Daily Slideshow: The Raptor's Coolest Features
The second generation Ford F-150 Raptor is back and pushing the envelope further than before.
Better Than Ever
The first generation Raptor was an absolute sales hit and quickly became the must-have truck, and Ford is not willing to relinquish the Raptor's title as such. After much research and development, the F150 Raptor is back with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Let's take a look at what they've been working on.
In Your Face Styling
The Raptor was first produced for the 2010 model year and when it came out, it was unlike anything we had seen before. It was big, brash, and unapologetic. Ford and their dearly departed SVT Division took a supercab F150 and made it into a desert runner for the streets. The hallmark of the Gen 1 Raptor was the gigantic Ford inscription spelled out across the grille. It let anyone in front of you know you were driving the baddest version of the F150. Gen 2 carries on the in-your-face tradition with an updated version of the Raptor grille.
The Raptor also stands apart from other F150s thanks to a wider track and flared wheel arches both front and rear. Specially designed BF Goodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires can be found at all four corners and the Raptor features optional wheels with a beadlock design, allowing Raptor owners to deflate their tires, creating a larger contact patch in sandy conditions or when rock crawling.
Baja-Approved Suspension
Ford changed the game in 2010 when the Raptor was announced with 11.2 inches of front suspension travel and 12.1 inches in the rear. Ford upped the ante for the updated 2017 model courtesy of custom internal bypass Fox Racing shocks. Suspension travel increases to 13 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear. The Raptor also went on a diet during development and shed 200 pounds during its redesign.
A Weapon of an Engine
When the Raptor debuted in 2010, the only available engine was the tried-and-true, if not slightly anemic, 5.4L Triton V8. In Raptor form, the SOHC V8 produced 310 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. Shortly thereafter, Ford introduced the iron-block 6.2L V8 which put out 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque. For Gen 2, the V8 was discontinued much to the dismay of purists. However, Ford quickly made amends by announcing the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 would make 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. All that thrust is a product of a new aluminum block, twin turbos, direct injection, and updates to the internals. The Raptor is downright quick, 0-60 comes in just 5.2 seconds. The 1/4 mile can be cranked out in just 13.9 seconds. Remember, when the S197 Mustang returned in 2005, the GT model reached 0-60 in 5.1 seconds with a 1/4 mile time of 13.6 seconds.
Industry First 10-Speed Transmission
Truck transmissions have come a long way over the last decade. My first truck was a 2003 F250 with a 5-speed "TorqShift" automatic transmission. I would've never guessed that just over a decade later the number of available gears in an F150 would double to 10. That's right, the Gen 2 Raptor's transmission has 10 selectable ratios. What's more, you can move the gear selector into "manual" mode and change up and down gears through steering wheel mounted paddles shifters... paddle shifters in a 5,600 lb F150!
Terrain Management System
Consider this Ford's off-road version of Chevy's Performance Traction Management system. The Raptor makes the most of its new dual-mode transfer case to ensure it's more capable than ever. The Raptor uses a clutch-based feature that allows an automatic 4x4 setting to simulate a typical all-wheel-drive vehicle in on-road and highway conditions. The shift-on-the-fly system can also mechanically lock into 4-high or 4-low when things get a little more challenging. Selectable modes include Normal, Weather, Mud/Sand, Rock/Crawl, Sport, or Baja.
For help with your late model Ford Truck, check out the how-to sections of Ford-Trucks.com