| It was an awesome vehicle for a test drive --a 2010 | | | | couple of other color combinations are available, but |
| Ford Raptor. Maybe you seen someone driving | | | | this blazing orange is the most distinctive. The |
| around the area is an oversized, Blaze-Orange, | | | | bad-boy image continues into the inside with an extra |
| heavy-duty pickup. It looks more like it is ready to | | | | wide dashboard and center console. My test model |
| tackle a rescue mission in a remote mountainous area | | | | had terrific two-tone leather seats that almost |
| than be in a city-driving atmosphere. But Raptor | | | | hugged you during the drive. They were comfortable |
| handles both situations with equal ability. | | | | and supportive. The seats featured perforated |
| The Raptor is another in the long line of specialty | | | | leather inserts that helped maintain the comfort level. |
| F-150 pickup trucks. This one, however, was | | | | My test model was powered by the standard issue |
| designed by the Special Vehicle Team at Ford, whose | | | | for all F-150's - the 5.4 liter Triton V-8 that produces |
| last major influence was the 500 sedan. This F-150 | | | | 320 horsepower. There is also an optional 6.2-liter |
| has the designation SVT and was built especially for | | | | V-8, but the 5.4-liter provides all the power and |
| off-roading. A lot of vehicles are legendary for their | | | | capability to climb rocks or navigate riverbeds. The |
| off-roading capability, such as Land Rovers and | | | | suspension is obviously an important component of a |
| Hummers, but pickup trucks are usually standard with | | | | serious off-road vehicle and the Raptor has a lot |
| a lot of after-market products added. That is what | | | | added. There is a new upper A-arm a lower A-arm, |
| sets the Raptor apart from the crowd. This is a | | | | new half-shaft joints that go along with the |
| pickup built to look, feel, and perform off-road. | | | | heavy-duty axle. This does not take away from a |
| The Raptor shares the same platform and assembly | | | | smooth ride on highway surfaces however. |
| line with the standard F-150 in Michigan, but the | | | | My wife Judy and I had our first test drive of the |
| exterior is much more aggressively designed in the | | | | new Raptor last October down in the Texas Hill |
| looks department. It has a chiseled appearance that | | | | Country. We took it through some fairly rugged |
| instantly makes a driver think, "This is one mean Big | | | | areas near Bulverde and Boerne. We even took it |
| Boy." It is seven inches wider than the base model | | | | down into the edge of the riverbed of the Guadalupe |
| and has a wider suspension and much larger tires. | | | | River. This was the all-day Texas Truck Rodeo |
| Size alone makes it distinctive from the standard | | | | testing conducted by the Texas Auto Writers group. |
| F-150, but there is also a unique grille with big letters | | | | The Raptor was so impressive that the auto writers |
| F-O-R-D carved right into the front center. | | | | voted it Number One for the event and it was |
| Most of the Raptors are being sold in a Molten | | | | named Truck of the Year. |
| Orange color with an orange and black interior. A | | | | |