Ford F-150 Raptor is one of the best performance trucks in the world. It has a loud design, and without any doubt, it is the supercar among the pickup trucks of the world. This truck is truly high-powered and can run just as fast over dirt and gravel as it can on the tarmac. Ford was the company that put the performance pickup trucks on the map when it introduced the F-150 Raptor to the world back in 2010.
This truck is capable of handling any terrain and just within a short period of time, it has become the dream off-roader of every enthusiast in the world. Normal pickup trucks were popular only in a few countries, but Ford decided to offer aftermarket additions to their normal Raptor and bring it to a brand-new segment of performance pickup trucks. Here are seven quick facts that you should know about the F-150 Raptor.
7 Quick Facts About the F-150 Raptor
1) Engine – Back in 2018, the F-150 Raptor received one of the biggest changes to its mechanical components. Changing from the 6.2-litre V8 engine to a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6, Ford ensured that the engine produced an impressive 450HP of maximum power and 691.5Nm of peak torque. Power is sent to all the wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission coupled with an all-wheel-drive system. This drive-train allows the Raptor to take full advantage of the V6 engine.
2) Seating & Cargo Space – The Raptor is available only in the SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations. There is ample space for adults to sit in both the models and the rear seats are quite comfortable over longer trips. The interior cargo space can be extended by flipping up the rear passenger seats. The bed on the Raptor, however, is available only in one size, a 5-foot 6-inch bed, the smallest available on the pickup truck segment of the Ford lineup. Increasing the bed size would have a negative impact on the performance of the pickup truck.
3) Interior – The interior design of the Raptor may feel a bit old when compared to the other pickup trucks such as the Dodge RAM 1500 or the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. However, the placement of the controls is quite sensible and easy for operation while driving. There is a large infotainment screen which is guarded by the air conditioning vents. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather for better comfort while driving, and there are a lot of spaces in the interior for storage of cups and bottles. There is a large armrest in the centre, which makes cruising on the Raptor quite comfortable. The seats are electronically adjustable in eight different positions. An optional SYNC3 infotainment system is a logical choice; it makes the things on the screen easy to read, and the menu layout is quite crisp as well.
4) Suspension – Taking the Raptor off the road will not only require a powerful engine but also a good suspension setup. To address this, Ford introduced an innovative suspension setup on the Raptor, as it is equipped with Fox Racing performance shock absorbers, which provide the truck with 13-inches of travel at the front and 14-inches of travel at the rear. This makes the truck quite capable off the road and gives a smooth on-road drive as well. The truck also features a Torque-on-Demand transfer case, a Terrain Management System, 6 driving modes, and an electronically locking rear differential, all of which help it to endure the hurdles when off the road.
5) Safety Equipment – There is a host of safety equipment that comes standard on the Raptor. The list includes a backup camera with Dynamic Hitch Assist (DHA), front and side-impact airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and traction control with Roll Stability Control (RSC). The urban usage of the truck might require you to attach a trailer behind the truck and while reversing, the Dynamic Hitch Assist comes into play, providing you with guidelines to lineup the truck in a better way. There is an optional 360-degree camera and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. Using the latter option, all you have to do is point towards the direction that you would want the trailer to go and forget about counter-steering while backing up.
6) Rivals – The F-150 Raptor does not have any true rivals since it is the only performance pickup truck that is available in the market. However, there are some products from different companies which come close to matching its performance and capabilities. There is the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which is a lightweight pickup, the Ram Power Wagon, and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon which comes equipped with quite a lot of off-roading gear. However, the Power Wagon from Ram is quite large and cannot fit into spaces that the Raptor can easily manoeuvre through. The truck from Jeep is capable off the road but on terrains such as a desert, it cannot match against the Raptor. The Raptor is the only machine that can fly over the desert, while the others can only crawl on the trails.
7) Price – The 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor starts at $53,455 (INR 40.31 lakh, direct conversion) in the United States of America. If and when launched in India, the price could be upwards of INR 1.25 crores. This is the expected figure that we get when we compare the price of the Mustang GT in the USA and the one that we get in India. Buying a pickup truck at this price would not be a viable option for the Indian customers, regardless of all the features that are being offered.
