The More, the Merrier: Ford considering crew cab Raptor?
2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – Click above for high-res image gallery
Packing more badass than a gang of werewolf bikers on mescaline, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor does not require you to be a truck guy to appreciate its purpose. The bold styling, mile-high suspension and big V8 engine under the hood ensure the Raptor stands apart from the rest of the pick-up crowd. But now our man Mike Levine over at PickupTrucks.com reports that Ford could be considering extending the Raptor's passenger compartment to give it a full four-door crew cab.
The news comes right from the mouth of F-150 marketing manager Mark Grueber, who revealed to Levine that FoMoCo has already received more than 1,000 orders for the new Raptor, but that they've come accompanied by requests from customers for a full crew-cab with four full-sized doors. The increased wheelbase would undoubtedly compromise the vehicle's off-road performance, but is Ford about to tell that to customers waiving fistfuls of cash? Guess we'll have to wait and find out.
Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
johnmsp 5:42PM (6/24/2009)
Let the watering down process begin.
Reply
Benfolio 10:21PM (6/24/2009)
At least it STARTED OUT automatic only, unlike the SRT-10 Ram that became auto-only when the 4-door came out.
MikeW 11:18PM (6/24/2009)
So the only negative would be a longer wheelbase, but you are compensated with an extra 10 gallons of gas.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-ford-f-150-svt-raptor/1135058/full/
Chrysler missed an opportunity to use one of Mercedes heavy duty 5 speed autos in the SRT10, the W5a800, 900, or 1000
Joe 5:43PM (6/24/2009)
I can't wait to test drive one of these!
Reply
Sgt. Hulka 5:53PM (6/24/2009)
Gee. Giving customers what they want.
Now there's something you don't see these days.
Go Blue.
Reply
Son of Snerd 6:57PM (6/24/2009)
Is it that easy? OK, I'll take a Fusion wagon please. Thank you, Ford.
nadnarb 8:52PM (6/24/2009)
How about a Fusion SHO Wagon with AWD and the 3.5 Ecoboost.
Protzenegger 5:52PM (6/24/2009)
What they need is an Expedition Raptor. I would buy that instantly.
Reply
Evan 5:54PM (6/24/2009)
I'll bet only a minority of these will ever be used off-road.
Reply
Yaroukh 6:26PM (6/24/2009)
I bet there is analogy with all those "sport" sedans.
Clavius 6:10PM (6/24/2009)
Yes yes that is exactly what they need to make! A 4 door truck built for offroad use to be used as a DAILY DRIVER from city work site to city work site! I'm sorry, Ford should stick to their orginal design guns and keep it a 2 door. If these guys want to have a 4 door Raptor tell 'em to buy a SUV or better yet buy a F-series truck and buy some aftermarket parts (or maybe Ford could sell a kit to quasi turn a F-series into a Raptor?!).
Reply
Protzenegger 6:20PM (6/24/2009)
Except that the Raptor isn't really a 2-door.
Yaroukh 6:22PM (6/24/2009)
> Ford should stick to their orginal design guns and keep it a 2 door.
Why exactly?
> If these guys want to have a 4 door Raptor tell 'em to buy a SUV or ...
Are you kidding? When domestics don't listen to customers it is wrong. When they do it is wrong again.
Clavius 6:36PM (6/24/2009)
To Yar:
Because last time they "listened" to customers they over saturated a market till it broke and now they along with everyone else are paying the price. That and just because.. as we should all know,... they want it doesnt mean the will buy it.
Again the best option will most likely be a "Raptor" sports package that the dealers can order and slap on per order. Be a decent windfall for the dealerships since it will get more people into their parts dept. ordering these.
Paul P. 6:41PM (6/24/2009)
Um, The Raptor, in concept form, is actually a "Supercab," meaning four doors and five seats, but with the rear doors as half-sized suicide style doors (Think RX8, but with a seat in the back center). With the 5'6" bed it's the shortest cab configuration they can use that would still seat five people. Basically, it's a compromise between the utility of a four door and the "sportyness" of a two door.
With that said, A lot of people don't like this compromise. Someone buying the vehicle just for themselves is probably going to want a regular cab version (like a Lightning). Someone who has a family is probably going to want the full crew cab, as it's much more comfortable and convenient. Most buyers simply don't want to compromise, especially when they're spending a lot of money on a new pickup truck (something they're used to being able to configure just about any way they want). Ford tried to appeal to the widest audience, but they've discovered that truck buyers are somewhat picky people.
Yaroukh 6:53PM (6/24/2009)
@Clavius: Why the "listening" in quotes? When responding to actual wishes of real customers is only "listening", how does real listening look?
Clavius 7:04PM (6/24/2009)
Yar how is this. Are you planning on buying a Raptor? Or if they do make a 4 door do you plan on buying one? Me I dont.. I'm just voicing my opinion that they shouldnt.
To me its just a bad idea to do this and the best idea will be to have the parts to make your regular F series a faux-Raptor.
Yaroukh 7:48PM (6/24/2009)
@Clavious:
"FoMoCo has already received more than 1,000 orders for the new Raptor, but that they've come accompanied by requests from customers for a full crew-cab with four full-sized doors."
This is not some "listening" in quotes (as you described it), this is listening as real as it gets. These peoples' opinions are relevant, because they are the customers.
some1 8:01PM (6/24/2009)
@ calvius
"offroad use to be used as a DAILY DRIVER"
you know what calvius? i love living in AMERICA, where i can be free to drive my off road like vehicle as a DD... im tired of this hippy based prius like movement thinking they can tell me what i can and cannot drive...
yay for socialism... lets just keep this crap up, maybe we can state sponsor GM to built on hybrid aveo's and then force the country to buy nothing but those!
OH! and they cant be dark colors, because CA said that dark colors take more energy to AC...
OH! and lets make sure u can only buy low rolling resistance tires...
or better yet, how bout we just change the name from USA to CALI and give them the ownership of all government...
i mean, they drove themselves bankrupt, so surely they know whats best for the auto industry...
Clavius 10:17PM (6/24/2009)
@some1
First I'm not a pruis hippy by a long shot. I used to own a Mazda Rx-8 and only got 18mpg on a good day, but thing is I drove it and used it for its intended use. I drove it fast and made sure any corners I took where taken as hard as I could push the car. I by no means babied the car at all nor did I pretend it was a sedan. I just have problems with people buying cars and regulating them for use for which they were not intended for. If Ford wish's to do this then fine go ahead invest the money into this and see how many people buy it as gas price's go back up thanks to things way outside of this converstation piece lol.
Although I do get a bit of sarcasm out of your post so who knows.. hmm state sponsored Hybrid Aveo's major league badass!