NAIAS 2015: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Ready For Return To Baja Valley
The King of Truck Mountain is ready for its return to Baja Valley below in its latest Raptor incarnation.
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 delivering more power than the outgoing 6.2-liter V8’s 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque, though just how much more hasn’t been stated. Said power is directed to all corners via a paddle-shifted 10-speed automatic, and managed by a torque-on-demand transfer case. The front pair of wheels also boast a new Torsen front differential for greater off-road prowess.
Supporting the Raptor is standard FOX Racing Shox suspension, which uses custom internal bypass tech to “damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain,” preventing the truck from bottoming out after leaping over a small hill or two. A set of 17-inch wheels mounted in BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires help cushion the blow as the truck claws its way through the trails.
The body is composed of high-strength military-grade aluminum that weighs 500 pounds less than the outgoing Raptor, and is supported by a purpose-built high-strength steel frame, the strongest frame throughout the entire F-150 range.
Other features include: six driving modes; traction control; stability control; advanced LED lighting and camera tech; roof-mounted auxiliary controls inside the cab; and three color material levels.
The 2017 F-150 Raptor is set to go on sale in the fall of 2016, and will leave for showrooms from the Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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The Raptor should be good on wide open trails in the desert where you only need to drive short distances as it's payload and FE would be abysmal. Sort of an overly large and expensive quad. Wouldn't be too good for a decent outing, it wouldn't last. Where the Raptor can do 98mph on a track a "normal" 4x4 will do 60mph. You could buy a decent suspension kit for a "normal" 4x4 and get 8/10s of a Raptor for a couple of grand. Does it represent value? No. It only represents value to FoMoCo as most will be expensive Mall Trawlers. Most of the so called off road experts on many of these sites have never been of road and probably wouldn't be able to gain the maximum out of an AWD CUV on a track, so how could you expect them to maximise the potential of a SUV/pickup with 4 hi/lo, let alone a Raptor.
Big al the raptor represents value for those who are good at shopping my 2010 raptor's msrp was 42k I got it for 37k I looked at switching to the crew cab version and one dealer wanted 17k over msrp to order one. A dealer closer to home wanted MSRP. The fact is when a loaded FX4 cost 53k and the raptor costs 55k. And you need the raptors extra capabilities it comes to be cheaper than aftermarket , except that one can haggle more on an FX4. The higher bumper of the raptor and heavy duty skid plate are needed on slit of the trails I took my truck on in utah. The shocks helped me cross large parts of the open desert quickly to get to some cool spots that would have taken a normal 4x4 3 times as long. There aren't any trails I have come across that the raptor is to big for as out in ut az and co they make it illegal to deviat from forest service and blm roads. It is funny when you see a wrangler going slow and pass it going at twice the speed. Yes I know how to use hi and low 4x4 and my rear diff and yes I have gotten the raptor stuck on two occasions but the truck is a beast at what it does. Combined with the luxary its a bargin compared to land cruisers and range rovers.