Spy Shots: Ford F-150 Raptor gets a grille
by Frank Filipponio on Jun 19th 2008 at 1:58PM 
More news on the Raptor front today. PickupTrucks.com just published a spy shot of a camo'd F-150 Raptor that at first glance adds nothing new to the puzzle. Closer inspection reveals that the semi-transparent covering actually exposes the basic look of the sporty F-150's grille, which purportedly has the Ford name emblazoned very large across a center bar. The truck was recently spotted on the streets of Vegas during the Ford Dealer Show. According to those in the know, Ford marketing boss Jim Farley unveiled the off-road-ready F-150 at that meeting, even showing a video of the mule throwing sand in the desert. We're becoming more certain every day that the Raptor will use the 6.2L "Boss" V8 with a power output of between 380 and 420 horsepower. If the F-150 Raptor ends up wearing an SVT product as we suspect, we're betting the final power output being closer to the latter rather the former. Besides seeing the mule in action and hearing about the powertrain, dealers were also shown one of the Raptor's footlong-travel shocks, built exclusively for the Raptor by Fox Racing. Coupled with 35-inch all-terrain tires, this should be one badass, Baja-ready pickup.
Surely it won't be long before we get a whole batch of official pics from Ford, perhaps in time for the SEMA Show in November, but for now click over to PickupTrucks.com to see the new spy pics.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jordan 2:10PM (6/19/2008)
It would be good if SVT would do products other than Mustang and F-150. How about the Ranger? Taurus? Fusion? Edge? Escape?
In the late 90's there was a Ranger called Splash. It looked dope. Imagine a Escape lowered down, fatter wheels and the 240hp 3.0 engine thats been around since 1998 in the Jaguar S-stype stuffed in. Its the same engine coming out for 2009 but it could have come out long ago.
Or a supped up Fusion to bring back memories of the old SHO?
There are more models that can benefit than just Mustang and Fseries Ford!
Reply
SPG 2:27PM (6/19/2008)
I like all your ideas, sounds great.
And I liked the Splash as well, it was awesome.
Back when they came out in the mid-90's I wanted one very badly.
Zach 9:09AM (6/20/2008)
There are rumours floating around about Ford producing a SHO version of the 2010MY Taurus. And with the spy shots that got out, I don't blame FMC.
AmazingBimmer 2:10PM (6/19/2008)
WTF American pick up junk lol
Reply
Torrent 2:18PM (6/19/2008)
WTF U COMMENT ON EVERY POST RANTING ON AMERICAN CARS BEING PIECES OF JUNK WHEN YOU'RE THE REAL PIECE OF JUNK........lol.
Kimura 2:18PM (6/19/2008)
If you have nothing meanful to contribute, shut up you idiot.
RL 3:23PM (6/19/2008)
I know, every stupid comment, this idiot comes in to get his post in, how worthless
Torrent 2:15PM (6/19/2008)
Great time to make a new V8 truck. This will be more short lived than Amy Winehouse's career.
Reply
zamafir 2:30PM (6/19/2008)
I dunno there might be a limited market. If VW can sell most of their $30,000, 22mpg R32s to the enthusiast segment, maybe there's 5000 or so ford guys pining for something more hardcore?
Jared 2:34PM (6/19/2008)
Agreed. The timing couldn't be worse, both from a sales perspective and from a PR perspective. This is not the kind of vehicle that Ford should be bringing out now, even if they can sell every one of the few thousand that they intend to produce. The PR blowback will be cost Ford more than they will ever make on the truck.
Joe 2:42PM (6/19/2008)
You know, Ford can never win with you people.
First, you see everyone saying "build us something cool, with big power, badass capabilities...something BOLD." So Ford does it, with the Raptor, GT500 and it's variants, and probably the new Taurus.
Then, all I see on these boards is "Ford couldn't have picked a worse time to come out with a big power truck...PR this, gas mileage that."
Ford, nor any automotive company, can not please everyone, and they can't please you exactly WHEN you want it. Sure, yesterday, you might have wanted that big power truck, but now gas is expensive.
This truck is not going to be marketed towards YOU, the Pius-driving masses, it'll be marketed towards the people who like to off-road, and are willing to drop $50K on a hardcore off-road truck, the same as those willing to drop $50K on a SRT-8 Dodge Ram.
Torrent 3:54PM (6/19/2008)
No I like Ford. It's just a sucky move to make a gas guzzling truck when America's gas prices are rising faster than pancakes.
Joe 5:22PM (6/19/2008)
And you aren't the target market for this, are you?
The target market is going to be the rednecks and good ole' boys that all the NE and West Coast "Pius" driving snobs love to hate on.
Would to tell Chevy to stop development on a Camaro SS because it's a gas-guzzler, even if there was a clear target market for it? No, you wouldn't, the same as Ford shouldn't stop development on this truck.
Yeah, it's a niche market, but it's going to fulfill an enthusiast niche that's never really been attacked by a car/truck company before. Most of the off-road trucks around start as stockers, but end up with more aftermarket suspension and go-fast parts than they have stock parts. This is simply taking that and building in the factory, instead of Billie Joe's garage.
Also, the Boss engine family is rumored to be extremely fuel efficient. Much, much more so than the Modular V8 engine family it's replacing.
Torrent 6:03PM (6/19/2008)
I can see the Camaro getting more customers because It'll come with a V6 with an option of V8. The V6 should get around 25 MPG like the Mustang and Challenger. Of course a truck with the name Raptor isn't likely to have a fuel efficient V6 as an option.....DUH.
Joe 8:30AM (6/20/2008)
Right, and the F-150 will have a Duratec V6 option, an Ecoboost V6 option, a small Boss V8 option, a big Boss V8 option, a boosted Boss V8 option, and a small diesel, as well.
This isn't a mainstream truck, people. It's a specialized variant for the people who would actually use it. People aren't going to spend $50K+ on this to roll down Rodeo Drive. This truck is going to be sold to the people who already HAVE a street vehicle, and need something specialized for off-roading.
Like I said earlier, take production out of the garages and put it into the factories.
Torrent 1:35PM (6/23/2008)
Yeah but we're talking about the Raptor. Duh.
Freestyle4x4f150 2:17PM (6/19/2008)
This truck is badass, it will sell well here In So Cal even with the gas prices the way they are because so many people buy $100,000 Sandrails all day long for the deserts here.
Reply
MajorGeek 2:36PM (6/19/2008)
Looks like it is simply updated to the new designs seen out there now for 09. As for you silly people posting about the idiocy of making a V8, your thinking 4.20 a gallon gas is a big deal, well it does not affect everyone else. Sure, the majority of us want, and have fuel efficient vehicles but a true auto enthusiast will appreciate the return of the Raptor, especially since it was cool to begin with, rumored, denied and now a reality. As I have said before, if your making comments about gas mileage regarding ANY limited run, high performance vehicle, you have regestired and are posting on the WRONG website. Gas mileage and cost is not relevant on this vehicle, no one who buys it will care.
Reply
Freestyle4x4f150 3:08PM (6/19/2008)
^^^^yeah what geek said!
Matt 3:45PM (6/19/2008)
Hey...just what we need when gas is $4.00 a gallon...another 15MPG truck.
Way to go Ford...you FAIL again.
Reply