Watch an SVT Raptor be built on Ultimate Factories this weekend [w/video]
Filed under: Performance, Truck, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Work, Ford
There's something inexplicably mesmerizing about watching a factory in action. Seeing the innumerable complex mechanisms mesh in perfect harmony to create the products we know and love is part of what makes shows like National Geographic's Ultimate Factories so interesting. Now the program is headed to Dearborn for a look at how the Ford F-150 Ecoboost and F-150 SVT Raptor come together on the line in crystal-clear HD video. The show will also spend time with both trucks out on the company's proving grounds, which means there's a good chance we'll see the Raptor bashing over various obstacles.
Consider us excited. Last year, the Ford plant in Dearborn produced 344,446 vehicles, making it the third most productive plant in North America behind the Nissan facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico and the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico.
The show will air on Saturday, February 4 at 8 p.m. Eastern on the National Geographic Channel, but you can get a glimpse of what to expect in the video after the jump.
Continue reading Watch an SVT Raptor be built on Ultimate Factories this weekend [w/video]
Watch an SVT Raptor be built on Ultimate Factories this weekend [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Filed under: Performance, Truck, Ford, First Drives, Off-Road
Exhilaration At 1 MPH
When thinking about the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, one tends to picture an orange meteor barreling across the desert at absurd velocities, flying through the air, long-travel suspension dangling its dirty bits below. That's partially because desert storming and bombing down muddy, root-strewn fire roads was the Special Vehicle Team's design brief, and partially because those environs have dominated Ford's advertising efforts. Marketing shtick aside, there's little doubt that the Raptor has that Kool-Aid Man "Oooh, Yeah!" wall-crashing thing going on better than any other vehicle on sale today.
In fact, if you tend to picture the Raptor exclusively in terms of yumps and dry creekbeds, you're not alone. Ford and SVT kind of admit they did, too. But in building this street-legal trophy truck, they've come to realize that they unwittingly created a vehicle that's far more versatile than originally envisioned. Case in point: Back in 2009, a massive snowstorm crippled the ability of Ford staffers and media members trying to reach the Chicago Auto Show. In particular, Mark Fields and other key execs had to journey from Dearborn to the Windy City, and company pilots refused to take off in the horrible weather. Fields and some other executives settled on boarding the train, arriving haggard eight hours later and barely making their press conference. SVT boss Jamal Hameedi and his crew elected to travel by Raptor. Driving their trucks through inches of thick slush and ice in the fast lane at more-or-less normal highway speeds (while what little traffic was sharing the road crawled along with hazard lights aglow) was a revelation. Despite building the thing, Team SVT simply didn't expect something with wide, knobby tires and a higher center of gravity to cut through the frigid slurry like that.
It's exactly this sort of discovery process that led us to the foot of the smoothly picturesque red rocks seen here. We had arrived in a convoy of eight 2012 Raptors, having taken the easy hour's drive from Grand Junction, Colorado to Moab, Utah to tackle Hell's Revenge, a well-known 4x4 trail over this otherworldly terrain that doesn't take kindly to larger vehicles like our full-size SuperCab pickups. Solid bets for tackling Hell's Revenge include Jeep CJs and Wranglers, Toyota FJ Cruiser 4x4s and so on - vehicles with exceptional approach, departure and breakover angles. Even with its raised suspension and ground clearance of 11.2 inches front and 12.1 rear, we couldn't help but feel a bit sheepish about the Raptor's chances.
Continue reading 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsInside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus… a leaf blower?
Filed under: Budget, Performance, Truck, Videos, Hatchback, Ford, Off-Road, Fiat
You've probably heard the line about modern engines being cleaner than most lawn equipment, but chances are you can't put a source with that little tidbit. Inside Line recently took it upon itself to put that piece of common wisdom to the test by enlisting the help of an emissions lab in a little internal combustion show down.
Jason Kavanagh and Dan Edmunds pitted the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor against a Fiat 500, a two-stroke leaf blower and a four-stroke leaf blower. Who was left standing as the cleanest of them all when the smoke settled?
Believe it or not, the big-bad Ford took the honor of being the cleanest belle at this ball. Inside Line found that there were fewer hydrocarbons in the vehicle's exhaust than were present in the ambient air in the emissions lab, meaning the truck was actually cleaning the air as it ran.
That trick actually made the Raptor cleaner than the 1.4-liter four-cylinder in the Fiat, unless you're only measuring carbon dioxide, which is direct result of the amount of fuel burned. That left third place to the four-stroke leaf blower and dead last to the big two-stroke. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.
Continue reading Inside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus... a leaf blower?
Inside Line pits Ford F-150 SVT Raptor versus... a leaf blower? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRaceworks Ford Raptor Luxury Prerunner
Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Truck, Ford, Specialty, Racing
As a bone-stock machine, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is an impressive piece of engineering, but that doesn't mean that the platform can't be improved upon. The crew from Stewart's Race Works has turned its fabricating skills toward creating a luxury prerunner version of he go-anywhere pickup, and the result is nothing short of astounding. With a massive 90-inch track width and suitably epic amounts of wheel travel, this Raptor is filled with custom, one-off parts. The front suspension boasts 26-inches of travel while the rear flexes out at around 31 inches thanks in part to billet aluminum A-arms up front and a set of Fox Racing 4.0 external bypass shocks and three-inch coil springs.
A 600-horsepower Patton racing engine resides under the custom hood and is bolted to a built 4L80 automatic transmission. Though two-wheel drive, the truck features a four-link suspension in the rear for the most travel possible.
Inside, the cabin is fitted with GPS, and MP3/iPod capable audio system, six-way power adjustable seats and more electronic goodies. We want one.
Raceworks Ford Raptor Luxury Prerunner originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord releases 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor video with a lot less jumping
Filed under: Truck, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Off-Road
Ford has released a new advertisement for the 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor, and while it's entertaining, the clip is a good bit more demure than the footage we've seen from the company in the past. Gone are the shots of the off-road bruiser sailing through the desert air. Instead, the truck has turned its attention to muddy, wooded trails to show off its new 4.10 Torsen limited-slip front end, hill-descent control and front camera with integrated washer.
So, has Ford pulled in the reins on the Raptor after at least a handful of overzealous owners bent their vehicles' frames after aggressive jumping? Hard to say. The footage was shot at Ford's Romeo Proving Grounds in Michigan, which doesn't offer much in the way of jumps. Thus, the lack of airborne footage could be because of the location, or it could be that Ford chose the location because it didn't want to show the truck piling over big jumps. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself, and let us know what you think in Comments.
Continue reading Ford releases 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor video with a lot less jumping
Ford releases 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor video with a lot less jumping originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord SVT Raptor gets new Torsen diff and interior package among 2012 changes
Filed under: Truck, Ford, Design/Style, Off-Road
It's no secret that we're big fans of the Ford Raptor pickup. After all, there aren't many vehicles you can drive straight off the showroom floor, over and through harsh desert terrain at high speed and then back again. But Ford decided its off-road-ready truck needed a few updates for the 2012 model year.
While the 2011 Raptor was quite adept at handling varied terrain, from rutted washboard surfaces to the occasional jump (within reason...), it's four-wheel-drive system wasn't really designed with hardcore rock climbing in mind. For the new model year, though, Ford's extreme pickup gets a new Torsen front differential that features a helical gearset that promises to send torque to whichever front wheel has the most traction.
Another intriguing update for '12 is a front-mounted camera that can be ordered alongside the navigation system. This feature ought to help the driver figure out where best to steer the truck's front wheels so as to avoid otherwise unseen obstacles. The eight-inch screen in the center of the dash will be used to display what the camera sees at speeds of 15 miles per hour or less. Oh, and there's a dedicated washer for the camera to help keep it clean.
Besides those functional upgrades, the 2012 Raptor also gets a new optional side graphic that sports two diagonal stripes and is accented in matte, gloss and textured black. On the inside, a matte anodized blue treatment is now available on every color but Race Red (also new for '12). Rounding out the notable changes are optional cooled seats and new Euroflange wheels that keep their weights on the inside for better protection from off-road hazards.
Check out our high-res image gallery to see it all for yourself, and feel free to read the complete press release after the break.
Continue reading Ford SVT Raptor gets new Torsen diff and interior package among 2012 changes
Ford SVT Raptor gets new Torsen diff and interior package among 2012 changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFord SVT Raptor with… six doors?! Only in the UAE
Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Etc., Videos, Ford, Middle East
The United Arab Emirates is a land that continually breathes new life into the phrase "More money than sense." The new prime example of this is a custom-built Ford SVT Raptor that believes the prime number of doors is six. Said to hail from the UAE, it's quite clear that anything goes in the Land Of The Burning
We're not going to completely hate on this thing, of course, as the idea of a six-door Raptor puts visions of a seriously great camping trip in mind. Still, we're not even sure if this thing is actually real or if someone with solid skills spent too much time playing around on their computer. Judge for yourself by clicking past the jump and watching the video.
Continue reading Ford SVT Raptor with... six doors?! Only in the UAE
Ford SVT Raptor with... six doors?! Only in the UAE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSVT boss goes on record about Ford Raptor frame damage claims [w/video]
Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Safety, Ford, Off-Road
Over the last several weeks, there have been a number of reports on web forums of frame damage incidents involving the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Thanks to a number of reader tips, Autoblog was the first news outlet to inquire with Ford about the matter. After launching its own investigation into the claims centering around one particular organized Raptor Run in Nevada with 14 participating vehicles and 10 bent frames, Jamal Hameedi, a 20-year Ford veteran and SVT's Chief Nameplate Engineer, agreed to talk exclusively with Autoblog.
AB: When did you first become aware of these Raptor frame claims?Hameedi: We monitor all the blogs - I think there are three or four different versions of Raptor online forums. We saw that there was one particular run where several Raptors bent their frames on the same obstacle.
AB: How many Raptors have been reported with frame damage?
Hameedi: We have four nationwide since the beginning of production.
AB: It sounded like there were more than four vehicles damaged in this individual run alone - are these not included in that total?
Hameedi: I think we've been reading that there are ten trucks in question [in that run].
"We have a pretty firm understanding of what's going on."
AB: So the four trucks you mentioned - those are just the ones that have been directly reported to Ford dealers?
Jamal Hameedi, SVT Chief Nameplate Engineer
Hameedi: Yes.
AB: Have they all been bent in more-or-less in the same way?
Hameedi: The ones on the run, I think there are varying degrees of how [badly] they are tweaked, but generally we have a pretty firm understanding of what's going on.
Continue reading SVT boss goes on record about Ford Raptor frame damage claims [w/video]
SVT boss goes on record about Ford Raptor frame damage claims [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJournalist Sue Mead, racer Darren Skilton become first U.S. team to win a class in Dakar Rally
Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Ford, South America, Off-Road, Racing
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor at the 2011 Dakar Rally - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is still proving that it can do whatever deed needs done, whenever it needs doing. Sue Mead and Darren Skilton managed to pilot a largely stock version of the desert-raiding pickup through all 12 stages of this year's Dakar rally. The team survived 16 days of some of the most brutal terrain on the South American continent and covered over 11,800 miles in the process. Their effort was enough to net the Raptor a 40th place finish over all and a first place finish in the OP class.
In fact, from what we hear, Mead and Skilton were the only contestants to even finish in the OP class, even with big names like Robbie Gordon gunning for the win.
That marks the first time that an American crew has ever managed to take a class win in the history of the Dakar Rally. The F-150 SVT Raptor that Mead and Skilton campaigned boasted the same 5.4-liter V8 that it rolled off the production line with, though a larger cooling system was fitted to handle the harsh temperatures of the course. Likewise, the pickup was equipped with a host of other race-capable bits including a new locker system for the differentials, more robust shocks, springs and tires.
Overall, Volkswagen took the top three spots in the 2011 Dakar Rally. BMW filled out the remaining spots in the top five with its entries. Hit the jump for the press release.
[Source: Ford]
Journalist Sue Mead, racer Darren Skilton become first U.S. team to win a class in Dakar Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsReader Spy: U.S. Border Patrol finally gets its leatherless Ford Raptors
Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Work, Ford, Off-Road
U.S. Border Patrol Ford Raptors being delivered - Click above for image gallery
What the U.S. Federal Government wants, the U.S. Federal Government gets. And what the Customs and Border Protection division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wanted were at least 10 Ford SVT Raptor pickup trucks to patrol the area where Arizona borders with Mexico. Only problem is that Ford puts a standard leather interior in all its Raptor trucks, which is evidently against the ordering preferences of the Feds.
So, what to do? Put in an extra-special order with Ford, make a few phone calls (give us what we want... or else...) and patiently await delivery - a truckload of specially liveried pickups that Autoblog reader Matt happened photograph and send in to us. We went ahead and contacted Ford to be sure that it managed to deliver the authorities the Raptors it wanted, and we got an affirmative... sort of.
Ford would need the actual Vehicle Identification Numbers of the trucks to confirm individual equipment levels, and we're not about to march on down to Southern Arizona to grab them. But Ford says the Feds did order Raptors without leather and that the Blue Oval Bosses complied. So we're going with a definite probably. Have a look for yourself below. Thanks for the pics, Matt!
Reader Spy: U.S. Border Patrol finally gets its leatherless Ford Raptors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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