Ford is Finally Going to Do the Ford F-150 Raptor Right

I had tears in my eyes and my heart melted when I first read about it. I even did a celebratory dance! Okay, that's a little too much melodrama, but this is big news. It seems like Ford has finally decided to take the plunge and do the right thing. We don't have engine specifics for now, but the Blue Oval is reportedly working on a V-8 engine for the F-150 Raptor! Currently, the V-6 employed for the duties has been doing a good job, but there was always a vacuum left to explore, and Ford has finally filled the void; rather, is on the path to fill it.

Better Late Than Never

According to Ford Authority, the company folks sitting in their air-conditioned offices have heard the enthusiasts and have also realized the potential for a V-8-powered F-150 Raptor on the market. There's the Ram Rebel TRX, which is basically a truck from the FCA's stable to kill the Raptor; or maybe it looked like that. The 2021 Rebel TRX has been spotted testing many times and it is carrying the Hellcat's 707-horsepower engine under its hood! This monstrous engine, although a little late to the party, can blow the competition out of the water. To counter this, Ford has decided to give its baby steroids for maddening power as well.

Ram Is Still The Undisputed Leader

The off-road performance pickup truck market is fairly new in the industry. Back in 2004, Ram gave it a shot by launching the Ram SRT-10 that was powered using Dodge Viper's V-10 engine. But the truck went off the production line within three years. However, the market slowly matured at the turn of the last decade and automakers could sense the need for a performance pickup truck. Enter the Ford Raptor in 2010, and later the Chevy Colorado ZR2, and they saw better days.

That's A Mighty Powerful Engine

We know how hungry Ford is and it won't let any other automaker take the lead. We heard the news of a V-8 Raptor back in March 2019 as well; so, the news surfacing now again can be considered as a credible one. Which one, you ask? The one found under the hood of the Mustang GT500! For all we know, Ford could plonk the 5.2-liter, V-8 supercharged mill into the Raptor. If not for the Ram Rebel TRX, Ford would have used a detuned version of the same one. That's not it...

Ford Authority also reports that Ford's new 7.3-liter, V-8 gasoline engine could also be the one that's being tested. Ford says it is the most powerful V-8 gasoline engine in its class and is all set to join the Super Duty lineup. But this one sure as hell won't generate as many horses as the Mustang GT500's.

Hennessey Had A V-8 For The Raptor Before Ford Did

Hennessey took the matter in its own hands to please the enthusiasts and decided to swap the V-6 engine with a V-8 engine. In fact, it even renamed the product as VelociRaptor V-8. The tuner also spiced up things by opting for the stage 2 off-road suspension with a six-inch lift, and 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 37-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires. The VelociRaptor V-8 is limited to 100 units only and the tuner has taken care of the warranty by covering the original parts of the truck as well as the conversion components.

The Raptor Is Nothing Short Of A Masterpiece

The current F-150 Raptor is arguably the best-looking performance pickup truck in the market today. The Blue Oval has worked on this model and it evident from the looks of it. The 2019 Raptor is built using high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body that sheds 500 pounds when compared to the previous generation. I don't have to talk about the optional accessories Ford offers on its products, especially the trucks. From beadlock-capable wheels, to interior packages; you name it and Ford has it all.

The truck comes with a 3.5-liter, EcoBoost engine that produces 450 horses and 510 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, thus making the whole driving experience a delight. Just because this is an off-roader at core, don't mistake it to be a slouch. Ford says this engine is good enough to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in six seconds. Thanks to the turbos, the truck has enough power available from the word Go. When driving fast, there is a lot of body roll present. But despite that, the dynamics are well-sorted overall and handling does not feel messy or sloppy at any point.

What's Written In The Raptor's Future?

The Jeep Gladiator has made a dream comeback and it is enjoying every moment right now. The Gladiator comes with a V-6 engine and is a slightly more adored badge than the Raptor. So, installing a V-8 engine puts the F-150 Raptor into a different league altogether. However, one could expect the prices to go north of $75,000 when it the Ford F-150 Raptor V-8 hits the market. Do you think it will make a strong impact, or should Ford stick with a V-6 engine only for now? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.