This was the first high performance off-road pickup which came with factory warranty. It was developed by the Special Vehicle Team at Ford.
It managed to survive the Baja 1,000 even when most Raptors never go off-road ever. It was one of the best trucks that's perfect the way it was designed and needed no mods.
While a lot of the details are secret, the next-gen truck is going to launch this autumn under Ford's Performance banner. For now, it is called the Ford F-150 Raptor. It is better engineered now as a special vehicle with a dedicated chassis and a powertrain to match the special bodywork. Ford is keeping their secrets well under the wraps but few details keep leaking out every now and then.
But for Ford, these details are noteworthy and something to be proud about.
Frame
The new steel frame has been reinforced from the regular F-150 and comes in a couple of wheelbases, the 133-inch SuperCab and the 145-inch SuperCrew. Despite this beefier and massive frame, Ford says that this new aluminum body will help reduce over 500 pounds from the weight as compared to its predecessors. Ford has lately been focusing a lot on reducing body weight resorting to aluminum and other raw materials.
Engine
The V8 is no longer under the hood. The 2017 Raptor only comes with the EcoBoost option and is the first recipient of the second-generation 3.5L V6 with direct fuel injection and twin turbochargers. Ford says this engine will have a few improvements like a new aluminum block and updates for the cylinder heads, fuel system, and internals. In order to improve the airflow further, the engine will exhale using a dual exhaust system with a couple of outlets in the rear bumper.
Transmission
This is the first time the 10-speed auto transmission from Ford is going to be used. It has a new 4WD transfer case too. It works with the terrain mode system so the truck can operate in various conditions. It can be controlled using buttons on the steering wheel as well as a menu in the cluster. You cannot beat that.
Suspension
None of this really means anything unless you have a proper suspension, though. The new components are much better than before with huge aluminum control arms in the front, tuned springs, and 3-inch internal bypass Fox shocks. Ford isn't giving out much information, but the suspension is supposed to be better than the earlier one.
Ford’s engineers just continue to impress showrooms and people all over the place.
Interior
The interiors have some deeply bolstered sports seats with contrasting stitching, carbon fiber accents, and a contoured steering wheel with some big paddle shifters. You can expect to see tons of Raptor logos all over and superior comfort and luxury in this robust and intimidating pick-up truck..
The successful four-year run of the original Raptor made it the largest selling SVT vehicle with production almost maxed out. It opened up new markets including government agencies and Middle East dealerships. Ford says that all earlier buyers will be able to upgrade to the new version and that manufacturing capacity will be sufficient to appease new owners.
Do not expect any huge leaps in terms of price. The truck will be a bargain buy for many people and sales should be impressive. It comes from a hardy bloodline of F-150's and is much lighter now which means it can fly farther than ever before.
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