SPYIED: Ford F-150 Raptor V8 busts out

The new-generation Ford F-150 pick-up looks set to blast into orbit with an unbreakable dune-jumping chassis and a brutal new blown V8 for good measure.

A new spy photo shows the jacked-up F-150 Raptor being tested in the USA, where our spy photographers also captured video that all but confirms there’s a very lumpy-sounding V8 under the hood.

This is big news because the previous F-150 Raptor was powered by a twin-turbo V6, making this the first full-size Raptor to be blessed with V8 firepower since 2014.

Widely expected to be a development of the tyre-torching 5.2-litre supercharged V8 from the Mustang Shelby GT500, which is good for 566kW and 847Nm of torque, the V8 in question is likely to power at least one range-topping variant of the new Ford F-150 Raptor.

The previous generation Ford F-150 Raptor – which spawned the Aussie-developed Ford Ranger Raptor – is powered by a 335kW/690Nm EcoBoost V6, but after RAM taunted Ford with its new TRX (T-Rex?) that apparently eats Raptors for breakfast, the Blue Oval brand appears to be mounting an all-out counter-attack.

The RAM 1500 TRX is currently the world’s fastest and most fearsome pick-up truck, thanks to its 522kW/881Nm 6.2-litre supercharged Hellcat V8, which ensures a top speed of almost 200km/h and a 0-60mph (97km/h) sprint time of just 4.5 seconds.

But Ford is not having any of this and appears to be transplanting the Shelby V8 engine into the new F-150 in an attempt to deliver a brutal blow to the TRX.

According to the Automedia spy photographers: “The engineer was overly cautious when it came to accelerating, and even went as far as cutting through subdivisions to get back to Roush (the same Roush that helped develop the GT500).”

It’s not yet clear whether the RAM 1500 TRX will retain its title of world’s fastest ute, but the smart money suggests Ford’s engineering maestros will make sure the new Raptor steals the title from its rival.

The supercharged Ford F-150 Raptor can also be seen in the video with a rubber flap hiding its rear suspension, hinting at a new chassis set-up for the big tough truck.

Tailor made for hard-core off-roading, including desert dueling and airborne antics, the high-performance F-150 Raptor may be testing different off-road dampers to the Fox Shox of the current model.

As it stands, it’s not clear what else the Ford Performance team is planning for the new F-150 Raptor, but expect something very big, very loud and very fast.

Ford’s newest Raptor is based on the new-generation F-150 that was revealed in the US last June, but neither has been confirmed for official release in Australia.

However, that could change and the new F-150 Raptor will at least be available via various independent local conversion companies, which are currently doing a roaring trade by switching the steering wheel from the left to the right-hand side and charging a massive premium.

The latest RAM 1500, meantime, is already available via such channels in Australia, where official importer RAM Trucks Australia will release its new locally converted DT-series pick-up next month. The RAM 1500 TRX will become available via both official and unofficial channels later this year.

Meantime, Ford Australia is understood to be developing the next-generation Ranger Raptor, which like its F-150 cousin should also gain two extra cylinders and a lot more grunt. The current 2.0-litre BiTurbo Ranger Raptor is expected to be ditched in favour of a brawnier turbo-diesel V6, at least in Australia.