Ever Pondered the Top Speed of a Raptor?

Unsurprisingly, a 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor is fast for a truck. Johnny Bohmer performed a top speed test to show us just how fast it really is.

From the conception of the Raptor back in 2010, Ford enthusiasts knew the predatory truck’s purpose: to be fast, and fast off-road. Sort of like a trophy truck, but one that people could always drive on public roads and use domestically. It’s no secret that Ford got the inspiration to bring the Raptor to the people after seeing how beloved the SVT Lightning was, and how often people used their 4X4 Fords off-road. A SVT Lightning breeding with a Baja 1000 racing truck? What could possibly go wrong?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing, it was a match made in heaven, made especially clear in Johnny Bohmer’s Proving Grounds’ Video. The 2010 Raptor was loved by many. It was wider, by a lot, and it sounded mean. The 5.4 liter V8 that made 310 hp screamed under the hood, especially when paired with a nice exhaust. If 310 hp was too little, Ford offered the 411 hp making 6.2 liter V8 that came with the Super Duty and Platinum trucks. It came with model exclusive long-travel suspension, springs, shocks, and off-road ready tires. For a lot of people, this truck was a perfect dream fully realized.

Only possible downside to this kind of selective breeding is that the long travel suspension and softer rear springs meant that it wasn’t all that great for towing. That’s not to say that it couldn’t, it just didn’t do as well as it’s F-150 predecessors. Some F-150’s could tow as much as 11,300 lbs, while the Raptor’s only capable of around 8,000 lbs. In the grand scheme of things, though, no one buys a Raptor to tow something more than 8,000 lbs anyway, so, it’s perfectly reasonable. The intent is to go fast in the dessert, mud, dirt, or snow.

When it came back in 2017 after two years behind a curtain, the Raptor was angrier. It was still wide, it still had long travel suspension and big tires. This time around, it also came with a lighter aluminum frame, and instead of a V8 it now came with a 3.5 liter V6 with two turbochargers on it. This combination generated a respectful 450 hp and 510 ft lbs of torque, making it both practical and light-footed. So, how fast is it on Johnny Bohmer’s Proving Grounds? The 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor was put the test, with a pedal to the medal top speed test. It had 2.3 miles to go as fast as it could go. With a professional behind the driver, the three and half ton truck tapped out at 134 mph.

This is impressive for a truck that heavy. It’s also electronically limited to 104 mph — probably to keep people from going too feral off-road. Through Bohmer’s test, we got to see how fast the Raptor is when it’s free from it’s electronic chains. The more Ford puts into the Raptor, the more impressive it gets.

Kristen Finley

Before she was old enough to go to school, Kristen Finley spent a majority of her childhood rebuilding rusted Chevy Novas with her dad. Once high school and college came around, she was still actively rebuilding cars, though she found out she had a second greatest love: writing and photography.

Now, in her last year of college, she's pursuing a bachelor's in Journalism and Media Studies from California State University, Monterey Bay after receiving her A.A. in Communications. She has been writing for three years, and as her school newspaper's automotive expert, she started and solely maintained the weekly automotive section detailing posts on car care, safety tips, features, and news. She covers stories for Mustang Forums, Dodge Forum, JK-Forum and more.

Finley can be contacted at krisfin95@gmail.com

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