2026 Ford F-450 Redesign, Pictures, Engine – A dozen years ago, ownership of desert trophy trucks capable of leaping high sand dunes was limited to factory racing teams and hardcore endurance competitors with exceptional fabrication connections. When Ford’s F-450 Raptor debuted in 2009 with the credentials of a bona fide Baja 1000 entry, it established a new segment of performance truck.
But was there really a market for such a niche vehicle? Apparently so – according to Ford, over the last four years the Raptor has outsold other performance heavies such as the Chevrolet Corvette, and Porsche’s entire lineup of sports cars. It also sparked the introduction of other arrivals to the segment, including the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, and Ram’s new Hellcat-powered TRX.
2026 Ford F-450 Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
Some 152 mm (six in) wider than the standard F-450, the Raptor emphasizes that width with an enormous grille stretching from headlight to headlight. A stretched-out Ford logo and wide brow line further accentuate its breadth. Dark bezels around the headlights, wide fenders and mouldings, pronounced skid plates, and marker lights accentuate its menacing desert truck character. Ford claims the gaping new air ducts along its fenders are inspired by F-22 fighter jets, but that seems a stretch. At least they’re functional, as is the bulging extractor on the power dome hood. 2026 Ford F-450 Redesign
The side-to-side steel skid plate features three ribs that tie into the trio of marker lamps, and also add structural rigidity. New character lines sculpted into the side sheet metal suggest speed and motion. There are three Raptor specific wheel choices: a standard machined metal with C-clamp motif, optional steelies, and a gloss black option that comes only with the 37-inch tire package. The two optional wheels are bead-lock-capable and have removable beauty rings.
2026 Ford F-450 Specs
A boon for deep off-road enthusiasts is the new two-kilowatt onboard generator that debuted with the F-450. For adventures off-grid, it can supply power to camp lights or electric heaters. Its power draw can be monitored using a smartphone or the truck’s infotainment interface. That infotainment system now features improved voice recognition, and live map information such as traffic, construction, and road conditions. Over-the-air updates for such features as trail maps and real-time tire pressures can be downloaded when the driver chooses.
The FordPass smartphone app now controls zone lighting, onboard pro power monitoring, and trailer light checking, as well as remote start and locking. Standard is Ford’s CoPilot 360 suite of driver-assist technologies, which now includes an intersection assist that applies brakes when oncoming traffic is detected during left turns; a self-parking system with parallel and perpendicular parking; and a steering assist for the adaptive cruise control that’s to arrive later.
Engine and Performance
The new Raptor rides on a modified and reinforced version of the high-strength platform that underpins the new F-450. The front and rear suspension has undergone significant redesign for better on-road ride quality. Up front are taller, stronger shock towers, unique control arm pivot locations, a lowered front axle for increased travel, and stronger bracketry for shocks and spring attachments. The suspension components – ball joints, knuckles, wheel bearings, control arms – are all unique to Raptor and allow 356 mm (14 in) of front travel. Available is a Torsen front limited-slip differential.
Around back is a new five-link rear suspension with panhard bar to laterally stabilize the rear axle and improving traction to allow more torque to be put to the ground. Extra-long trailing arms and tall, triple rate coils add more stability. An electronic locking rear differential is standard. The rear suspension boasts a class-leading 381 mm (15 in) of travel. 2026 Ford F-450 Redesign
2026 Ford F-450 Fuel Economy
Onboard is a terrain management system with seven settings, including sport, rock crawl, and Baja. The driver-selectable modes adjust steering wheel, active valve exhaust, position-sensitive damping, throttle mapping, and transmission shift points to comply with driving conditions. Trail control is standard and manages throttle and braking at speeds as fast as about 32 km/h so the driver can focus only on steering while the truck maintains a consistent speed over difficult terrain. Available one-pedal drive combines brake and accelerator; press to accelerate and lift to brake. 2026 Ford F-450 Redesign
2026 Ford F-450 Safety Features
As before, there are Fox performance shocks at each corner, but now there’s an upgraded package that comes bundled with 37-inch tires. The new shocks have increased diameter, a nine-zone damping tune with internal bypass, and double the damping power. This is the first F-450 to offer 37-inch tires from the factory, which improve approach, departure, and breakover angle while creating better running clearance. 2026 Ford F-450 Redesign
The standard tire is 35 inches, so the huge wheels required some creative engineering and lifting of the truck to work with clearance zones and avoid interference with suspension components. The adaptive damping system is integrated into the truck’s drive modes, and can adapt damping rates up to 500 times per second.
2026 Ford F-450 Price and Release Date
The hybrid is still the F-450 to buy in my books, though it does add somewhat significantly to the cost. The 2026 Ford F-450 Platinum starts at $83,300 before tax but including a non-negotiable freight charge of $1,995; opting for the V6 on its own knocks $300 off the asking price, while the gas–electric setup adds $2,200. (The diesel, meanwhile, is a $4,700 upgrade.) 2026 Ford F-450 Redesign
This tester’s Smoked Quartz paint added $450 to the price tag, while the panoramic sunroof ($1,750), 2.0-kW inverter ($1,300), FX4 package ($950), spray-in bedliner ($600), and console work surface ($200) pushed the total sticker to $88,250 before tax. That’s quite the stack of cash – especially without any available incentives – though competitors like the Ram 4500, Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra can easily cost as much in comparable trims. And while Ram’s half-ton is the self-proclaimed “most luxurious light-duty truck ever,” this F-450 could give it a serious run for its money.A dozen years ago, ownership of desert trophy trucks capable of leaping high sand dunes was limited to factory racing teams and hardcore endurance competitors with exceptional fabrication connections.