2022 Ford Raptor V8: New Generation F-150 Raptor Gets Supercharged 5.2L Predator V8, Is It Worth It?
2022 Ford Raptor V8 We should all have seen this coming as the horsepower war is finally heading to the pickup truck.
Ram has the new Hellcat-powered TRX, GM doesn’t have the answer to this because it’s GM, and today, we got a new report from a well-sourced informant who claims Ford “without a doubt” dropped the 5.2-liter Mustang GT500, 700+ horsepower V8 supercharged into the new 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor.
That would be a huge improvement over the current twin-turbo 3.5-liter six-cylinder EcoBoost on the Raptor.
At 450 horsepower, the V6 is very powerful, however, our sources tell us that in the new Raptor, the supercharged 5.2 liters will deliver between 725 and 750 hp.
When Ford redesigned the F-150 Raptor for 2017, it ditched the V8 for the EcoBoost V6 which was a mild disappointment to those who believed there was no substitute for the displacement.
Well, the crowd might be able to breathe a sigh of relief because based on the audio from the latest Raptor spy video, the Ford performance truck might get back those extra two cylinders.
Provided by the folks at the F150Gen14 are video and, more importantly, camouflaged truck audio with clear F-150 body lines and some suspicious thick tires.
The next generation of Raptor will certainly come as a 2021 model so the key point here isn’t that this truck exists, but the sound it makes.
It’s not enough for us to definitively say that the next Raptor gets a V8, but, for what it’s worth, the gravel growl that emanates from this thing sure sounds deeper than the song the current model’s 3.5-liter turbo sings.
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Not much is known about the upcoming Raptor other than the fact that it will naturally be based on the recently revealed 14th generation F-150.
There have been some reports claiming the new performance truck will ditch its leaf springs for the coil-sprung rear suspension, and if you are hoping to compete with the upcoming TRX Ram, it might take more than a naturally aspirated V8.
It’s believed Ram’s rivals will pack the supercharged Hemi V8 so, in response to this, Ford was able to fit a 5.2 liter Shelby GT500 into the Raptor.
Although Ford hasn’t officially said anything about the truck drivetrain yet, this leak occurred just three days after the revelation of the Hellcat-powered TRX. In a segment as loud as full-size pickups, Ford doesn’t seem like it wants to wait for Ram for lunch.
We speculate that the V8 could be heard in the prototype video shared last week, and while that sparked a fair amount of disagreement on social media, this report is further confirmation of Ford’s real plans.
There’s no official release date for the new Raptor as of yet – Ford also didn’t have any comments to make when we contacted them – however, it’s rumored that an early 2021 launch is a possibility.
Until then, we just have to be happy combing through spy photos and watching videos of camouflaged trucks roaming around.
2022 Ford Raptor News
It is from a leading online media that the FA has learned that the next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor will get the Ford Predator V8 5.2L, the same engine currently found in the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
However, it will deliver slightly less power than the one in The Blue Oval’s top-range Mustang of between 725 and 750 horsepower, compared to the GT500’s 760 horsepower rating.
Ford’s intention with the Predator-powered Raptor is clear to beat the new TRX 2021 Ram, which was just revealed earlier this week.
TRX is equipped with a Fiat-Chrysler 6.2L Hemi V8, which produces 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. FCA calls the TRX “the fastest and most powerful mass-production truck in the world,” with a claimed 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.9 seconds at 108 mph.
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Earlier this month, we saw a prototype of the next-generation Ford Raptor in an advanced development stage.
The prototype used a coil-spring rear suspension setup in place of the current Raptor leaf springs, and the truck’s Fox shocks were moved to the front of the rear axle.
It’s worth noting that the TRX Ram features a five-link coil suspension, which provides superior articulation over traditional leaf spring arrangements.
It’s currently unclear whether the all-new third-generation Ford F-150 Raptor will hit the market for the 2021 or 2022 model years.
The vehicle may launch towards the end of the 2021 model year, but with very limited availability.
2022 Ford Raptor Prototype
Following the disclosure of the 2021 Ford F-150, there are many unanswered questions about the new truck.
Some of these questions, such as the official price and the output of the hybrid drivetrain, have been leaked. But the biggest mystery of all is what the next-generation F-150 Raptor is like.
Well, F150gen14 managed to shoot the first spy video of the next generation Raptor undergoing testing.
The truck is still in the prototype stage, which is evidenced by the heavy camouflage and body cladding.
It’s still pretty much the F-150 Raptor 2022, although the wider fenders, aggressive wheels, and off-road tires are a dead prize. We even got a clue of what’s behind the tarp.
The test driver did his best not to use the throttle wide open, but there are a few points in the video where we can start hearing the exhaust of the new Raptor.
From what we can tell, whatever engine this truck uses sounds different from the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost found on the current Raptor.
It emits a lower growl that almost sounds like a V8, much like the first-generation Raptor.
We may not know for sure until Ford officially announces the Raptor powertrain, but it’s still cool to see the next generation model in action for the first time.
The next generation raptor will be holding a competition for the first time in the form of the Ram 1500 TRX. The TRX will use the same supercharged V8 found on the Hellcat model, meaning it can produce nearly 700 horsepower.
450 hp on the Raptor at the moment seems like a lot, but Ford better is ready to bring A-game if the TRX is to be as strong as we think. A TRX disclosure is scheduled for next week, but the Raptor disclosure is still a long way off.