(By Tom Lohnes) – It is hard to top the utter fun the Ram 1500 TRX produces, weighing in at over 3 tons, equipped with ultra-soft Baja suspension and a screaming, 702-hp V8 that makes it’s world class fuel consumptive performance excusable. Well Ford seems to be taking a much more sophisticated take to the supertruck, and it also looks like a load of fun.
With a recent file for a patent on a 6.8-liter gas V8, it is not hard to guess what the engine in the new Raptor will be. The GT500 motor has a tiny chance of making it, but the DCT that bolts up to it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense in a pickup truck, and that powerplant was most definitely not engineered for a 4WD setup.
So, we have the 6.8 Godzilla motor with some form of forced induction in the engine bay, and probably a heavy-duty 10-speed automatic doing the shifting. Power will obviously go to all 4 wheels, and a crew-cab and 5 ½ foot bed will be standard. Exterior styling seems to be very 14-th gen F-150, and Interior spy shots look to be not much different from a normal F-150 you can buy right now.
Stay tuned, because the new Raptor comes out February 3rd of 2021. Will Ram come out victorious with their brutal TRX, will GM’s electric supertruck, the GMC Hummer EV SUT, match up against these beasts, or will ford’s big-engine-big-power strategy reign supreme? There’s only one way to find out.
They cover up the Ford badge….? Guess the “oval” shape isn’t clue enough.
Nah, it’s a Subaru.
Even in camo it still looks like a ford!
They didn’t want to cover the entire grill because, If they did, they would have to take the cab off the truck to remove the tape. You know ,like everything else with those trucks. Check the oil please. OK sir, but we have to pull the cab. That will be $1400. I can check the wiper fluid while its off if ya want me to.
Ummm… isn’t the Godzilla engine 7.3 liters?
Might something like Dodge did with Hellcat. Instead of 6.4 like what was in SRTs, the Hellcat is 6.2. More favourable bore/stroke combo for higher RPMs and cylinder pressure. Not an expert and any engineer or engine builder can correct me if they like.
Yes but they are talking about making it smaller cubic inches and giving it forced induction. Could be to get more RPM or gas mileage or both.