VIDEO: Ford F-150 Raptor SVT storming across the desert
by John Neff on Oct 31st 2008 at 11:29AM 
Click above to view video after the jump
A bright yellow DHL van just pulled up to Autoblog HQ and dropped off a cardboard envelope, inside of which was another brown envelope marked "CONFIDENTIAL". At this point we're thinking there are instructions inside to get out of the building before it blows up, but what we found was a CD from SVT labeled "Coming from SVT in 2009". Since we haven't heard a peep from SVT in a while, our curiosity was boiling over.
On the disc we found this video, which is embedded after the jump, of the upcoming 2009 F-150 "Raptor" SVT storming across a desert at 60 mph. The truck is still wearing camouflage so we can't see the body work, but what we can see is a very beefy suspension being punished at high speed over an uneven sun-scorched surface. The video also opens with the quote, "We'll call your off-road package, and go all in..." Who knew the SVT crew was so into off-roading? From what we hear, SVT has distributed videos to a number of outlets, each one unique and showing a different side of the new hardcore off-roader. And, though it hardly needs to be said, any rumors of the Raptor program being cancelled are quite clearly untrue. Follow the jump to view the video for yourself.
UPDATE: Second video added after the jump. (Thanks for the tip, George!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ben 11:32AM (10/31/2008)
No sound?
Reply
Nick 11:38AM (10/31/2008)
Smooth.... but, who takes their trucks off road?
Reply
Sollord 11:42AM (10/31/2008)
You're joking right?
Esemtee 11:57AM (10/31/2008)
The joke is the fact that very few trucks these days ARE taken off-road!
Sollord 12:31PM (10/31/2008)
It's an SVT product so sales volume isn't going to be massive and there has to be a large enough market for ford to spend the money on it in this economy. It will be unique also as no one else builds an off road truck remotely close to this besides it makes more sense then a hot rod truck. I mean if I want something fast and hot rodish I'll get a muscle car not a truck not matter how nice the lightning was... I'm sure this SVT will work out and might even spawn more interest in off-road events. I wonder how the ride is on the road vs a normal F150 though..
Frank 12:29PM (10/31/2008)
I do, every sunday I take my truck off-roading. It's a 2000 F250
Cellien 12:37PM (10/31/2008)
Most trucks aren't off-road ready. Not to mention, trucks have a bed for hauling, not necessarily off of pavement.
Torrent 1:30PM (10/31/2008)
rofl
David 1:04PM (12/10/2008)
are you kiddin? its a truck, its meant to be off road, and especially that one. if someone were to buy it and not take it off road, thats the equivalent of buyin an H3.
Isuzu32 11:40AM (10/31/2008)
I wonder what type of front axle it will get?
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Carlos_G 12:12PM (10/31/2008)
eh.. no front axle, IFS Long travel most likely, prolly pushin around 12" travel total. Not great, but sure as hell beats whatever the hell chevy and dodge call their "offroad" packages.
HotRodzNKustoms 1:06PM (10/31/2008)
IFS is better for a prerunner like this truck anyways.
G-Meister 1:16PM (10/31/2008)
AFAIK, the F150 uses the Ford 8.8 differential in the IFS setup. There alre lots of differentials available for it, so it could support any off-road needs.
G-Meister 1:28PM (10/31/2008)
Carlos- If ever there was an off-road package not to scoff at, its the Power Wagon. 12" of front travel, not quite, but awesome flex, 2 lockers and a factory winch.
dom 2:38AM (11/16/2008)
to carlos g:
12" of front travel not good? lol!
Standard IFS travel hangs out around 7-8".. usually less!
Most performance aftermarket long travel setups are 12-13".
Artie Lange 11:52AM (10/31/2008)
So I guess Ford is a healthy, competitive company with a portfolio of fuel-efficient, technologically advanced vehicles ready to sell? They must certainly have some plug-in hybrids set to debut this model year, right? Because that's the only way they could possibly justify using their R&D dollars on such a ridiculous product. If they ever go begging for a government handout, I'll make sure to email this video to all my Congressional representatives as proof of just how well-managed FoMoCo really is.
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TKOsoccer03 11:56AM (10/31/2008)
Are you dumb? Why wouldn't Ford invest money in the greatest selling vehicle .. yes vehicle .. of all time in order to make it better? Why not add a new model in hopes of selling more units? This thing is going to be a huge hit. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who wish there was something more than the FX4. Get a clue ..
the vegas style guy 1:46PM (10/31/2008)
Oh Artie really! This is called doing something to get customers in the showroom. While in the showroom maybe they buy a Fusion or whatever that thing is called.
Chillax dude.
Christian 12:29PM (10/31/2008)
"So I guess Ford is a healthy, competitive company with a portfolio of fuel-efficient, technologically advanced vehicles ready to sell? They must certainly have some plug-in hybrids set to debut this model year, right? "
Next model year smart guy. They have a huge roll-out coming soon for a variety of models. And halo models mean people coming into showrooms and buying vehicles which keeps americans at work in automobile factories. Switiching to hybrid overnight means firing people for a year or so, which is allowed to happen in Japan.
Good try though.
Sollord 12:31PM (10/31/2008)
Autoblog Green is over there -->. Just because fuel efficiency is the big rage doesn't mean they can't have a cool flag ship product to show off interesting thing there trucks can do. Hybrid trucks are a niche market at best and major point of failure considering the beating work trucks take. Ford has EcoBoost which will be far more useful for trucks and probably the engine the Raptor will come with. Let GM work out the kinks for hybrid trucks and test the market.