The 2015 Ford F-150 looks to be a great evolution of the bestselling truck in the U.S. market, but there is an obvious absence of any high performance SVT models. Based on the success of the SVT Lightning and the SVT Raptor versions of the F-150, we can be sure that there will be a performance package coming in the not so distant future…but what will it be?
The Ford SVT Lightning F-150 was a powerful supercharged on-road sport truck that packed enough power to beat many performance cars while also easily being one of the fastest production trucks ever. The Lightning F-150 was incredible, but it has been years since the Motor Company has offered a true on-road performance model shy of the EcoBoost’d Tremor.
The Ford SVT Raptor F-150 was available in the previous generation of the popular half ton pickup and while the Raptor was a beast in terms of both sales numbers and performance – it focused more on off-road performance than road racing and drag racing. The advantage of the Raptor was that it would go anywhere and it would do it in a hurry – all without compromising towing or hauling abilities.
With all of that in mind, we want to know whether you think that Ford’s first performance application for the new 2015 F-150 should be an on-road performer like the Lightning or another off-road beast like the Raptor.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
