It’s the new rising star in the world of pickup trucks. The F-150 Raptor is Ford’s first high-performance off-road pickup that secures owners with its factory warranty.
Need proof of what you’re getting? This monster just survived a Baja 1000 desert race, proving its worth that has now captured the hearts of enthusiasts and critics. And did we mention its lightweight body?
For now, what we know about the coming model is very limited as Ford keeps the other details secret yet temptingly exciting. But for now, it’s called the F-150 Raptor, sporting boxed steel-frame design that comes in two sizes of 133-inch SuperCab for the sporty type and the 145-inch SuperCrew for those who value more space.
And for that lighter body, Ford chooses an aluminum body integrated with the composite hood and front-fenders. With the new materials, Ford claims a total weight trim down of about 500 pounds compared with the pervious Raptor model. Then comes the EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine with twin turbochargers and direct-fuel injection. So, gone is the heavier V-8 because now comes this sports race-influenced V-6, according to Ford.
Not only will the new Raptor get a major engine makeover, but this model will also be the first of Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. The new four-wheel-drive transfer case will also closely integrate with the terrain-mode system to help the Raptor adapt to muddy, snowy or rough terrain.
Now, all those features we just mentioned will just be virtually useless for of-road driving if it were not for the Raptor’s stronger and wider aluminum control arms, the tuned springs (coils in front, leafs in back), and 3.0-inch internal-bypass Fox Racing shock absorbers. In other words, it’s all about a very good suspension when it comes to driving on very rough terrain.
A closer look of the 2017 Raptor reveals a posh interior lined with the most detailed stitching, carbon-fiber accents and the beautiful contours of the dashboard, steering wheel and paddle shifters.
On a final thought, the F-150 Raptor is quite a major leap from its predecessor. Surely, we’ll miss the old Raptor’s more powerful engine hum with the new V-6 in the F-150, but when it comes to performance and style, it’s going to be a sure win for this off-road monster.