Rumors indicate that the next generation SVT Raptor that will be based on the new lightweight aluminum F-150 will debut next month at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit’s Cobo Hall.
We can expect that if the newest off-road race-ready F-150 does debut, it will have a unique exterior design and a monster suspension setup to guarantee that it is even better than the previous Raptor. However, both the 5.4L V8 and the 6.2L V8 that have powered past SVT F-150 pickups are gone (the 5.4L is long gone), so Ford will need to pick a new engine for the next generation Raptor.
Provided that the 6.2L SVT V8 from the last generation F-150 is indeed gone, Ford could go one of three ways with the powertrain of the next Raptor. They could use a souped up version of the 5.0L V8 or the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 from the 2015 F-150 designed specifically for the new Raptor.
They could also use an existing engine, such as the more powerful 3.5L EcoBoost V6 from the Lincoln Navigator or the 5.0L V8 from the Ford Mustang GT. Finally, they could roll out an all-new engine specifically for the Raptor, but that would be by far the most costly option for the Motor Company.
With these options in mind, click here to head into the forums to tell us what you hope to see under the hood of the next generation SVT Raptor F150 when it arrives – whether it is in Detroit or not.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
