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When Ford expanded the Raptor lineup to include the Supercrew it added a whole new group of customers interested in the truck's bold styling and unsurpassed off-road capability and power. For the latest model year, Ford has added a Torsen front differential, a forward-looking off-road purposed camera and a slew of changes to the appearance of the truck inside and out. When Ford added the Supercrew configuration to the Raptor F-150 it not only increased interior volume to allow for more comfort for rear passengers, but for those looking to take their Raptor trucks to the desert and brings some tows along with, the Supercrew also touts improvements across the board in terms of payload and towing capacity over the Supercab variation. Payload receives a minor bump from 930 lbs to 1,030 lbs, but maximum trailer tow weight jumps from 6,000 lbs to 8,000 lbs, an increase that will likely be welcomed by those trying to pack supplies and "toys" for the whole family and taking it all to the desert in and behind a single truck. Thanks to the added vehicle length, extra room for a larger gas tank sees capacity jump from 26 gallons to 36 gallons, an increase that will be welcomed when towing and suffering a sizable hit to fuel economy.

6.2 > 5.4
The first time Ford refreshed the Raptor it decided to drop the dated 5.4-liter engine altogether, making the 6.2-liter V8 standard for both the Supercab and SuperCrew models. This now standard engine makes the F-150 SVT Raptor the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market thanks to its 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque.

 

Ford says that the exhaust for the 6.2-liter engine was uniquely tuned to deliver the performance-oriented, high-horsepower sound customers want. Additionally, a unique firing order gives the 6.2-liter a distinctive roar.

 

Ford says it performed extensive testing on the latest power plant, including subjecting fifty prototype engines to more than a dozen of the toughest engine tests at Ford's dynamometer lab.The SelectShift Automatic transmission continues to be a huge addition to the Raptor in the eyes of many, as most off-roaders realize the importance of gear selection in varying terrains and grades. To address those concerns, Ford added a toggle switch – located on the console shift lever – which can engage a new mode where the transmission doesn’t second-guess the driver, giving him or her total control over gear selection.

 

For example, upshifts are not commanded at redline, and downshifts are allowed at the lowest gear possible as defined by the engine speed – making the SelectShift Automatic transmission as close to a manual transmission as an automatic could reasonably allow for in an off-road truck.  

 

Interior to match the bold exterior
Being a high-end truck with relatively few options, it should come as little surprise that a standard 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen is integrated in the center of the instrument gauges, which have a black face, red pointers and ice blue daytime lighting.

 

This screen comes from the recently launched, redesigned Superduty trucks, but in the Raptor the screen provides a unique welcome animation and, more importantly, vehicle status information for important off-road parameters such as off-road mode, Hill Descent Control, electronic locking differential settings and AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control).The screen also provides information about steering wheel angle and vehicle angle on a grade during off-road maneuvers. The menu is navigated through a five-way button on the steering wheel and is positioned between the tachometer and speedometer – requiring a minimal amount of distraction from the tasks at hand.

 

Other interior niceties include a telescoping steering wheel, a head restraint for the second-row middle seat and a 110-volt power inverter located in the center console 

 

Few options, packages
In the event that the standard fare Supercrew Raptor just isn’t enough for the most discerning buyers, Ford also offers two new packages, Raptor Plus Package and Raptor Luxury Package.

 

Raptor Plus Package is for those with towing on their minds, adding both the rear-view camera and a trailer brake controller.The Luxury Package is for those with cash to burn and/or a burning desire to have the latest "make your life a little bit easier" options, including power folding mirrors and a remote start system. In case you hadn’t memorized the color palette available for the first-year Raptor, then you might not have noticed Ingot Silver Metallic joining the list of choices for the previous update. Ford also updated its graphics during the previous update to continue them to the hood of the truck. Ford says inspiration for the designs can be traced to the classic Broncos. The design features matte black accent graphics – including the F-150 SVT Raptor logo – run along the hood (also updated again), which Ford points out also happens to reduce glare. The Raptor logo inset in the graphic is done in body-color bleed-through, similar to "SVT" on the side vent, while "F-150" and "SVT" are done in dark gray.

 

Now, Ford has updated the graphics again with an all-new design for the bed of the truck - which is optional of course, as owners can also specify to get the truck sans vinyl.  

 

Developing an off-road truck takes a different approach- The SVT division used a 62-mile durability loop in the desert of Borrego Springs, California, to replicate the conditions of the Baja 1000 race, to further test the performance of both available engines.

 

Of course, engines are only part of the equation. A great deal of R&D went into the truck's modified chassis and suspension. With 13.4 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front, the Raptor promises to be a capable off-roader.

 

Raptor's wider track and softer suspension mean it will glide over obstacles with relative ease. The suspension's dampers were designed by Fox Racing Shox, giving the Raptor the only internal bypass shocks on a street truck. The position sensitive dampening internal bypass feature allows the shock to become significantly stiffer as it travels, preventing the truck from bottoming out.The last component of the Raptor's connection to the ground comes in the form of BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. Mounted on 17-inch wheels (with a new design for the latest model year that also moves the wheel weights inside the wheels), these 35-inch tires are designed to work on- and off-road.High-tech features include: Trailer Sway Control, an Integrated Trailer Brake Controller, an Electronic Locking Differential, Hill Descent Control, an Off-Road Mode, and an Auxiliary Switch Board to facilitate aftermarket add-ons.

 

The SVT Raptor is built alongside the standard F-150 at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant at the Rouge Center.

 

VelociRaptor 575 Package
• TVS2300 Supercharger System
• Air-to-Water Intercooler
• High Flow Air Induction
• Fuel Injector Upgrade
• Stainless Steel Long Tube Headers
• High Flow Catalytic Converters
• Stainless Steel Cat-Back Exhaust
• Professional Installation
• HPE Engine Management Calibration
• Chassis Dyno Tuning & Road Testing
• Serial Numbered Dash & Engine Plaques
• Hennessey & VelociRaptor Exterior Badging