Meet the all-new Ford F-150 Raptor, a more off-road capable pickup truck

KUALA LUMPUR: Ford F-150 Raptor is a desert truck that can not only ride over rough terrains but can also jump and catch air. And now this desert racing-inspired truck has finally entered its third-generation with better mechanical and technical brilliance and precision. Yesterday, the American automaker took the wraps off the all-new F-150 Raptor, which is claimed to be even more off-road capable, and more connected.

“Raptor is the original desert truck. We just took it to another level,” said Ali Jammoul, Ford Performance vehicle program director. “The all-new Raptor splices high-speed off-road performance muscle with advanced technology and connectivity that comes together in a unique Built Ford Tough way.”

So, what lies under the hood? With the reveal, Ford confirmed that the all-new F-150 Raptor will have an updated twin-turbo 3.5-litre Ecoboost V6 engine as well as a more interesting V8 mill. Yes, as anticipated, the automaker will bring the Raptor R model with a V8 engine next year that will directly rival the 702 hp RAM 1500 TRX. For this, Ford is likely to borrow the Predator V8 from the Mustang Shelby GT500.

Talking about the Ecoboost V6 engine available for now, the automaker has not even revealed the final output numbers of this mill, however, it confirmed that the motor will be paired to a ten-speed automatic transmission. The mechanical setup also features a standard electronic locking rear differential and Torsen front limited-slip differential. It also has an active valve dual exhaust that improved low-end torque. Terrain Management System has seven selectable driving modes - Slippery, Tow/Haul, Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Baja, and Rock Crawl.

The new F-150 Raptor also has a new five-link rear suspension setup, which offers 355 mm of suspension travel in the front and 381 mm of suspension travel at the rear axle. Added to this setup are FOX Live Valve internal bypass shocks along with position-sensitive damping. Numerous sensors automatically adjust damping rates at each corner.

The new Raptor rolls on either 35- or 37-inch tyres; the latter is said to be the biggest company-fitted tyres available with a light-duty full-size pickup truck. When equipped with 37-inch tyres, the truck’s ground clearance measures 13.1 inches.

In terms of style, the updated model carries the same aggression theme as its predecessors with the elements like darkened grille with FORD lettering, new headlights, wider front fenders, and power dome hood. Inside it comes with standard over-the-air updates and a new connected experience with features like shareable digital trail maps. Also, there is a SYNC 4 infotainment interface with cloud-connected navigation and voice search.

The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor in sole SuperCrew four-door cab body style will hit the US showrooms this summer.

Also read: Ford teamed up with Google for its future in-car technologies