REPORT: U.S. Border Patrol considering Ford F150 SVT Raptor
2010 Ford F150 SVT Raptor - Click above image for high-res gallery
Very few people have ridden in Ford's upcoming Raptor; we have. And allow us to tell you what: it's astonishing. Perhaps the single most impressive production vehicle ever, even if the prototypes we rode shotgun in were only 90% complete. That good, really? Yes, truly. Imagine bounding across the Nevada desert at 100 mph (fuel cutoff) and then leaping 45 feet through the air, landing, and doing it again and again and again. That is the magic of SVT and their Raptor.
With that in mind, what government agency could make use of such a steroidal, hardcore truck? No, not FEMA. Exactly, the Border Patrol. We can think of no vehicle more suited to running down a gang of coyotes that Ford's uber-off roader. After all, the SVT Raptor was developed in the grueling deserts of Southern California and Northern Mexico, the Boarder Patrol's home turf. And with 11.2 inches of gas-shock suspension travel in the front and 13.4 inches out back, there is very little – if anything – that will slow this beast down.
The Customs and Border Protection division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reportedly wants at least ten of these monsters. Pickuptrucks.com indicates that the government's purchasing agents are requesting bare bones work interiors instead of the fancy leather and Synced up cockpits found in the consumer models. In our estimation, this change would only serve to make the Raptor even more functional and/or intimidating. No word on whether the Feds would like to go for the 5.4-liter Triton V8, or the much more powerful all-new 6.2-liter V8. Either way, keep an eye peeled if you need to make a run for the border.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chet 11:25AM (8/07/2009)
He didn't mean "typo" -- he just misspelled "spelling mistake."
CB 11:26AM (8/07/2009)
@ nardvark
So true. We'll give them housing assistance and food stamps. Room and Board baby!!!
Mike7 11:04AM (8/07/2009)
Fords for our side of the border, Lincoln Mark LTs for the other side.
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engineerd 11:07AM (8/07/2009)
My boarder patrol friends would get a kick out of driving this. Nothing will say, "Use the front door!" like 400 hp and 400 torques of law enforcing muscle.
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paul 11:08AM (8/07/2009)
Makes me wanna go to Mexico, then illegally cross back just so I can get a ride in one of them there fancy schmancy trucks
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Randy 4:20PM (8/07/2009)
RRRROFL - Awesome post! Might be cheaper than Disney! ;) - Hey that would be a GREAT commercial!
Guy crosses the river, runs for his life, the border patrol in the Ford SVT Raptor chase him down in BAJA mode jumping over things and slashing through big muddy holes and then they bust him....
They find out he's a US Citizen and have to escort him out of the desrte and throw him in the back of the truck and drive way and then he calls his friends on the phone and says "Yeah it worked, I'm in the SVT Raptor right now"..
BUILT BORDER TOUGH
hehe heh
BigMcLargeHuge 11:13AM (8/07/2009)
I'm moving to the desert just so I can use one of these. Sounds epic.
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Russell 11:13AM (8/07/2009)
Yeah because the border control people need a $40000+ truck...
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Erik 11:18AM (8/07/2009)
Yea because Russell knows exactly what "border control people" need...
fixitfixitstop 11:20AM (8/07/2009)
You should read the article. Buying at least 10 = fleet sales, and they'll be stripped of the luxuries. They won't cost $40K each.
You do know that some governments use Land Rover Defenders or Mercedes G-classes, right?
nardvark 11:30AM (8/07/2009)
While I live far from the Mexican border, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm guessing they actually do. They are inevitably a reactive force, chasing people down after they have illegally crossed. The smugglers have a head start by definition, because we're not allowed to patrol Mexico. So we need fast, all-terrain vehicles to close the distance before they slip past the border patrol net.
Brandon 11:34AM (8/07/2009)
I think Fed can make use of those Cash for Clunkers deal....
Jared 12:17PM (8/07/2009)
Russell:
The Border Patrol agents do serious offroad work every day. They have a number of Hummer H1s in use, all of which cost far, far more than $40k.
CarbonBlack 4:16PM (8/07/2009)
"The Border Patrol agents do serious offroad work every day. They have a number of Hummer H1s in use, all of which cost far, far more than $40k"
I wold also think that the Raptor would run circles around a H1. I really think this truck is perfect for the job, and once the interior is striped, It will be a high caliber vehicle for a (relatively) cheap vehicle.
Also consider that a "Bulk" order would probably lower the price even more!
tankd0g 10:02PM (8/07/2009)
What border patrol people need is more boarder patrol people.
Erik 11:19AM (8/07/2009)
Oh man, that sounds so badass. Makes me want to become a border patrol agent.
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Redline 11:28AM (8/07/2009)
I'm not a truck fan at all, but I would love one of these babies, it has RALLY written all over it!
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Throwback 12:57PM (8/07/2009)
I agree, I'm not a truck guy, but this truck has put a serious spell on me! There has never been a production vehicle like it, if you are going to build a niche vehicle, why not make it a beast?
Hamhock 11:29AM (8/07/2009)
The cartels will definitely have them...so why shouldn't we?
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skablaw 11:47AM (8/07/2009)
The cartels will have Hummers with roof-mounted .50 cal machine guns, and possibly some helicopters with surface-to-air missles. I think our boys at least deserve a fighting chance.