An off-road Ford Mustang Raptor could be part V8 muscle car, part rally rocket
The Ford Mustang has been many things to many people over the years. First, it was an appeal to the young generation to escape the land yachts of the American market. Shortly after, it became a performance icon with Shelby badges and icons like the Mach 1. Moreover, the Mustang may evolve entirely into a lifted, dirt-kicking off-road variant soon: the 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor.
What do the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato and Porsche 911 Dakar need? Competition from a Ford Mustang Raptor
Taking a performance car and adding some ride height, aggressive suspension, and knobby tires isn’t a new thing. For instance, the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar is a spiritual successor to the 953 of the 1980s. Incidentally, both the modern interpretation and the rally-winning classic are off-road-ready versions of a popular performance nameplate. And now Ford is getting into it.
Sure, the upcoming 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor won’t likely be as unhinged as the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato. However, we do expect some of the wild, sand-spewing, trail-crushing DNA of the F-150 Raptor and Bronco Raptor to reach the seventh-generation Mustang.
Better yet, Car and Driver holds that the Mustang Raptor will likely have a 500-horsepower 5.0L Coyote V8, not unlike the current Dark Horse. However, those with wild horses rampaging through their veins will opt for a later Raptor R model, perhaps with a 5.2L V8 producing over 700 horsepower.
| Make and model | Starting price |
|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor | $90,000-$110,000 (estimated) |
| 2024 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato | $283,467 |
| 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar | $223,650 |
Still, don’t think you’ll be seeing these Mustangs everywhere; Ford will likely limit production. What’s more, the Raptor may start at around $90,000. While we expect steep dealer markups and swollen resale prices, it’s still much more affordable than a swivel-eyed Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato.
Further, we expect the Ford Mustang Raptor to be one of the first factory all-wheel drive (AWD) Mustangs– with a caveat. See, the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E has offered dual-motor AWD since its inception.
However, the Raptorized Mustang will likely be one of the first internal combustion engine (ICE) ‘Stangs to follow the original formula. Sure, it’ll add knobby tires and ride height, but it’ll also be a front-engine, fuel-swilling, two-door Mustang. Cue the bald eagles.
