What Are People Saying About the Upcoming 2021 Ford Raptor?

2020 model shown

The all-new 2021 Ford F-150 is incredibly exciting as we gear up for the new model year. With targeted best-in-class capability, onboard electrical power generation, and a full hybrid engine, the new F-150 is shaping up to conquer the full-size truck class in 2021. However, the new F-150 announcement has all of us in Cincinnati, and beyond itching to know more about the future of the super off-road capable Ford Raptor, the popular desert running version of the Ford pickup. Of all the Ford trucks for sale, the Raptor is in a league of its own.

Tragically, we still don’t have anything confirmed in regard to specifics, but the 2021 Ford Raptor rumors have been burning strong among fans for some time. With so many excellent choices of Ford trucks for sale, what does the Raptor have in store, and what can we predict to enjoy with this outstanding performance truck? How will Ford respond to the daunting competition of the new Ram TRX? Let’s begin the breakdown of what we know and what we are still waiting to find out.

Fight for Function

The past two generations of the Ford Raptor are still a good framework to base what we can expect from the new model to come. The design of the pickup is solid, and Ford’s pattern is to stick to what works with slow changes over time. As it stands, the Ford Raptor combines big power with an incredibly rugged suspension, huge tires, and menacing body. All of this wraps up what is an outrageously capable off-road performance truck. Despite its achievements in the past, the newest Ram performance truck on the block is going to put the 2021 Raptor to task in order to keep it from falling behind.

The biggest hurdle facing Ford and the release of the new Raptor is the challenge of taking on Ram with its new TRX. Ram’s off-road truck has been supercharged with the beastly 702 hp Hellcat engine from the Dodge Charger. With this monstrous V8 engine, the TRX outpaces the 2020 Raptor on just about every metric you can think of. Fortunately for Ford, Ram has played its cards first, giving Ford the chance to respond and potentially impress us more than the TRX.

We could see Ford do an upgrade of the current powertrain in the Raptor. The twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 is competent, but the 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque just don’t compare to the insane numbers being reported on the TRX, which pushed 700 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It may be necessary for Ford to take a page out of the Ram playbook if it wants a chance to catch up.

One possibility that has been rumored is Ford imitating Ram with its own supercharged engine. If Ford took the incredible performance of the supercharged 5.2L V8 engine packed in the Shelby GT500, that would give the TRX a run for its money with 760 hp, which is enough power to make us drool at the thought of it being in the new Raptor.

Another possibility would be having several powertrain options available. Ford could also offer the 660 hp Ecoboost V6 that rumbles under the hood of the Ford GT supercar. It is worth mentioning that the TRX V8 is 6.2L, so it is a little bigger than most of the possibilities that Ford could bring forward, but comparing the engine types of each brand’s performance sports car is a good guess as to where Ford’s strategy may be.

2020 model shown

Keeping Us in Suspense

Another rumor that has been floating around is that Ford will change the suspension system of the new 2021 Raptor from a leaf spring suspension to a coil spring rear suspension. A coil spring suspension system could help improve the off-road performance of the Raptor while sacrificing slightly on its loading capacity. The leaf spring suspension is likely to remain; however, as it is built onto the F-150 already, it is doubtful that Ford will change it. Doing so would be costly and impractical if the frame is designed with the leaf spring suspension already.

That being said, standard improvements from the base truck to the Raptor means we can still anticipate a wider track, longer suspension travel, higher ground clearance, as well as heavy-duty shocks for cruising off the dunes. So not too much new can be expected from the Raptor’s suspension than is standard. There may be an added option to spend some extra cash on a coil spring suspension, but so far, that is just hopeful.

The standard leaf spring suspension does help the Raptor maintain its reputation for having a long suspension life and allows it to perform better with heavier payloads. We don’t have any performance numbers on the 2021 Raptor, but it is likely to be close to the standard F-150. Expect some upgrade options in the high performance Raptor for even more capability.

Counting What’s On the Inside and Outside

2020 model shown

As is standard for Ford, the new F-150 interior hasn’t changed dramatically. Despite no revolutionary aesthetic alterations, Ford did equip the cabin with some new technology conveniences to make work easier and more comfortable, such as the center work table and max recline seats for on-site paperwork or much needed rest. Expect to see these in the cabin of the 2021 Raptor, as well as additional technology to monitor off-road performance and safety. This could include the standard 8-inch touchscreen and optional 12-inch upgrade for infotainment and connectivity.

Count on standard features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to be included with the Raptor’s infotainment suite borrowed from the baseline F-150. There will also likely be higher trim options, such as built-in navigation and an upgraded stereo. Overall the interior features of the Raptor will be much of what we have seen advertised with the F-150. One last possible rumor will be upgraded Recaro front seats for comfort while rampaging off the road.

As for exterior styling changes, the Raptor traditionally takes a more aggressive appearance in comparison to its more pragmatic cousin in the F-150. We are planning on seeing returning fender flares and higher ground clearance. Expect to see some more stylish contour lines and a more intense and menacing hood and grill design to intimidate the competition as well.

Raptured for the Raptor

The possibilities for what the new 2021 Ford Raptor can bring to the table are exciting, to say the least. The 2021 Ram TRX has surely raised the bar on what we expect from a performance off-road truck. Ford has the opportunity to answer this call to action with an even more impressive version of the Raptor we have already come to love. With many features such as interior technology and suspension being comparable to the F-150, it will likely come down to what powertrain options Ford decides to offer that will determine how the Raptor stacks up against the TRX for who will rule the dunes in 2021. Without a doubt, the 2021 Raptor will rise to the challenge and pull out all the stops to stay in the race against the TRX.