2021 Ford F-150 Raptor debuts, with V8 coming later

When the 2021 Ford F-150 came out last year, people were wondering when the next Raptor will make an appearance. Now almost a year later, they have revealed the new generation 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor with the promise of a V8 on the horizon.

If you were expecting a revolution with the new Raptor, you may not find it here. Yet, the new truck comes with significant changes that will keep it fresh for a few more years. The 2021 Raptor gets modest aesthetic updates on the exterior and the interior. Outside, the Raptor sports an updated hood, and new fascia. The interior is spiced up with orange accents and carbon fiber trims. There are paddle shifters as well, lifted straight off the mad Shelby GT500.

The Raptor is still powered by the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. This mill produces 450 hp in the outgoing model but Ford does not talk about the outputs of the 2021 Raptor. But with the V6, it will be hard to trounce the 702 hp Ram TRX. That will be a task best left to the Ford Raptor R, a V8 model confirmed by Ford to be launched in the coming year. The return of the V8 to the Raptor is certain to be celebrated by the petrolhead folk around the world.

Even with the EcoBoost V6, the 2021 Raptor means business. The rear suspension is all-new, with five-link rear with super long trailing arms and a Panhard rod for impressive articulation. There are massive 24-inch coil springs at all ends, with Fox shocks. Hooked up to these suspensions, are the 35-inch tyres that come as standard. There is an option to upgrade to the ridiculously large 37-inch tires at the cost of some articulation. To sum it all up, Ford installs a new exhaust system that will make the V6 sound the way a Raptor should sound. The exhaust gets four modes – Quiet, Normal, Sport, and Baja – which should help you tweak the exhaust note of the Raptor as needed. There are seven drive modes as well, giving the Raptor immense capability to make the most out of its revised suspension and massive tyres.

Pricing for the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is not out yet, but it should be similar to the current model, with the upcoming Raptor R a fair bit higher when they land in the UAE and GCC by the end of the year.