Here's how the Ford F-150 Raptor changed the truck game for good.
Game Changer
It may seem like only yesterday that the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor debuted and shook up the truck market for good, but in reality, the rugged off-road-focused pickup has been around since the 2010 model year. Ford was originally considering a third-generation Lightning, but instead pivoted to off-road performance amid growing interest in that particular hobby. This decision paid off in a major way, but at the time, seemed a bit risky. Regardless, that risk has been rewarded with one of the most beloved and game changing vehicles ever conceived.
Photos: Ford
Beating the Odds
When SVT chose to pivot and create the F-150 Raptor, it did so in some seriously troubling times - the economic recession that began in 2008. Even more challenging was the fact that consumers were shifting to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the wake of rising gas prices. Regardless, perhaps miraculously, Ford brass didn't cancel the Raptor project, and instead let its performance-focused team work their magic.
Proving Its Worth
The goal here wasn't just to create an off-road capable pickup that people could take out on some light trails on the weekends, however. Rather, Ford wanted the F-150 Raptor to be a dominant machine off the pavement, and it tested this concept by entering one in the legendary Baja 1000. Sharing many components with its production counterpart, this racing Raptor was perhaps the best form of advertising, convincing customers that they could buy a Baja-ready race truck right off the showroom floor.
Desert Racer for the Masses
Previously, obtaining such a vehicle meant spending a ton of money on aftermarket upgrades, and then the resulting labor required to install them or make more permanent modifications to a truck. Now, fans could head on down to their Ford dealership and buy a vehicle equally capable of hauling the kids to school and winning desert races - all with a factory warranty and OEM build quality.
High-End Features
Aside from its aggressive looks, the F-150 Raptor has always been fitted with some seriously impressive parts, which is a big component of what has made it so successful. The most famous, perhaps, are its Fox shocks - in fact, the first Raptor was the only production pickup at the time that came from the factory equipped with internal-bypass shocks of any kind. Throw on some 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and you've got a truck one can buy and head straight off-road - or simply brag about to your friends.
Incredible Capability
While Ford has a stellar reputation for building off-road-capable vehicles that dates back to the original Bronco - and perhaps even earlier - the F-150 Raptor has been nothing short of revolutionary, regardless. After surviving early challenges, the Raptor has gone on to spawn both the Ranger Raptor and Bronco Raptor, all while continuing to represent a smash hit in The Blue Oval's lineup - not to mention creating a whole new segment on its own in the process.
Photos: Ford
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