Ford, the definitive leader in tough trucks, is further building on its solid foundation of the new F-150 to deliver the all-new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck that's versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures, as well as the everyday commute.
“Ford trucks have been a mainstay on the off-road racing scene for more that 20 years because of our long history of capability and durability,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for Global Product Development. “With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we will be delivering a true off-road performance truck with the proven 'Built Ford Tough' capability and durability that is at the core of every F-150.”
Ford and off-road racing
Desert off-road racing is something Ford knows and does well, with eight championships in nine divisions in the 2007 “Best In The Desert” series and four more titles in CORR (Championship Off Road Racing). Ford has also shown its leadership at the Baja 1000 race - 12 Ford-powered vehicles have won the overall title for four-wheel vehicles, the most of any engine manufacturer.
With interest in off-road performance growing steadily, the F-150 SVT Raptor was designed to fulfill the desires of that highly demanding market. The high-performance off-road truck market is one that's largely untapped, allowing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor to set the bar for this type of vehicle.
“Most of the major manufacturers have focused on on-road performance, so when we looked at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat limited,” said Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for pickups and large SUVs. “This was the perfect opportunity for Ford to further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market.”
Looks tough and fast
The tough, chiseled look of the new Ford F-150 has been taken to a new level with F-150 SVT Raptor. The agile performance truck was designed to give the impression that it's always on the move.
Noticeable differences between the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the conventional F-150 will include a distinctive grille that has the Ford name carved into it; front bumper, vented hood, front fascia and fenders, functional hood extractors, fender extractors with “SVT” bored out, as well as visible Fox Racing Shox.
Another key difference between the F-150 SVT Raptor and the base F-150 is that it is more than seven inches wider. Ford designers took advantage of this difference and highlighted it with distinctive marker lamps. When turned off, the marker lamps are well integrated into the F-150 SVT Raptor's front end, as opposed to on top of the cab. When lit up, Raptor's imposing stance is immediately recognizable.
While the exterior design of the F-150 SVT Raptor is about creating an image, the interior design is about creating the feel of the truck, and both must complement each other.
Design elements from the unique grille and front fascia have been carried through to the interior on the console and dashboard. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather and features a molten-orange leather strip that serves as a centering sight line - which is especially useful in extreme driving maneuvers that can often cause the driver to lose perspective of the steering wheel's center point.
Revved up and ready
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is powered by the F-150's proven 5.4-liter Triton® V8 three-valve engine, which delivers 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. A new open-valve fuel-injection strategy improves the air/fuel charge conditions in the combustion chamber, allowing greater spark advance at higher loads and engine speeds.
A new 6.2-liter V8 engine will be available after launch. The 6.2-liter engine features all-new architecture specifically designed for robustness in a truck application. Given that reliability and longevity under harsh conditions are key to truck customers, the Ford team performed extensive testing to ensure the 6.2-liter V8 engine would live up to the “Built Ford Tough” promise.
Take off and landing
Building a high-performance off-road truck is not just about the horsepower - it's about the suspension. The F-150 SVT Raptor doesn't disappoint, with 13.4 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front.
“With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we changed the axle, the whole front suspension is different - new upper A arm, new lower A arm, new tie rods, new half-shaft joints,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford SVT chief engineer. “The suspension does all the work to keep the truck's attitude stable.”
In addition to a beefed-up suspension, the F-150 SVT Raptor also boasts unique internal-bypass Fox Racing Shox.
“This truck is also going to be a daily driver. We brought together a lot of experts to ensure the on-road steering precision and comfort was there too,” said Hameedi. “That's where Ford expertise really came to the table and complemented Fox's off-road expertise.”
Specialized Technologies
The F-150 SVT Raptor provides the complete package for off-roaders, including state-of-the-art technologies to keep it at the top of capability.
“For many years, enthusiasts have been struggling with the performance of electronic technologies in the extreme off-road environment since that was not the environment they were designed for,” Hameedi said. “What SVT has done is tailor technology to function in both an on-road and an extreme off-road environment.”
The F-150 SVT Raptor will be built alongside the new F-150 at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant at the historic Rouge Center in Dearborn, Mich. It will be available in spring of 2009.
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R will take on Baja 1000
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R, which features modified components, was developed by SVT and Ford Racing specifically to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - one of the most grueling off-road races on the circuit.
Prepared for racing in long-distance off-road endurance events, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R uses stock components of the F-150 SVT Raptor, including the transmission, brakes and axles. The frame - the part of the truck that will take the most stress - is the same proven fully boxed frame that delivers class-leading towing and hauling in the base F-150. The race truck is powered by a specially calibrated 500 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. Placing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000 also serves as a test bed for development of the production F-150 SVT Raptor.
Ford is bringing some of the best stock class off-road truck drivers together to drive the F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000. The team includes driver of record Steve Oligos and co-drivers Randy Merritt, Greg Foutz and Bud Brutsman who will compete in class eight for moderately modified full-size pickup trucks.
The Baja 1000 will run Nov. 20-23. The intense off-road endurance race runs from sea level up to 7,000 feet over 1,000 kilometers of sand, rock and mountain passes on the Mexican Baja Peninsula.
Preproduction vehicle shown.
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