AbleGuy
Officious Intermeddler
Will we see a Raptor coming out in a hybrid build anytime in the not too distant future?
According to this article's enthusiastic writer, that precise build is "possible. Not just possible, it looks all but certain."
But at this early stage, this prediction might be more clickbait than accurate crystal ball gazing. In any event, the comments made by FORD execs (quoted below) certainly seem to show that they're leaning into some kind of further hybridized electrification of their big truck models.
So read dear hopeful ExPo'er, if the notion of someday owning a full sized pickup truck with a powerful V-8, that also gets decent gas mileage, is enticing.
Expect More Hybrids In Performance Models, Says CEO
"Our best-selling F-150 is the EcoBoost hybrid," Ford CEO Jim Farley told media while attending the Dakar
"You can expect in our performance off-road vehicles more and more hybridisation, but more on the performance side," he said. He played coy about what engines could go along with the hybrid systems, saying, "We have accelerated the investment in hybrids across our lineup – and that will include off-road."
Will Ford, son of executive chair Bill Ford and the head of Ford Racing, was more blunt. "That’s the nice thing about hybrid is it might allow us to keep the V8 alive a little longer – hopefully a lot longer." Ford said that V8 power and a hybrid motor to help meet economy and emissions laws was "absolutely" on the table.
With Ram bringing back the Hemi V8 using its mild hybrid eTorque system, the market has shown it wants V8s if car companies build them. The Raptor R with its supercharged V8 is surely one place where buyers will pay almost any premium Ford wants for those cylinders.
"It’s pretty clear that hybrid is the performance drivetrain of the future," said Will Ford. "We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves and do something that customers don’t want, but we absolutely need to make sure that we continue to push Raptor in every way to make it maintain its position as the most off-road capable vehicle."
The comments from Ford and Farley show that the automaker is unlikely to make the same mistake as Mercedes-AMG. That brand replaced its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in vehicles like the C63 AMG with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and PHEV electric motor. The new vehicles made more power and had quicker acceleration, but they landed with customers with a thud and not applause. Fast car buyers want their V8 roar, not the sound of just four pistons, it seems.
Ford's current hybrid F-150, the PowerBoost, adds electric motors to the EcoBoost V6 to deliver 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque, compared with the EcoBoost's 400 and 500 figures. The PowerBoost, as the name implies, focuses more on adding performance than slashing consumption. It also uses its hybrid battery and motors to power enough outlets to run a jobsite.
carbuzz.com
According to this article's enthusiastic writer, that precise build is "possible. Not just possible, it looks all but certain."
But at this early stage, this prediction might be more clickbait than accurate crystal ball gazing. In any event, the comments made by FORD execs (quoted below) certainly seem to show that they're leaning into some kind of further hybridized electrification of their big truck models.
So read dear hopeful ExPo'er, if the notion of someday owning a full sized pickup truck with a powerful V-8, that also gets decent gas mileage, is enticing.
Expect More Hybrids In Performance Models, Says CEO
"Our best-selling F-150 is the EcoBoost hybrid," Ford CEO Jim Farley told media while attending the Dakar
"You can expect in our performance off-road vehicles more and more hybridisation, but more on the performance side," he said. He played coy about what engines could go along with the hybrid systems, saying, "We have accelerated the investment in hybrids across our lineup – and that will include off-road."
Will Ford, son of executive chair Bill Ford and the head of Ford Racing, was more blunt. "That’s the nice thing about hybrid is it might allow us to keep the V8 alive a little longer – hopefully a lot longer." Ford said that V8 power and a hybrid motor to help meet economy and emissions laws was "absolutely" on the table.
With Ram bringing back the Hemi V8 using its mild hybrid eTorque system, the market has shown it wants V8s if car companies build them. The Raptor R with its supercharged V8 is surely one place where buyers will pay almost any premium Ford wants for those cylinders.
Ford Isn't Ready To Give Raptors Plugs Of Any Kind
Electrified Raptors might come eventually, but the Raptor brand is not ready for hybrids or EVs yet."It’s pretty clear that hybrid is the performance drivetrain of the future," said Will Ford. "We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves and do something that customers don’t want, but we absolutely need to make sure that we continue to push Raptor in every way to make it maintain its position as the most off-road capable vehicle."
Ford Lead The Big Truck Six-Cylinder Charge
Ford was one of the first to start downsizing truck engines to deliver lower fuel use and emissions. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 slashed displacement and cylinder count on Ford's F-150 when it arrived in 2011. For years, it was the only engine offered in the Raptor, making up to 450 horsepower. That was before the supercharged Raptor R arrived.The comments from Ford and Farley show that the automaker is unlikely to make the same mistake as Mercedes-AMG. That brand replaced its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in vehicles like the C63 AMG with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and PHEV electric motor. The new vehicles made more power and had quicker acceleration, but they landed with customers with a thud and not applause. Fast car buyers want their V8 roar, not the sound of just four pistons, it seems.
Ford Hints At A Dakar-Bred Standalone Raptor Supercar
The Blue Oval wants you to "stay tuned" for the ultimate Raptor that people can buy.Ford's current hybrid F-150, the PowerBoost, adds electric motors to the EcoBoost V6 to deliver 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque, compared with the EcoBoost's 400 and 500 figures. The PowerBoost, as the name implies, focuses more on adding performance than slashing consumption. It also uses its hybrid battery and motors to power enough outlets to run a jobsite.
Ford Already Knows How It's Going To Beat The TRX
Think of them like sharks, but with laser beams to make them quicker
carbuzz.com
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