The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor's Suspension is Crazy Like a FOX
The Ford F-150 Raptor grows longer legs for 2017, and it knows how to use them. (Apologies to ZZ Top.)
For the next generation model, due out this fall, the automaker teamed up with FOX to give the beastly all-terrain pickup better on- and off-road manners. That means beefier shocker for better cushioning and greater suspension travel.
The new suspension setup blends civility with capability. The Raptor’s purpose-built shock absorbers grow half an inch in diameter (to three inches), offering 44 percent more volume. They also feature a lower gas pressure to smooth out the on-road experience. All shocks feature an internal bypass with nine zones designed to progressively damped shock forces.
“The final zones act like hydraulic bump stops to send fluid through the top of the piston while the shock is fully compressed, preventing Raptor from bottoming out,” the automaker said in a statement.
Thanks to the new shocks, the Raptor’s front suspension travel grows from 11.2 inches to 13 inches. In the rear, travel grows from 12 inches to 13.9 inches. 2017 Raptors benefit from Ford’s newfound love of aluminum, shedding about 500 pounds compared to past models.
Specifications haven’t been announced, but we know the Raptor will gain a 10-speed automatic transmission and the upgraded 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. For 2017, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost gains 10 horsepower and 50 pounds-feet of torque, for a total of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft.
Ford is very pleased with itself, so much so that it released a video of the model’s suspension prowess:
More by Steph Willems
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Wait, Ford is partnering with a television network?