Marking the second update since being introduced, Ford has added a Torsen front differential, a forward-looking off-road camera and a working over of the interior packaging and exterior graphics for the latest model year trucks.
Likely the most significant of the changes comes in the form of the Torsen front differential, which will add extra grip when off-roading, particularly when climbing steep angles when front grip is essential - such as in rock climbing.
Speaking of rock climbing, Ford has really thought of everything and added a forward-looking camera mounted in the front grille that provides a live video feed via the eight-inch dash screen of exactly what lies ahead of the truck when traveling below 15 miles per hour. This feature is intended to give drivers the ability to have a spotter-like function without needing to get out of the truck, helping to avoid rocks, ruts or other obstacles when crawling through the most intense terrain.
Ford also made some other cosmetic and interior changes such as a new wheel design (which has the functional benefit of interior-mounted weights), a new exterior graphic package, the addition of cooled seats to the Luxury Package and a switch from orange to blue for the interior accent package – which also gains bits of aluminum accents.
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 lestest powerplant, 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 Supercab 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.
Bright colors and graphics
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, 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.
