Ford Ranger gets more off-road brawn alongside supercharged Mustang and other Blue Oval upgrades at SEMA show

Ford Performance has revealed several modified cars based on current models with varying aims, from road performance to off-road domination.

The Blue Oval’s go-fast division’s SEMA show cars include a Ford Ranger and Bronco with a host of ARB modifications, a supercharged Ford Mustang and some more lightly modified Broncos and Bronco Sports.

Perhaps most relevant here given ARB’s Australian roots and the ute’s popularity locally is the Ranger fitted with an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) package.

Seemingly set to be available to North American Ford Ranger customers in some form, the ORV package’s use of ARB parts comes thanks to the off-roading accessories brand being a development partner to Ford during the Australian-led program for the current Ranger.

An ARB suspension kit as well as front and rear bumpers with additional recovery points are key to the package, which is designed for 4x4 versions of the Ranger in XLT and the US’s ‘Lariat’ trim.

While a Ford Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide there’s no current plan for a similar off-road package here, ARB’s strong presence in Australia and the brand’s familiarity with the Ranger means local owners would be able to buy the parts needed to create a similar set-up.

“An onboard air compressor, Solis lights, and a refrigerator-freezer are also available” says Ford Performance.

The pack as an option for Ranger customers comes not long after the current generation’s launch in the US, with the ute having been on sale in Australia since mid-2022.

Yet to arrive in Australia, however, is the new Ford Mustang, which is on show at SEMA with a 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger mounted to its 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine for a total output of around 800 horsepower (close to 600kW).

And unlike the ORV package for the Ranger, the supercharger set-up for Ford’s pony car is set to arrive in Australia via local Ford Performance dealer Herrod Performance.

Chris Herrod told CarsGuide the Whipple kit should be ready for customer orders from the new year onwards, and although coming in with a calibration to suit Australian conditions will still make the same impressive power as it does in the US.

Herrod Performance is also able to bring other components and modifications from the Ford Performance catalogue to Australia, as well as having its own portfolio of kits and modifications offered to customers.

On show at SEMA is the new Ford Mustang, which is yet to arrive in Australia.

Ford Performance also built a door-less, surfboard-toting beach-going version of the Bronco for the SEMA show, as well as a ‘Bronco Sport Blue Free Wheeling’ concept that is, as the name suggests, very blue.