At least not yet.
The all-new 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor has arrived and the automaker already has a hit on its hands. The third-generation Baja-inspired off-road truck is better than ever thanks in part to a tweaked 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a new coil-spring rear suspension setup instead of the leaf springs from its two predecessors. It also looks pretty badass inside and out. Those who don’t think the V6 is good enough will have to wait until next year’s V8-powered Raptor R, a direct response to the Ram 1500 TRX.
But what about an all-electric Raptor? Remember, in 2022 Ford will reveal a pure battery-electric F-150, perhaps called E-150. The answer is a firm ‘no’ – for now.
Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, F-150 program manager Tony Greco was directly asked about the possibility of an E-150 Raptor or even a hybrid variant. “No. We designed and engineered Raptor to be Raptor,” he firmly said.
This makes sense as the Raptor has matured into its own unique brand somewhat separate from the rest of the F-150 lineup. A majority of Raptor buyers specifically want the Raptor, not another F-150 variant, such as the also off-road-focused Tremor. But just because the Raptor won’t be fully electrified doesn’t mean Ford isn’t interested in developing a future all-electric off-road beast.
The GMC Hummer EV is merely the first shot taken in this new segment by a mainstream automaker. Turning the Raptor into an EV, at least for this generation, would not be a popular move by its fan base. This could change in time.
Another major factor is cost. The cheapest Hummer EV, though it won’t arrive until spring 2024, will set buyers back by $80,000. The 2022 Hummer First Edition, due in the fall, costs $112,595. Even a new Rivian R1T base model can’t be had for less than $67,500.
To compare, the outgoing Raptor carried a starting price of about $53,000. It’s expected the Raptor R will be priced more similarly to the $72,000 TRX. That’s less than a $5,000 difference from the cheapest Rivian. Until all-electric trucks are no longer niche vehicles for wealthy customers, a Raptor EV (or whatever it’ll be named) won’t happen.