Lucas Bell 
For months now there have been rumors swirling about the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor. Most notably, there has been quite a bit of discussion related to what engine will power the baja-bashing pickup. Ever since the Ram 1500 TRX made its debut, Ford fans have been adamant that the 5.2L Predator V8 from the Shelby GT500 was destined for the truck. And while recent spy videos of a Raptor prototype appeared to highlight the sound of a V8 engine, a leaked dealer ordering guide uploaded to the F150Gen14 forum suggests otherwise. As it turns out, the familiar 3.5L EcoBoost will be the only engine available at launch. Allegedly.
The information came by way of a forum user, who located the bombshell information via Ford’s dealer eSourceBook. While sifting through the vintage-looking menus about the upcoming F-150 Raptor’s packages and exterior color options, the user came across the engines list. Unfortunately for all of us waiting for another 700+ horsepower pickup, it doesn’t appear that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is our answer. As of right now, the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is the only powertrain option listed. In the previous generation pickup, the engine was rated at 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Solid figures, but nowhere close to the performance of the new Ram. Allegedly.
Now, it is important to note that this doesn’t mean a V8 option won’t be coming to the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor later down the line. It may not come during the first model year, but Ford could have plans for the Predator V8 yet. We’ve already seen prototype F-150 Raptors out testing with what sounds like a V8, which leads us to believe that such a project is still in the works. Besides, we can’t imagine Ford is willing to give up the off-road pickup crown at the first sign of competition. It has been assumed for a while that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will come in two flavors: a V6-powered base model and a V8-powered range-topper aimed directly at the Ram 1500 TRX.
Perhaps then Ford has decided to lead with the more affordable and familiar EcoBoost model, whereas the more expensive Predator-packing pickup will make its debut later on.
The ordering guide also confirms a few other details about the off-road pickup. We now know the truck will be available with options like a twin-panel moonroof and 17-inch forged aluminum wheels, which cost $1,495 and $1,895 respectively. Furthermore, we know the truck will be offered in eight exterior paint colors: Code Orange, Rapid Red, Velocity Blue, Antimatter Blue, Iconic Silver, Lead Foot, Agate Black, and Oxford White.
Other details remain under lock and key, though they should come available when the truck debuts on February 3.
We know that this isn’t the sort of update that 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor fans and buyers alike were looking for. The off-road pickup has been an unrivaled force in the segment for so long that it seems odd to have something else atop the throne. That said, we can only hope that segment competition will make Ford step their game up and give us the V8-powered machine we all want. Are you still excited about the new F-150 Raptor now that you know it’s EcoBoost-powered? Let us know in the comments down below.
