Do not hold your breath.
Ford unveiled the new F150 Lightning last Wednesday and has already received 70,000 reservations. Although it won’t be available for purchase until spring 2022 some are wondering if Ford will make the pickup more accessible with a Raptor version. Although Ford has not confirmed such a model will be coming, KDesign AG believed it would benefit the Blue Oval by creating a few renderings of such a pickup.
The Lightning’s design is very similar to the F-150, which is a regular, gas-powered pickup. This helps make it an off-road pickup. It is easy to create a Lightning Raptor because they are so similar. The truck has a lifted suspension and the exhaust pipes are removed. The Raptor’s rugged, off-road look is complemented by the Lightning’s bright lighting graphics at the front and back. However, the truck’s bold Lightning badge at the rear is a bit too much, just as the regular Lighting.
Ford doesn’t appear to be developing a Lightning Raptor model right away. Ford has ambitious EV plans. It plans to make 40% of its worldwide sales EVs by 2030. Ford also plans to electrify certain iconic vehicles. The automaker is currently creating a new EV architecture that will underpin future trucks and another for crossovers and SUVs.
The Lightning is sure to have the power and performance that it needs to surpass the current gas-powered Raptor which can reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 5.5 seconds. Ford claims that the Lightning can reach 60 in a mere second. The Raptor R, which has a supercharged V8 and could reach 60 faster, is the hotter Raptor R. Although we won’t be seeing a Lightning Raptor any time soon, it’s a good idea to imagine one.