Vehicle Spotlight: The Almighty Ford Raptor

Practically gone are the days of rolling down the squeaky, old windows and blasting a little AM radio on the way home from the job site in Grandpa’s beat up, yet ever-dependable, pickup. Furthermore, the idea of one’s truck as merely a joyless work tool—Spartan interior, bench seats, rigid suspension and all—has long been a shrinking concept. But the Ford F-150 Raptor, with all of its precision off-road handling, glorious refinement, and car-like features is undoubtedly the nail in that coffin.

Today’s need: a modern truck for the modern-day consumer. And that means each pickup must serve dual purpose, with sharp looks and upgraded amenities throughout to match. Trucks bundling status along with capability are far from a new breed; though, the Raptor crosses a threshold within the off-road segment that was previously and, arguably, solely occupied by the likes of the Jeep Wrangler—a marvelously capable off-road vehicle that is just as common on city streets because of everything else the badge offers in style and prestige.

The Raptor Rapture

Now in its second generation (debuting in autumn of 2016 as a 2017 model), the Raptor has undergone some serious changes under the hood to get to where it is currently. Gone is the hulking 6.2L V8 of 2010’s first iteration. In its place is a comparatively svelte twin-turbo 3.5L V6 that churns out 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque; that coolly bests its predecessor’s output.

Ladies and gents, this truck has zoom beyond limitations; that’s twin-turbo sports car ZOOM. Ford admits the EcoBoost engines it develops for race cars had an influence on the Raptor’s engine reincarnation, with its aluminum block and direct-fuel injection. Whopping improvements in acceleration prove this beyond a doubt; it’s shaved nearly two seconds off its already impressive first-gen 0-60 time.

Body, Tranny, and Suspension Upgrades

Its new aluminum body helps to curb weight from the previous version, nearly 500 pounds to be exact. And Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive transfer case also make a debut, with a cutting-edge terrain-mode system designed to adjust the Raptor to any specific ground condition such as mud, sand or rocks. The suspension is wider and more receptive than ever. Specially-tuned coil springs are situated up front and smooth-riding leaf springs live in the rear. And let’s not forget the high performance Fox Racing shocks. It can’t be overstated enough, this truck rides equivalent to the sleek cars it draws its influences from. And much like a bear cub raised by wolves, it’s developed a stealthiness not thought possible until now.

Yours for 50G’s

The Raptor truly sits in a class by itself. Sales are currently about as high as Ford can accommodate, while breaking into previously untapped foreign markets. Car and Driver ranks the Raptor second among full-size pickups, behind only its platform mate, the original F-150. It also placed second in a nearly too-close-to-call race for Truck Trend’s 2017 “Pickup Truck of the Year” award.

And considering that the Raptor is the new kid on the block, and has a base price roughly twenty grand above any other vehicle in its class, this achievement is nothing to scoff at. Starting out at around $50,000, the Raptor is far from the most affordable option truck buyers have. But it’s just so damned c-a-p-a-b-l-e. Designed to run roughshod through the desert, which it does handily, the Raptor’s street smarts to brilliantly corner and maintain a smooth, quiet ride even when topping out on the freeway sets it apart.

The SuperCab model, less expensive than the SuperCrew option, starts around $49,500. After that, a luxury package can be added for a dead-serious markup of over $9,300; it includes plenty fun-yet-non-essential bells and whistles, such as heated and cooled leather seats, push-button start, blind-spot warning, dual climate zones, navigation, etc. There’s even a $2,000 technology package that can be added on top of that, with fancy modern-day doodads like lane-keeping assist and windshield wipers that can sense rain. (By the way, we’ve now officially nailed shut the coffin of Grandpa’s old pickup. And we’ve thrown a few shovels of dirt on top of it.)

What’s Interesting…

Not only do 90 percent of consumers go for the pricier SuperCrew model with a base price around $53,500. A staggering 91 percent of buyers opt for the luxury package as well. This bit of sales information is as telling as any statistic about the Ford Raptor’s off-road capabilities. That a modicum of comfort is now expected to be a part of the pickup truck experience. No matter what the extra cost.

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