The 2022 Ford Raptor R Will Get V8 Power

• The all-new 2021 Ford Raptor was unveiled this morning.

• The EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6 returns as the “base” engine.

• The Raptor R is shaping up to be the real Ram TRX fighter.

The droves of fans who opened YouTube at 11 am this morning were expecting a spectacular reveal event involving the all-new 2021 Ford Raptor. Expectations for big jumps, huge power, and Ram TRX-killing numbers were not entirely met but not all is lost. Ford has something called the Raptor R up its sleeve and it will have to be big.

All the specialized bits are there. The new 2021 Raptor has the chassis, the Fox dampers, the locking-differentials, wheel travel, 35-inch or available 37-inch tires, and so on. What the Raptor does not have is a V8 engine. Despite the twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 being good for at least 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque (on 93-octane fuel), and no matter the trick exhaust system, it’s not a V8.

This is why the all-new F-150 Raptor EcoBoost exhaust sounds so good! Crazy smart engineers. Many thought it was a V8. Of course, that’s on the way too in ’22! pic.twitter.com/1XgCBqZiTK

— Mike Levine (@mrlevine) February 3, 2021

But it’s coming. Minutes after the Raptor’s debut, Ford people tweeted that a V8 was in fact on the way. One such person was Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Manager, who Tweeted that the V8 is coming in 2022.

The possibilities are limited to the Godzilla old-school pushrod 7.3-litre V8 with some kind of forced induction. Alternatively, the Mustang GT500’s Predator supercharged 5.2-litre V8, albeit in a de-tuned state. Either way, the starting point is at least 700 horsepower.