The Ford F-Series pickup trucks have been with us for the longest time. First introduced in 1948, the F-Series pickups have seen major changes and evolutions over the years, and due to their capability and durability, the full-size F-150 has become North America's best-selling vehicle. Even though the competition from the likes of the Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram trucks is fierce, the F-150 always draws pickup buyers, and rightly so.

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In the early 2010s, Ford recognized the potential of the off-road pickup market, the popularity of which was slowly starting to creep up at that time. In 2010, Ford introduced the excellent F-150 SVT Raptor, based on the twelfth generation of the F-150 pickup, and it was an instant success. Fast forward 11 years later, and Ford just renewed the Raptor for a third generation, in turn based on the fourteenth generation of America's favorite pickup truck.

Overview Of The 2021 Raptor

Front 3/4 view of an orange Raptor
Via Ford

The 2021 Raptor marks the third time Ford has affixed the Raptor name to an F-150 pickup truck. It's based on the latest fourteenth generation of the F-150, and there's plenty of new stuff to look at. In terms of styling, it's not all that different from the previous generation Raptor, but there are a few telltale signs that this is a Gen 3, as the Raptorheads call it.

The rear of an orange F-150 Raptor
Via Ford

The front features a new headlight design, with the signature orange daytime running lights. The grille also features three small orange marker lights, as the F-150 Raptor is technically a commercial vehicle due to its width. The side profile is very similar, and so is the rear end, but there are some new alloy wheel designs. The new Raptor drops the extended cab version, leaving only the SuperCrew four-door model. The rear also gets red marker lights, once again, due to the width classifying the Raptor as a commercial vehicle by regulation. The F-150 Raptor's main competitor is the RAM TRX, but the new Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 and the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro will soon join it.

2021 Raptor Powertrain And Drivetrain

Front 3/4 view of a black F150 Raptor
Via Ford

There's a lot to go over with the F-150 Raptor's powertrain and drivetrain. Under the hood, Ford has kept the familiar 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 as the previous-generation Raptor. The engine develops 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, broadly the same numbers as the previous one. While that's way down on the Ram TRX, Ford is readying a Raptor R with a detuned version of the supercharged V8 found in the Mustang Shelby GT500.

Rear 3/4 view of the F150 Raptor speeding through the desert
Ford

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That power is, naturally, sent through all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission with a manual override. Replacing the leaf springs at the rear are five link coil units, and larger internal bypass dampers are also fitted. For the first time ever, the Raptor offers 37-inch tires from the factory, allowing for a nearly 2-inch increase in ground clearance, as well as better approach, departure, and breakover angles. The new Raptor is a better on-road machine than the old one, but as soon as you get off the beaten track, very few vehicles will be able to keep up. What's more, thanks to the Baja driving mode (one of many), you can have some truly epic fun at high speeds on rough terrain.

2021 F-150 Comfort And Quality

The interior of the F150 Raptor
Via Ford

On the inside, the new Raptor uses the same interior design as the latest F-150. That means a fully digital dashboard, a 12-inch infotainment display running Sync 4, a smattering of practicality features, and a shift lever that can fold away allowing for you to unfold the center console and use it as a table. The Raptor gets unique graphics for the gauge cluster, the steering wheel has orange stitching and an orange 12 o'clock marker, as well as unique seats and Raptor badging.

The F150 Raptor's digital dashboard
Ford

Available options include an 18-speaker B&O sound system, a 2.0 kW power supply in the bed, Trail Control, and a one pedal driving mode for off-road trails. Safety features include lane departure warning and lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and many more. The F-150 Raptor seats five passengers, and it's only offered as a SuperCrew, available with a 5.5-foot bed. The maximum load capacity is 1,410 lbs, while towing capacity rises by 200 lbs due to the better lower end torque, and is now 8,200 lbs.

2021 F-150 Raptor Pricing And Launch

The front of an orange Raptor speeding through the desert
Ford

The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is available to order as of October 2021. Pricing starts at $65,840, which is a significant price hike compared to the previous model, but that's mostly due to the removal of the extended cab model from the range. The 801A equipment package, which includes the B&O stereo and the Convenience Package costs $6,150, whereas upgrading to the 37" tires will cost you an additional $7,500.

The rear end of the F150 Raptor
Via Ford

The Ford F-150 Raptor is the truck that kicked the off-road focused pickup truck market into high gear. Now in its third generation, it's better than ever. If you don't need 700+ hp and you don't want quite as much excess (in a good way), but you still want to go anywhere and even beyond that, the F-150 Raptor is definitely the right choice.