Rumor: The Ford F-150 Raptor Is Getting the Mustang GT500's Supercharged V-8

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Geo_Tactical

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2014
Posts
965
Reaction score
1,775
Location
Idaho
I think this nails it right here. I've been reading bits 'n pieces here and there about the new (C8 or C9, I forget) 'vette bending the space frame with it's current powertrain configuration. I think the tranny, drivelines, diff's and axles would all need an upgrade to handle that much power/torque. And the frame rigidity would need a significant upgrade as well. Maybe even permanent AWD...gawd forbid, otherwise you'd be smoking rear tires through the first 7 gears. Also if you put any payload/trailer on it, you'll be looking at needing a significantly upgraded cooling system (bigger or multi-core radiator) which is going to make it even more front-heavy, contributing to under-steer. Maybe the engine itself will go in, but they may have to de-tune it.
The mid engine C8 that's been bending frames is rumored to be putting out in excess of 1000 HP. The ZR1, which is rated at 750 HP uses the same frame as the 650 HP Z06 without issue. I assume that Ford wouldn't simply throw the motor in, slap the tailgate and then say goodluck. They'd need to, as you said, upgrade certain components such as the driveline and cooling system. Certainly not huge obstacles, especially with 2 years to work out the kinks.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 8 using Tapatalk
 

jaz13

FRF Addict
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
1,401
Reaction score
837
I really question the accuracy of the rumor. I don't doubt a supercharged V8 is coming to the F-150, but I think the Raptor is a poor platform for it.

Maybe people are hearing rumors of the GT500 motor coming to the F-150 and naturally assume it is going into the Raptor because that is the only vehicle currently in production that justifies such a big motor.

Now that Hameedi is gone, maybe Ford's marketing department is turning this into a "big swinging ****" competition with TRX, but Hameedi was very adamant the Raptor was about pure offroad performance and is why he insisted on the lighter V6TT despite all the backlash.

For all the reasons I listed in previous posts, I think a supercharged V8 would be a much better fit in a street truck. Sticky, wide street tires. 24" rims with massive brakes. Super light rims and tires. Lower it. Stiffen the suspension. Drop the heavy skid plates, side steps, suspension arms, shocks, etc. And not only ditch the 700lbs of Raptor shit, put the F-150 on a diet and shed a few hundred extra pounds.

Redesign the rear axle and suspension to handle the extra power. Keep the Raptor's flared fenders for the wider tires. Add some aftermarket shocks designed for track use and this thing would be ready to rip for not very much R&D.

Personally, I don't think the existing Raptor has anything to fear from a 700hp TRX in the dirt. (the 700hp Shelby F-150 is a complete joke in the dirt if that is anything to go by) And a 1,000lb lighter, 700hp Lightning would flat out humiliate a 700hp TRX on the street. Ford would maintain its dominance offroad. And it would be the king of the street too. The TRX would be left as a half-baked idea that doesn't work well in either environment. Ford wins again.

That's what I would do if I were in charge. I also think that's what Hameedi would do if he was still in charge of the Performance division. But who the hell knows who is in charge over there right now. Hopefully, it isn't marketing. (Even worse if the bean counters took over.)

It will be interesting to see if Ford's marketing department creates a useless Frankenstein truck to compete with the TRX, or if it makes something truly special in a revived Lightening.
 

SL75

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2019
Posts
217
Reaction score
43
Location
Toledo
That's fine, but this one is no speedtwitch ********.
It will be funny when this truck gets built and you guys are eating your words. For real, get over the **** swinging ecoboost. The overcompensating attitude is such a joke. It's a fun truck when it runs good. There must be a problem now that Ford is dumping it for the 5.2.
 

jabroni619

FRF Addict
Joined
Jun 13, 2017
Posts
2,057
Reaction score
1,418
Hey guys, look, we just found the guy who believes every rumor he reads on the internet.

Opposed to the guy with an inferiority complex that thinks the raptor can’t get any better than it already is? How is it that the TRX is coming when you swore FCA couldn’t afford to bring it to market?
 

jabroni619

FRF Addict
Joined
Jun 13, 2017
Posts
2,057
Reaction score
1,418
That's fine, but this one is no speedtwitch ********.
It will be funny when this truck gets built and you guys are eating your words. For real, get over the **** swinging ecoboost. The overcompensating attitude is such a joke. It's a fun truck when it runs good. There must be a problem now that Ford is dumping it for the 5.2.

Doesn’t sound like they are dumping EB at all. Sounds like the 5.2 will be an option. I know Jaz can be pretty idiotic with his EB complex, but please try not to stoop to his level in the opposite direction
 
Last edited:

jaz13

FRF Addict
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
1,401
Reaction score
837
That's fine, but this one is no speedtwitch ********.
It will be funny when this truck gets built and you guys are eating your words. For real, get over the **** swinging ecoboost. The overcompensating attitude is such a joke. It's a fun truck when it runs good. There must be a problem now that Ford is dumping it for the 5.2.

Executives and department heads know better than to share details of secret projects with journalists. That means the source of these rumors is a lowly secretary, intern, hourly tech in the engine department, or a second-year engineer tasked with redesigning the universal joint. None of these people know the full story because department heads know better than to share sensitive details with loose lips.

Except......if they did it intentionally. Maybe this is a ruse to mislead FCA. Maybe Ford wants Ram to think they are simply stuffing a blower in the Raptor and calling it good enough. That way FCA will be years behind when Ford release an all-new Lightning.

As for eating words, there is nothing to eat. Stuffing 700hp in an offroad truck is nothing more than a **** measuring exercise. It won't do anything to make the Raptor more offroad worthy. In fact, it will do the opposite by adding weight and reducing range. Lucky for you, that doesn't affect the mall crawler crowd.
 

Geo_Tactical

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2014
Posts
965
Reaction score
1,775
Location
Idaho
I really question the accuracy of the rumor. I don't doubt a supercharged V8 is coming to the F-150, but I think the Raptor is a poor platform for it.

Maybe people are hearing rumors of the GT500 motor coming to the F-150 and naturally assume it is going into the Raptor because that is the only vehicle currently in production that justifies such a big motor.

Now that Hameedi is gone, maybe Ford's marketing department is turning this into a "big swinging ****" competition with TRX, but Hameedi was very adamant the Raptor was about pure offroad performance and is why he insisted on the lighter V6TT despite all the backlash.

For all the reasons I listed in previous posts, I think a supercharged V8 would be a much better fit in a street truck. Sticky, wide street tires. 24" rims with massive brakes. Super light rims and tires. Lower it. Stiffen the suspension. Drop the heavy skid plates, side steps, suspension arms, shocks, etc. And not only ditch the 700lbs of Raptor shit, put the F-150 on a diet and shed a few hundred extra pounds.

Redesign the rear axle and suspension to handle the extra power. Keep the Raptor's flared fenders for the wider tires. Add some aftermarket shocks designed for track use and this thing would be ready to rip for not very much R&D.

Personally, I don't think the existing Raptor has anything to fear from a 700hp TRX in the dirt. (the 700hp Shelby F-150 is a complete joke in the dirt if that is anything to go by) And a 1,000lb lighter, 700hp Lightning would flat out humiliate a 700hp TRX on the street. Ford would maintain its dominance offroad. And it would be the king of the street too. The TRX would be left as a half-baked idea that doesn't work well in either environment. Ford wins again.

That's what I would do if I were in charge. I also think that's what Hameedi would do if he was still in charge of the Performance division. But who the hell knows who is in charge over there right now. Hopefully, it isn't marketing. (Even worse if the bean counters took over.)

It will be interesting to see if Ford's marketing department creates a useless Frankenstein truck to compete with the TRX, or if it makes something truly special in a revived Lightening.
Guys used to supercharge the gen 1's to make some really impressive HP. I don't remember any of them saying "you know, it would be great were it not for all that power".

I get there may be some anxiety out there about resale value of the V6's if this thing actually gets built, or maybe not having the top spec anymore. But none of that should really come into play. For the V8 fence sitters, or those who own the V6 but wished for something more, Ford will happily take our money. For the others, if you like your EB, then you're already good to go. Win-win for everyone.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 8 using Tapatalk
 
Top