Sam Krahn 
What do the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor and an F-22 Raptor fighter jet have in common? More than you’d think, actually. Apart from the name, and both being overall badass pieces of American engineered machinery, the the design of Ford’s new Baja crushing pickup was actually inspired by the F-22 Raptor. With fighter jet inspired styling in several areas, it’s no wonder the 2021 F-150 Raptor looks so good. Here’s everything you need to know about the new truck’s design.
The fighter jet inspiration is mainly seen in the Raptor’s hood. The heat extractor near the base of the windshield is new for this generation truck, as are the rest of the vents and intakes that were all inspired by F-22 intakes. You really see the similarities in the vents at the end corners of the hood above the fenders, pictured below, which resemble the wings and angles of the F-22 Raptor, pictured above.
As for the rest of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor’s design, it’s more evolution than revolution. The large FORD block lettering on the grille carries through to the new generation, as do the wider fenders, dual exhaust and optional rear Raptor graphics. That’s no bad thing, though, as the old truck is hardly looks like what could be described as dated. We’d argue it was already one of the best looking trucks on the market.
Ford says they’ve really tried to emphasize the width of the new F-150 Raptor, and this is seen in the front end design most of all. The grille now runs into the headlights, which encase the grille with a C-shaped DRL. They feature a horizontal top strip that lines up with the top of the grille. That same line also includes the three amber indicator lights, which have been stretched in this generation truck. At the bottom of the front end and below the high strength steel bumper is the now-signature Raptor silver skid plate, widened for this generation. The front is all about horizontal and vertical lines, and they give the Raptor a brawny, muscular look.
It’s more than just a visual trick, though. The new Ford F-150 Raptor measures 86.6 inches wide, a full 6.7 inches wider than the regular 2021 F-150. That’s also 0.3 inches wider than the outgoing Raptor, and it wasn’t what you’d call narrow. In fact, you could rarely put one through an automatic carwash.
One of the best design changes, however, is the available 37-inch tires. This is the first time 37 inch tires have been available on a light duty pickup, and the rubber fills the flared wheel arches tremendously well. This massive tire option is even bigger than that offered on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sasquatch Package, which come in at a 35-inch diamater. Meanwhile, the upcoming Hummer EV Edition 1 will automatically calibrate its wheel speed sensors if customers choose to fit the electric truck with a 37-inch tire, but it won’t come from the factory with such a tire size like the Raptor will. The upcoming Ford Bronco Warthog will also rock 37-inch rubber.
It may not have the Ram TRX beat in the powertrain department, yet, but it certainly has it taken care of in tire size department. And size matters, you know?
All of this gives the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor the most aggressive look the pickup has ever had, until the officially confirmed Ford Raptor R comes along, which will almost certainly get even more beefed up styling to match the Predator V8 we expect to find under the hood. The new model manages to be both completely different and unmistakably familiar to the two previous generations of F-150 Raptor, which exactly what Ford needed to do to carry on the Raptor nameplate into the future.
