When imagining the next generation of a vehicle, they don’t limit themselves to previous car models, but look to aviation, the maritime industry, animals and even superheroes for cues. I reported earlier about some of the hidden Easter eggs found in the 2021 Raptor, including an American flag and an homage to its fighter-jet inspiration that Liu referenced.Ĭar designers seek inspiration from all walks of life. Related story: New Ford Raptor Gets High-Output 3.5-liter Ecoboost engine. The suspension design combined with more sophisticated engine management software means the truck can put more torque to the rear wheels for quicker starts off the line, faster acceleration and better throttle responsiveness while simultaneously delivering comfort, stability, handling, control and traction at speed. According to Ford, the five-link rear suspension features extra-long trailing arms to better maintain axle position on rough terrain, a Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs – the longest in the class. A V8 engine will follow next year in the Raptor R, which seems ready to take on rival Ram TRX.Īdditionally the 2021 Raptor will have redesigned running gear including an all-new five-link rear suspension. The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will be available this summer and features a new high-output Ecoboost engine for this model year. Ten years later, Liu found himself designing the third generation of his own dream truck. “I was blown away by the width of the truck, protruding fenders and big, meaty tires,” he said. Related story: Why the 2017 Ford Raptor is one of the best trucks ever. Liu remembers seeing the F-150 Raptor for the first time in 2009. Liu has been a fan of the Raptor for a long time and it was a thrill of his career to get to work on the design of the sport-tuned truck. He wanted to find a way to bring some F-22 Raptor flavor into the design of the F-150 Raptor. Both shared the same name, both were leaders in their industries, and both were fast, nimble machines. Once Liu got the opportunity to design the next-generation F-150 Raptor, he saw similarities in the state-of-the-art fighter jet and desert runner truck. This was especially true with the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which he deemed as American design and ingenuity at its very best.

Their futuristic appearance and cutting-edge technology inspired him as a car designer. What he was really drawn to was fighter aircraft. Liu had always been inspired by aircraft design and remembers building model airplanes as a child. Tom Liu is the lead exterior designer for the 2021 Ford Raptor and he said he (literally) drew inspiration from the F-22 Raptor with his sketches for the third generation Raptor. While the Ford Raptor is not named after the Lockheed Martin fighter jet that shares the name, it does offer some inspiration for the third-generation Raptor which will be available soon.

F 22 lightning 3 drawing