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Budd Stanley photos
2017 Ford Raptor
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Budd Stanley photos
2017 Ford Raptor
There is no missing the Raptor with “FORD” emblazed across the tailgate.
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Budd Stanley photos
2017 Ford Raptor
New BFG All-Terrain KO2 tires will help soak up the terrain with aid from retuned FOX Racing Shox.
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Budd Stanley photos
2017 Ford Raptor
Just in case you missed it; this is a Ford, and its wide and angry!
Story & photos by Budd Stanley
Ford surprises with 2017 Raptor
Just getting the chance to sit in the fabled seats of the Joe Louis arena was a spectacular experience for me, let alone being blown away by Ford’s unbelievable performance jab as it launched the herculean Shelby GT350R and the mesmerizing Ford GT hypercar. But as exciting all these things were, I was sitting on the edge of my stadium seat, camera in hand, drool in mouth for Ford’s off-road addition to the performance trio.
Yes, the Raptor is alive and well and will be sporting an aluminum body and EcoBoost power!
So, what do we know after Ford gave us a tantalizingly short glimpse of the next generation Raptor? That new aluminum body that features some new design queues will also shave 227 kg (500 lb) off the current generation Raptor. The Raptor will be 6-in wider than the standard F-150 for improved off-road stability, making use of new 17-in wheels with the next-generation BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires that Editor Mack found quite impressive.
All the extra bulges and venting sure do make the upcoming Raptor look even more fearsome than the last, but what really matters is what will be motivating the big Ford. Yes, the EcoBoost name will be making its way into the Raptor and it will be the 3.5L V-6. I can feel eyebrows starting to rise, but fret not power hungry truckers, the Raptors new EcoBoost will be producing more horsepower and torque than the old 6.2L V-8, which was rated at 411 hp and 434 lb-ft.
Another eyebrow raiser is that the EcoBoost will be mated to a ten-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift capability. The question has to be, will all those little gears crammed into the box make the future Raptor as impressive fuel efficiency wise as it will be in pure performance, or will so many close ratio’s crack under the big power numbers the EcoBoost is expected to produce?
To help handle all that power in different conditions, Ford have completed a major overhaul of their off-road driving aid technology. An all-new Terrain Management System now allows drivers to program the vehicle to best handle both environmental and terrain conditions. There are six preset modes for the truck starting with “Normal” mode for everyday driving and “Street” mode for higher-performance, on-road driving. Weather modes can be selected for “rain,” “snow” or “ice.” Finally, terrain can be specified with “Mud and Sand” mode for muddy and sandy trails and terrain, “Baja” mode for high-speed desert running and “Rock” mode for low-speed rock crawling.
Finally, the Raptor will receive increased suspension travel with completely redesigned FOX Racing Shox. Front and rear shock canisters have grown from 2.5 inches to 3 inches in diameter for improved damping capability in harsh conditions. They will also feature more suspension travel than the current Raptor’s 11.2-in at the front and 12-in at the rear.
There is no doubt about it, the next gen Raptor looks to be the beast of the bunch. Despite several other manufacturers building imitations, the second edition Raptor looks ready to devour all who challenge. However, there is still a lot to learn about this desert terrorist before it goes on sale in the fall of 2016, but we will do our best to keep you informed of all the latest numbers and updates.