First Look: 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor

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As soon as Ford announced its all-new 2021 F-150, off-road fans were all over it: Okay, but where’s the Raptor?

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And now it is coming, and by the sounds of it, it’s going to be a blast. We’ve only been given a virtual preview due to pandemic restrictions, but I can’t wait to drive this thing.

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Compared to the last-generation Raptor, this one has a revised suspension, beefier shocks, available 37-inch tires, and more capacity — and if that isn’t enough, next year we’ll be getting a V8-powered Raptor R, which looks aimed straight at Ram’s ridiculous-but-you-want-one 702-horsepower TRX pickup.

The 2021 F-150 had all of its body panels redesigned, but rides on the same frame as before, and so its overall dimensions don’t change. That’s the same for the Raptor, which has always been wider than its F-150 sibling. But it gets an extra half-inch of ground clearance over the last model, to 305 mm (12 inches) of space, and up to 330 mm (13.1) inches with its optional 37-inch tire package — more on that later.

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It comes strictly in SuperCrew configuration with 5-foot-6 bed, and as before, it’s an aluminum body (strong but not “military-grade,” which is Ford’s made-up marketing term) with high-strength-steel frame. Both towing and payload capacity are up by 200 lbs each, to 8,200 and 1,400 lbs, respectively.

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The original Raptor carried a V8, and many enthusiasts were more than a little disappointed when the second-gen had only six cylinders under its hood — although it was the high-performance version of the turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and it made more power than the V8 it replaced. That same V6 engine returns in the 2021 version, mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission as before.

Ford hasn’t released the power numbers yet, but the last time out, the 3.5L was good for 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. To keep eight-cylinder fans at least a bit happier, there’s a new exhaust system with an X-pipe, a so-called “trombone” loop, and for the first time on a Raptor, active valves — all of which are intended to make those six cylinders sound like a V8. The active valves provide normal, sport, Baja, or quiet modes.

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And if you don’t think V8-style sound is sufficient compensation for the real thing, we suspect that next year’s Raptor R will borrow the supercharged 5.2L V8 from the Mustang Shelby GT500, where it makes 760 horsepower, because Ram now has the 702-horsepower TRX , and Ford’s not likely to let that go unchallenged.

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What really makes a Raptor into a Raptor is what’s under the floorboards, and that’s where this new one gets changed the most. The rear leaf springs and solid axle are history, replaced with a new five-link suspension with 610-mm (24-inch) coil springs. The front wheels have 355 mm (14 inches) of travel, while the rear ones have 381 mm (15 inches).

Fox is back with its shocks, including next-generation Live Valve internal bypass units that are the largest yet on a Raptor, filled with low-friction fluid and featuring electronically-controlled position-sensitive damping. Sensors take note of what’s happening hundreds of times per second, and when they tell the shocks to adjust to it, it takes just 80 milliseconds for them to respond. Ford claims that’s fast enough that the shocks realize the terrain under the tires has changed before the driver does.

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Those largest shocks are packaged with a new option of 37-inch tires, the first time a full-size production truck has left the factory with that much rubber under it (you get 35-inchers otherwise). That big-tire-big-shock pack can only be added to the higher of Raptor’s two trim levels. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but we’re guessing if you order your Raptor in top trim with the 37-inch package, “big shock” will apply to more than just the Fox units under it.

Shocks and tires aren’t the only options. While we don’t yet know the full specs, standard or available features will include cloth-and-leather upholstery, heated rear seats, Recaro bucket seats, beadlock-capable wheels, Rigid fog lamps, under-seat locking storage, and Bang & Olufsen stereo system.

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Some available features also migrate from the new F-150, including a gearshift lever that folds down into the centre console, so a work table can be opened over it; and an integrated 2.0-kilowatt generator with plugs in the bed, which can run power tools or camping lights.

Getting to the campsite is made easier with a few off-road technologies. The Terrain Management System has seven settings, automatically adjusting for such conditions as snow, sand, or rocks. One-Pedal Drive applies the brakes whenever you take your foot off the throttle, eliminating two-foot driving on rough terrain, while the 360-degree cameras show the trail in front so you don’t need a spotter.

The new Raptor has a lot of tech features, too, including over-the-air updates, standard SYNC 4 infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and new items in the FordPass mobile app that let you check fuel level and tire pressure, operate the lights, or check trailer lights from your phone, plus an alert if someone’s trying to steal said trailer.

Ultimately, everything’s going to depend on how the Raptor feels and performs from behind the wheel. But looking at the specs, I’ll be very surprised if this thing isn’t yee-haw on a yump, and then smooth and mild-mannered enough when it’s time to take a trip into town. And after that, we sit and wait to see if the Raptor R is all it’s cracked up to be as well.

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