“Raptor is the original desert truck. We just took it to another level,” Ali Jammoul, Ford Performance vehicle program director told reporters today. That’s almost underselling it.
Ford unveiled the latest edition of its trophy truck, the 2021 F-150 Raptor, on a live stream this morning. Observers expected an update, perhaps a small power boost, and some adjustments to the suspension. But, given that the Raptor was already the king of the high-performance pickups, the upgrades we saw were a surprise.
They include a completely reworked rear suspension, now a 5-link coil spring design that offers double the damping of the outgoing truck’s springs. With extra-long trailing arms and live valve internal-bypass shocks, it should offer smoother on-road performance to go along with its legendary off-road prowess.
What makes the Raptor special?
In a word, plenty of give to the suspension that makes it ideal for high-speed off-road running. Suspension travel is 14 inches up front and 15 in the rear – both records for a production pickup as far as we can tell – with the standard 35-inch tires. Massive 37-inch tires are available and trim those numbers slightly.
Ground clearance with the standard tires is 12 inches. We probably don’t have to say it, but 4-wheel drive is standard, with an electronic locking rear differential. A limited-slip front differential is available as an option.
We have a limited amount of information on the powertrain. A high-output version of the current 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 will be standard, but Ford has yet to announce power numbers. We expect an increase over the previous version’s 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission is a 10-speed automatic.
A V8-powered Raptor is almost certainly coming, too, in answer to Ram’s 702-horsepower TRX. Ford ended its presentation on the new truck telling us that “Raptor R is coming next year,” with no further comment. But we’d be surprised if it doesn’t increase power to rival the TRX.
Aesthetically, the new truck sports an extremely wide grille that Ford says takes its cue from the intakes of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Adding to the jet-inspired accents are cooling vents on the fenders. Inside, it differs from the standard F-150 thanks to badging, and a unique steering wheel with contrast-color suede. The Sync 4 infotainment system is the same one on most F-150 models, but Ford says it will eventually be able to download trail maps through over-the-air updates.
Pricing is not yet known. The outgoing 2020 Raptor starts at $55,150.
More: 2021 Ford Raptor First Look Review
