that Mustang can come and compete on the global stage against the best sports cars in the world,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance Motorsports. “It is such a fantastic feeling to be able to do it in the first outing for Mustang at Le Mans. It’s a great testament to our company, our employees and all our fans who are celebrating Mustang’s 60 th anniversary this year and all the great partners we have with Proton Competition, M-Sport and Multimatic Motorsports. We’re racing and winning all around the world, but to have a podium here at Le Mans is such a special moment.” “It’s always great to be on the podium and especially at Le Mans,” said Christian Ried, Proton Competition Team Principal. “But also, in the first year of a new car, and in the 60th Anniversary of Mustang, there are just so many things that came together to make today possible. It’s unbelievable. We saw that this was a good car at its debut in Daytona, and we’ve since taken all the steps in order to make this work in its first season. From Daytona, Sebring and Long Beach, to Qatar, Imola and Spa, we felt like we could bring a car here after those six months that could fight for the win. To finish on the podium in third is amazing. I’m proud of everyone.” While the Mustang GT3 is heavily modified to compete in the GT3 class, all GT3 competitors must be based on production models. Redesigned for its 60th year, the production Mustang is quite impressive in its own right. Even the smallest 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 315 horsepower, over 100 horsepower more than the V8 of the original model. The 4th generation Coyote V8 is rated at 480 - 486 horsepower in the GT, while the Dark Horse model achieves 500 hp. Benna Ford invites you to take a close look at this winning vehicle in its street-legal form.