First Look: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
The rap about “street trucks” like Dodge’s Ram SRT-10, Chevy’s Silverado SS and Ford’s own F-150 SVT Lightning is that they handled and performed well…for trucks.
In designing a performance version of Ford’s iconic pickup, Special Vehicle Teams chose a different direction for the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. Widen the body of a Supercrew, redo front and rear suspensions, tweak the four-wheel-drive calibration and make it an off-road capable pre-runner.
The Raptor also gets a new truck engine, a 6.2L, two-valve (for better torque characteristics than multivalvers) overhead-cam V-8. Tuning isn’t final, but SVT says the oversquare engine will be rated about 400 hp and about 400 lb-ft of torque. The engine was an on-again, off-again project known as the Hurricane V-8. Its official name is simply “6.2,” and Ford will not use it in any other F-150s, so it’s mainly a Super Duty truck engine that might also be used in whatever is left of the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator lines.
From the A-pillar forward, the Raptor has unique sheetmetal from other F-150s and is bereft of a Blue Oval badge in the grille. SVT widened the track by 7 in., and so its 5.5-ft box is unique to the Raptor as well. Height is up 2 in.over a standard Supercrew. It has new, internal bypass shocks, designed by Fox Racing Shox for a smooth ride on-road that stiffens up when the driver reaches high speeds off-road. Fox’s new shocks are designed to do what external bypass shocks do, without the packaging problems. The Raptor has new leaf springs and shocks, new front upper- and lower-A-arms, and a new, wider, thicker-walled rear axle.
It’s the first Ford with hill-descent control and comes with a differential locker that lets the driver keep it locked at high speeds. It tows up to 6000 lb and has a 1000-lb payload. Interior changes include unique, high-bolster seats, a special steering wheel, and redesigned center console. Ford hasn’t determined price or volume yet, though it promises a “value price” and a multiyear run. SVT’s latest F-150 is far from perfectly timed, though by foregoing a high-performance street truck for one that’s highly capable off-road, it’s more in line with the move to pickups with “authentic” capabilities as suburban cowboys leave the segment in droves.
The Raptor goes on sale in the summer of 2009 with the base, 5.4L three-valve engine. The 6.2L becomes available the following winter.
More Excellent Ford Car in www Auto Com:
+ LA Auto Show 2008 Preview: 2010 Ford Fusion to get flex-fuel V6 option
+ First Drive: 2009 Ford F-150
+ 2008 SEMA Motor Show Preview: CGS ReFlex
+ Spy Shots: Ford Taurus ST
+ 2008 SEMA Motor Show Preview: Performance West Group Ford F-350 Striker
+ Steven Millen and his Ford GT ready to run in Dunlop Targa Rally
+ First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus ST
+ 2010 Ford Fiesta: What it means
+ Paris Motor Show Preview: 2009 Ford Focus RS revealed… again!
+ First Drive: 2009 Ford Fiesta
+ First Test: 2008 Gurney Signature Edition Ford Mustang
+ First Test: 2008 Racecraft 420 S Ford Mustang
+ Track Lap: Ford Mustang FR500S
+ First Drive: 2008 Ford FPV Falcon
+ First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex
+ Spycam: 2010 Ford Mustang
+ 2009 Ford Ka unofficially revealed
+ Comparison: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs. 2008 Ford Shelby GT500
+ First Drive: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR
+ Geneva Motor Show 2008: production Ford Kuga
+ Geneva Motor Show 2008: Ford Kuga set to attack Europe
+ Geneva Motor Show 2008 Preview: 2009 Ford Fiesta is filled with Verve!
+ Detroit 2008: Ford Explorer America Concept says bye-bye to body-on-frame
+ Same Small-Car Stew, Stirred and Reheated
+ Next Bond Car: Aston Martin DBS
+ Ford temporarily shuts down truck, SUV plants
+ New Ford Focus Raises the Stakes
+ SEMA 2007: Dropping by the DeBerti Ford Super Duty
+ Aston Martin DBS
+ Ford Mustang Bullitt to Debut at 2007 LA Auto Show
+ Bioconcept Mustang GT RTD in the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show
+ 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show Preview: Ford Kuga crosses over to production
+ 2008 Aston Martin DBS Spy Shots
More Excellent Articles like
First Look: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Pay Attention to Auto Fans
Recent Auto Articles
- One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture
- First Test Experience: 2011 Nissan Juke SV
- Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 announced - world’s first diesel full hybrid vehicle
- Nissan Xterra not long for this world
- 2011 Ford Mondeo facelift unveiled in Moscow
- 2011 Nissan Murano unveiled with mild refresh, new SV trim
- Mercedes-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8
- Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Shaheen and Baynunah bespoke editions
- Officially Official: Updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler now in production
- Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series by MKB packs over 1000hp
