Rapid Development: Ford Unveils Gen-3 Raptor And Announces Raptor R

The third-generation F-150 Raptor made its global debut to much fanfare. The Blue Oval shared some exciting news about the Predator V8-powered Raptor R pickup. The high-performance off-roader made its global debut to much fanfare and immediately engaged in a social media war with its arch-rival, the Ram TRX.

Ford has refrained from disclosing the power and torque figures of the next-gen Raptor. Instead, Ford is trying to divert attention to the pickup truck’s updated platform and suspension capability.

Speculation stems from the fact that Ford has confirmed it will introduce a more powerful version of the nameplate next year. The company’s new variant will most likely sport the Raptor R moniker. We expect to find a Shelby GT 500-derived 5.2-liter Predator V8 under the hood of the new pickup truck. The Predator can produce 760 horsepower, which will make it a formidable competitor to the Ram TRX.

For its 2021 reboot, Ford improved upon the performance and off-road capability. The company has also introduced a wide range of features that have been derived from the new Bronco SUV that aims to offer improved connectivity and creature comforts.

In addition to the all-new steering wheel, which comes equipped with aluminum paddle shifters, customers can also get factory-fitted Recaro bucket seats in the new performance pickup. The company also partnered with Fox to develop an all-new suspension setup for the new F-150 Raptor.

The truck rides on a 3.0-inch anodized aluminum shock setup that can regulate the damping rates 500 times per second. In the recent teasers and commercials, Ford’s been highlighting Raptor’s all-new five-link rear suspension that gets super-long trailing arms and Panhard bar.

This means that the new Raptor will not only offer unparalleled performance off-road, but it will also deliver a smooth and comfortable ride when you are cruising down the freeway. Even though we are looking forward to the Raptor R going head to head against the Ram TRX next year, we are confident that the entry-level Raptor will be more exciting than its predecessors.