It’s no secret that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor was going to make its appearance on February 3rd, but other than a vague teaser image we didn’t get a chance to see much of the new Raptor itself. That’s changed with a brief teaser video showing the front fascia of the new Raptor without any form of camouflage whatsoever which serves as our first look at Ford’s TRX fighter.
Smoother Styling Highlights Raptor Changes
The current generation Raptor is arguably the most distinct model in the F-150 range but its brutish looks don’t necessarily translate into something that is very sleek and composed. The new Raptor is out to change that and while we only get a fleeting glimpse of it from an angle that’s too far away to make out anything substantial in the Metallica infused video, a subsequent image making the rounds reveals that the front grille will continue to be dominated by large Ford lettering with the rest of it being made out of a thick mesh material. Three amber colored lights are in the upper edge of the hood line while black sections are scattered about on what appears to be a redesigned front hood.
We suspect that the rear styling will also benefit from the recent changes done to the 2021 F-150 and incorporate new taillight assemblies as well as a revised rear bumper and exhaust system layout. The Raptor always had a small pool of colors to choose from and it appears that the 2021 model will continue this trend with leaked documents suggesting buyers will be able to choose from eight different colors (Code Orange, Rapid Red, Velocity Blue, Antimatter Blue, Iconic Silver, Lead Foot, Agate Black, and Oxford White.
2021 Raptor’s Rumored V8 Is Hunting For TRXs
Performance for the 2021 Raptor is slated to be a very potent talking point for buyers when it eventually becomes public knowledge. Look for the bulk of Raptor pickups to continue using the familiar 3.5 liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. It’s not known if power figures will move from the 450 horsepower that defines the current generation Raptor but with the TRX out on the scene and potentially expanding its engine options over the next few years, we would not be surprised of Ford engineers managed to squeeze out a few extra horsepower just to ensure that it can still hang with the beefed up Ram.
What’s got our attention though is mounting evidence that Ford could be working on a V8 powered Raptor. This Raptor would be the one to watch if Ford is hunting for TRXs and could find a way to surpass the 700 horsepower barrier. The trouble is that we don’t know exactly what V8 will be making its way under the hood. A logical guess is that the Shelby GT500’s 5.2 liter supercharged V8 could supply the firepower for this special Raptor, but we will have to wait and see if our suspicions are correct.
The wait could be awhile too with the V8 Raptor potentially appearing later in the Raptor’s production run. If that’s the case then look for the 3.5 liter to have its time in the spotlight when the truck makes its debut. A 10-speed automatic could continue to be the lone transmission of choice for the Raptor especially those equipped with the 3.5 liter V6.
Either way look for the 2021 Raptor to be a noticeable upgrade over the 2021 F-150 Tremor which was unveiled as a way for buyers to get some of the Raptor’s trail ready capability but without breaking the bank.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.