The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor Arrives Feb. 3 – Here Is What We Know So Far
The arrival of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX left fans of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor wondering some fairly important questions. The first is whether or not this brand-new Raptor will have a powerful V8 under the hood. Additionally, will this new model be capable enough to challenge the enormous TRX?
Thanks to Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Manager on Twitter, we know we won’t have to wait long to find out formally. This is because the brand-new model will arrive on Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. ET.
How will the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor look?
Although we’ve seen plenty of prototypes rolling around, we just got the clearest look at the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor yet. This is because the official banner announcing its reveal features a photo of what appears to be the truck behind it. While it is a very close image, there is a lot of information here.
For starters, we can clearly see that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will carry over a similar grille design to the one in the current model. As you’d expect, there appears to be an aggressive front hood that looks quite similar to that of the current model. However, at the edges of the grille, we can clearly see how the brand-new headlights wrap around. All in all, it seems as though the design of this new Raptor will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
If the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor prototypes we’ve seen are anything to go by, this brand-new truck could be getting a wider stance. This could include wider fenders, both front, and rear. However, these changes are likely influenced by the powertrain that lives under the hood.
Will this new off-roading truck finally get a V8?
One of the most anticipated aspects of this 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor unveil is the return of a V8 engine for the model. However, according to Car and Driver, this new engine will likely arrive with a supercharger attached to it. More specifically, this new Raptor could get the 760-hp V8 out of the Shelby GT500. Unlike previous generations, this new model will likely offer two engine options. The second and less powerful engine could be the 3.5-liter V6 that currently powers the Raptor.
Car and Driver report that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor could even get the hybrid powertrain from the F-150 Powerboost. While this is certainly a possibility, it is not one of the most probable theories. In terms of transmission, the truck will likely carry over the current 10-speed automatic. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Shelby-powered variant will offer a dual-clutch transmission.
How much will this truck cost?
This is one area where we don’t know much about the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. The current-generation Raptor starts at $53,455 for the base model with the SuperCab configuration. As a result, we should see a marginal increase for this brand-new model.
Car and Driver estimate that the truck will start around $55,000. Expect the V8-powered variant to carry a significant premium. For context, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX starts at $71,690. Thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to learn all of the important details surrounding this off-roading truck.