The unveiling of the Ford Raptor from 2021 made me realize that ads and videos of American pickups are often shot and edited almost exactly like a horror movie. This clip of the new off-road pickup tearing through the dust clouds and blasting upward as its 3.5-liter V6 roars is about as intimidating as most mainstream horror.
Imagine you are stranded in the desert. You hear the exhaust first, then more of the engine, but all you see is a cloud. Don’t be fooled, you don’t look Tremors 6, or whatever sequel they have now. Instead, you’ll be taunted by the terrifying hunt of some egg-head kicking the planet in their 2021 Ford Raptor.
Ford also announced that the new generation Raptor will get a production V8 engine next year, in a model called the Raptor R. will also be sold in the new model later this year.
On the outgoing truck, the V6 engine produces 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. torque, although updated power figures for both the V6 model year 2021 and next year’s V8 will be announced at a later date. Ford did announce that the truck will be equipped with what is currently the largest production tire option on the pickup market, with custom 37-inch BF Goodrich rubber if you pay for it.
The new truck also has a completely redesigned rear suspension with five-link coil springs in place of the old leaf springs, improving wheel spacing and driveability, and Ford even claims the new setup helps reduce more power. It all seems to work fine in the video.
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Tell me this can’t be a horror movie? A little music and maybe some flashbacks to all those curved-frame Raptor trucks that didn’t make the jump, and we’re on it.