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2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Drag Races F-150 Raptor, Humiliation Follows

Although the crown is often contested, the Ford F-150 is the king of pickup trucks. Even though this 2021 model has "hybrid" written on the back, it hasn't been turned into a Prius. To prove that Ford lets you have your cake and eat it, the guys at Fast Lane Truck organized a drag race against the outgoing Raptor.
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Drag Races F-150 Raptor, Humiliation Follows 4 photos
Photo: The Fast Lane Truck/YouTube screenshot
2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Drag Races F-150 Raptor, Humiliation Follows2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Drag Races F-150 Raptor, Humiliation Follows2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Drag Races F-150 Raptor, Humiliation Follows
New generations of F-150 don't come along very often, and Ford likes to make the kind of major changes that will ensure long-term popularity. With the 2021 pickup, they're targeting better mpg numbers by pioneering some hybrid technology that might also trickle down to the next-gen Raptor.

The interesting premise for this drag race is that the F-150 Hybrid costs more money ($79,000) than a sporty Raptor ($77,000). This is partly because of the powertrain technology and an interior that feels miles above its predecessor. The leather is Lincoln-worthy, and the console has Playstation graphics.

But none of that matters in a drag race. The 2021 Ford F-150 has six powertrain options, of which only the PowerBoost is truly new. This twin-turbo hybrid V6 is equipped with a 35-kW (47-hp) electric motor powered by a 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery and makes a respectable 430 horsepower. This and the 570 lb-ft (772 Nm) of torque put it above the 400 horsepower 5.0L V8 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost.

But the Raptor's high-output EcoBoost is rated at 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft (690 Nm). Plus, it's bright red, so it's got to be faster, right? Well, just before the race, the crew make a couple of 0-60 mph sprints, and the numbers suggest it will be a close one.

The first race sees the 2021 F-150 struggling with the launch, but it wins convincingly in the second. Now, TFL's drag races are notoriously controversial, and this isn't a full quarter-mile. Still, it's safe to say the new model is at least equal to the Raptor, the outgoing model. That's like the new Civic being as quick as a Type R, which is frankly embarrassing for the little dinosaur truck.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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