2021 Ford Raptor V8
2021 Ford Raptor V8 Although Ford Ranger Raptor’s silly, brilliant 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine is a sales success, it shines with many enthusiasts. But the days of this cynicism may soon come to an end. According to a new report in the Australian publication Which Car, the Raptor 2021 will inherit V8 power in the form of the 5.0-liter Coyote engine from the current Ford Mustang GT.
The report claims that the V8-powered Ranger Raptor is being developed in Australia in a project approved by Ford Australia and carried out by an “external engineering firm.” In its current state, the Coyote V8 of the Mustang GT makes 339 kW of power and 556Nm of torque.
This is a healthy step up from the 157kW/500Nm of the current Ranger Raptor, although it has not been confirmed how much power the Raptor will get.
In fact, the Raptor’s current powertrain is not particularly fast (especially on paved roads) and in some ways relatively comparable to the 3.2-liter 5-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which comes to a halt elsewhere in the Ranger range. But what it does is play practical support in off-road situations.
Read next: 2021 Ford Raptor Ranger
The bi-turbo format means that torque and power are always at hand despite the interchangeable surfaces and inclines, and his off-road skills are something we praised both at his off-road launch in Darwin, Australia, and on home soil.
Replacing the diesel with a V8 is therefore likely to require a heavier front-end suspension; although it is worth noting that the Coyote engine is relatively light for a V8 – the scale tilts to just over 200kg.
It’s early, but maybe now is the best time for those who want a 2021 Ford Raptor V8 to offer Aussies and Kiwis a V8-powered ute again to keep their fingers crossed.
This pixel work shows visible styling changes, but also shows the rear end of the bed carrier. Nevertheless, the headlight design comes to complete the styling of the front grille – we have to thank the digital artist Mo Aoun for these pixels. Oh, and you can easily compare this digital work with the current car shown in the picture gallery above.
Still, the key changes for the refreshed Raptor should land on the tech front. For one thing, spy shots have shown prototypes without the leaf spring setup of the current model, although the Blue Oval has not yet confirmed the transition to coil springs.
Even if the Raptor switches to the latter solution, the standard F-150 should retain its leaf springs, with 2021 Ford Raptor V8 relying on assets such as improved tensile stability and load leveling for the latter – the automaker has introduced a similar scheme for the Ranger and Ranger Raptor, the latter having since been equipped with a handling-enhancing coil spring setup, unlike its basic siblings.
When entering rumors in Mühlenland, I have to mention that some voices say that the V8 architecture is making a comeback. So while the current Raptor worked hard to convince die-hard enthusiasts that six cylinders and turbocharging are enough, Ford could borrow the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8 for the 2021 F-150 Raptor.
Read next: 2021 Ford Raptor News
