Here’s What the New 2016 Raptor Needs to Have
To much sadness, Ford didn’t continue to make the Raptor for the 2015 model year. But the end is not near for the off-road, high-flying monster. Sales of the Raptor have always been strong, making it obvious a new truck was in the works.
Heck, they even said it would be under Ford’s new performance brand nameplate. We’re less than a week away from Ford’s press conference at NAIAS, and here’s what the new Raptor needs to have.
It needs to retain the black front grille with FORD written across it in big lettering. I’d hardly called the Raptor a “beautiful” truck (though some of you may disagree).
But I do view the truck as striking, and badass. Part of that look comes from the big grille on the front. It gives the truck a menacing look that makes normal people move out of the way.
It needs to have a kickass engine. Ford recently trademarked EcoBeast. That sounds like something that belongs in a Raptor. All we know for sure is the 6.2L is dead. It could possibly have a turbo 5.0L V8. It could be a tuned 3.5L EcoBoost.
Heck, it could get the motor from the Shelby GT350 (though, that seems unlikely). Whatever powers it, it needs to be new, and it needs to be awesome.
It needs to retain the current truck’s power, capabilities, and charm. Ford could just slap the aluminum truck on top of the current Raptor and call it a day, but I doubt they’d do that.
But it does need to retain the capabilities and performance of the truck it’s replacing. Look to see all of the technology carry over, plus a few neat tricks or toys.
We’ll be watching with baited breath next Monday as Ford hopefully pulls the covers off the brand new Raptor, and a bunch of other Ford performance vehicles!
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