This full-race Ford Ranger might not have all that much in common with the road-legal truck it's "based" on, but hot damn does it look like a riot to blast over the Atacama desert and jungles of South America.
Here are some more intense, dramatic, and downright inspirational exterior shots of this thing in action. Charging across salt flats in a motorstorm of competitors, and chasing teammates around the dunes on quads.
Ford Racing made their Dakar Rally debut at last year's event, finishing the race in an impressive 22nd place. This year they nabbed 27th, which is still a solid result in an event where only 68 of the original 136 starting cars made it to the last flag.
This Ford Ranger 4x4 Double Cab that ran this month's Dakar was piloted by Argentinian rally star Federico Villagra and countryman Andrés Memi who has raced cars, trucks, and bikes at the event in years past.
Here's a spec breakdown of the race Ranger:
| Base Vehicle | Ford Ranger 4x4 Double Cab |
| Regulations | FIA / ASO T1 |
| Engine | Ford Aluminum 5.0L-4V V8 with Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing |
| Engine Management | Magneti Marelli |
| Power | 260 kW @ 4 500 r/min |
| Torque | 560 Nm @ 4 100 r/min |
| Rev limit | 5 500 r/min |
| Body | Full Composite |
| Suspension | Independent Front and RearTwin BOS Dampers/WheelAntiroll Bar Rear |
| Brakes | Brembo Water Cooled RearBrembo Air Cooled Front |
| Fuel Cell | 500 litres |
| Gearbox | Sadev 6-Speed Sequential, permanent 4-wheel drive |
| Cabin | Air conditioned |
| Differential | LSD Unit Front and Rear |
| Steering | Sadev |
| Internal Electronics | GEMS |
| Driveline | GKN |
| Drive wheels | 16-inch Evocorse rims fitted with 245/85-16 Michelin tyres |
| Top speed | 170 km/h |
Images via Ford At Dakar