| The new 2010 F-150 Raptor, born in Baja and | | | | for maximum traction. The two stage electronic |
| designed by the Ford Truck Special Vehicle Team | | | | stability control system also has a special |
| (SVT) is built from the ground up. Another truck | | | | off-road-mode that raises the threshhold for yaw |
| from Ford that's "Built Ford Tough" and really stands | | | | and anti lock brake intervention, sharpens the throttle |
| up to it's name, the Raptor is ready to tackle the | | | | response, re-maps the six speed automatic to hold |
| untamed terrain of off road running. | | | | gears longer, and allows the locking differential to |
| On November 25, 2008 the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor | | | | stay activated up to the vehicles top speed. A hill |
| R race truck survived the grueling 41'st Tecate | | | | decent control system helps to limit speed while |
| SCORE Baja 1000, finishing the race in 25:28:10, which | | | | crawling down steep hills. |
| resulted in a third-in-class finish. | | | | The Raptors most surprising feature is that it |
| As any off roader will tell you the key to an off road | | | | performs much like a regular F-150 on the highway. |
| vehicle is it's chassis, it's suspension and it's shocks. | | | | Braking performance is respectable and the extra |
| With the Raptor's flamboyant, seven-foot-wide body | | | | cushion in the suspension makes for a compliant ride |
| work plastered with digital mud, an industry first, long | | | | with less of the rear axel hop common with unloaded |
| travel suspension, it's one truck that's sure to draw a | | | | pick-ups. |
| lot of attention on or off the road. | | | | The mostly standard F-150 cab has nicely bolstered |
| A track widened seven inches over a normal F-150, | | | | sport seats and a contoured steering wheel to keep |
| with re-inforced underpinnings suspended by unique | | | | you supported and comfortable while driving. Other |
| front coil springs and rear leaf springs, are what gives | | | | touches include white faced SVT gauges and console |
| the Raptor it's impressive front/rear suspension | | | | mounted controls for the off road electronics and |
| articulation of 11.2 and 12.1 inches respectively. The | | | | auxilary power switches. There are other cool details |
| SVT stampings on the aluminum control arms are | | | | too, including skid plates, heat extractors on the hood |
| another cool feature. But the real magic lies in the | | | | and fenders, hydroformed bumpers and LED marker |
| massive, three stage internal by-pass shocks from | | | | lights in the grille and on the flared wheel arches. |
| Fox Racing. On the highway, the Raptor feels much | | | | Available colors will be limited to orange, black, blue or |
| like the softer-sprung, four wheeled drive F-150 on | | | | white. |
| which it's based, with the shocks keeping the body | | | | If you are really into power and speed you may |
| from flopping about during transitions. | | | | want to wait until early next year when a new Boss |
| At each corner are beefed up disc brakes (13.8 in | | | | 6.2 litre V-8 will be available, packing around 400 |
| front, 13.7 in the rear) surrounded by 17-inch alloy | | | | horsepower. |
| wheels and SVT specific 35-inch BF Goodrich | | | | Ford says it's Dearborn truck plant will be able to turn |
| all-terrain tires. Differentials with 4.10:1 gears turn the | | | | out up to 5000 or so Raptors annually and that there |
| hefty rolling stock, and the rear axel sports an | | | | will be plenty of performance accessories available in |
| electronic locker that can spool both wheels together | | | | the near future. |