In a surprising move, Ford has decided that when the all-new F150 Raptor debuts it will only be available as a SuperCrew. The former SuperCab body has been discontinued. It’s surprising because Ford wants to fill out its pickup and SUV offerings to make up for discontinued sedans. Having both the SuperCab and SuperCrew bodies helped fulfill that goal. Obviously, Raptor SuperCabs must not have been ordered much for Ford to make this move.

The Raptor F-150 SuperCab was a niche inside of a niche

The Raptor is a niche product-a much visible niche product but a low volume truck nonetheless. So a niche within a niche needs to be awfully compelling and Ford must not have thought it was. With the Raptor considered an off-road powerhouse it is interesting that for off-road use the shorter wheelbase and length are better. So, are most of the Raptors poseur off-road trucks? It appears so.

This makes it easier for Ford to build the Raptor as it is now offering it one way. But it also seems a bit tight to be limiting Raptor choices when the platform it is made from is the best-selling vehicle in the US. With thousands and thousands of each body; single cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew, how much savings is there to eliminate the SuperCrew from the Raptor lineup?

The release of VIN decoder information showed the F-150 Raptor only as a SuperCrew

The site F150gen14.com was the first to catch this. Ford’s 2021 F-150 VIN decoder release did not have a listing with the SuperCab. That was the means to determine without it showing up on the list it wouldn’t be available. If you must have a SuperCab F150 Raptor you better hurry on over to your local Ford dealer and snap up one of the remaining 2020s. 

As for the 14th generation F-150, its scheduled starting date for manufacturing has not been moved due to the pandemic closures. At least so far. Job 1 at the Dearborn Truck Plant is still listed for August 17. The Kansas City Truck Plant has its Job 1 date set for September 14. 

Where’s the V8?

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is supposed to see some power increase. The twin-turbo hybrid version is supposed to be available as well. Will it find its way into the Raptor? And what about a V8? It has been curious that Ford doubled down on the EcoBoost V6 and hasn’t added the V8 to its flagship F150. We hope that Ford isn’t falling into the GM trap of making what it wants instead of what the customers want. It just never works out for either.

With the assembly line closures as a result of the pandemic, Ford may push off some of the lower production vehicles to concentrate on the big sellers. At this point, it is about bringing in as much cash as possible and get the numbers up once the assembly lines are ramped up.

If that happens Raptor production may be delayed until 2022 to crank out F150s. Whatever the time delay for the 2021 F150 Raptor the wait should be worth it.