Ford Bringing Back 6.2L V8 to 2017 Raptor!
Rejoice, Ford Raptor fans! Today at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, Ford finally decided to cave and give the fans what they want; a V8-powered 2017 Raptor! Woohoo!
Raptor with 6.2L V8 (Photo: Flickr)
Ford CEO Mark Fields
Citing overwhelming outrage from the Ford Truck Enthusiasts community about the new truck not sounding awesome with a V6, Ford has decided to give us what we want! Ford’s CEO Mark Fields had this to say about the change.
Even though the EcoBoost V6 is more powerful and more efficient, not putting a V8 in the high-performance truck is just morally wrong.
Aside from the changes with the engine, which will add some weight to the truck, the rest of the vehicle remains unchanged. That means the all-aluminum body is still there with the steel frame. Also, the 10-speed automatic transmission remains.
CHECK OUT: 2017 Ford Raptor: You Had Me at Hello
More details when we can get it, but you can read the succulent press release below and let us know what you think about this great announcement in the forums!
April 1, 2015 | New York
Ford Returns to V8 Power In The 2017 Ford Raptor
After repeated testing, Ford is returning to V8 power in the Raptor to Recapture the High Performance Sound.
- All-new 2017 Ford Raptor will have 6.2L V8 that was previously discontinued. To make it competitive with the 3.5L EcoBoost that was originally prepared for the truck, the new engine has been tweaked to make 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque.
- Ford Raptor features the most powerful 6.2L V8 to date, with the fuel economy to match.
- Ford credits Ford Truck Enthusiasts for the change.
Ford today announced that the 2017 Ford Raptor, Ford’s desert-storming off-road truck, will be powered by the famous 6.2L V8 from the previous truck.
Citing overwhelming support from the Ford Truck Enthusiasts site, CEO Mark Fields said that the choice was obvious.
“Even though the EcoBoost V6 is more powerful and more efficient, not putting a V8 in the high-performance truck is just morally wrong,” said Fields. “It was a no-brainer for us. Putting a V8 in this truck will make it a slam dunk against the competition.”
Eight Cylinders, 10 Speeds
To help with the poor fuel economy of the 6.2L V8, Ford will continue to use the 10 speed automatic transmission that was co-developed in a partnership with General Motors.
“We already had invested the research and development into it,” stated Eric Peterson, F-150’s brand manager. “We might as well use it.”
Expect class leading fuel economy of all V8 trucks with 10-speed transmissions.
High Flying Fun
Ford understands the needs and wants of enthusiasts, which is why the new 2017 Ford Raptor will be heavier than previous reported, thanks to the addition of the V8 engine. However, thanks to the aluminum body it should still be lighter than the previous truck.
That means fans will be able to spend more time in the air, destroying their trucks on YouTube videos more than ever before!
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
