Autoblog

Shelby Raptor is a 575-horsepower off-road goliath

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, New York Auto Show, Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Shelby American has definitely proven itself when it comes to tuning the Ford Mustang - look no further than its new 1,200-horsepower Shelby 1000 - but now the Las Vegas tuner has turned to the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.

The big change for this already high-performance off-road pickup is the addition of a supercharger atop Ford's 6.2-liter V8, with spent gasses exiting through a Borla exhaust system. This improves the horsepower rating from a stock rating of 411 up to a shenanigan-ready 575. For a Shelby, the styling of this F-150 is very toned down, with only the company's name etched into the Raptor's digital mud to go along with custom wheels wrapped in 35-inch tires.

The company is only planning to build 100 of the Shelby Raptors per year, with pricing set at $17,995 on top of the stock donor Ford, which starts at $43,630. Scroll down for the official press release.

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Shelby Raptor is a 575-horsepower off-road goliath originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Crossover, Ford, Diesel, Off-Road, Racing

After already tipping its hand with a goodly selection of Focus ST concept teasers, as well as a passel of tuned Fusions, Ford has let loose with more images and information regarding its huge presence at this year's SEMA show. And, while we'll be bringing live reports of all the SEMA goodness to you next week, we couldn't help but want to share these last minute previews.

Four Mustang concept sketches have been offered up for our consumption today, including three cars based on the Mustang GT 5.0 and one based on the V6. All three of the GTs carry significant appearance modifications: bigger wheels, bespoke paint jobs and the whole shebang. The Mothers/Autosport Dynamics/RTR car boasts performance upgrades that net some 650 horsepower, while the DSO Eyewear car is kicking out a massive 750 ponies.

A brace of Ford F-150 trucks and one monster F-250 are repping for the pickup segment. Truckin' Magazine has done up a race-ready F-150 with a chopped look, bigger brakes and an upgraded interior. The diesel-powered F-250 is by Kelderman Air Suspension Systems, so it's natural to see that it has an airbag suspension with eight to ten inches of lift.

A few hotted up versions of Ford's new Escape will be presented as well, to round out this fleet of tuned fun by The Blue Oval. Be sure to check in, early and often next week, for live versions of all of the madness. In the meantime, find fuller information on all of these SEMA models in the press release below, and images in the associated galleries.

Continue reading Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants

Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford F-150 Limited unveiled as range-topping luxury truck

Scott Burgess — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Luxury

The F-150 Limited is back - more powerful, more luxurious and more expensive than any other 2013 F-150.

Ford Motor Co. is taking the wraps off the new Limited today in Dearborn. It will feature a unique look, a lush red interior and nearly every bell and whistle Ford can muster, surpassing the high-end Ford Platinum F-150.

"There's still a strong demand for luxury pickups and the Limited will help us meet that demand," said Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

Indeed, Ford says 30 percent of its pickup sales are the luxury trucks it offers such as the Lariat, Harley Davidson and King Ranch models. Each has carved out a niche, appealing to the inner street racer, biker or cowboy in need of a pickup. Currently, a Platinum F-150 rings up the top price of all F-150s, starting at $44,635. But the Limited will exceed that with its standard loaded up interior that includes everything from a moonroof and aluminum trim to heated and cooled seats.

It will also outperform its predecessor, the 2011 F-150 Limited. Ford has added its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 under this new model's red hood, giving it 365 horsepower and up to 22 mpg on the highway. There's also standard HID headlamps, 22-inch polished aluminum wheels and that special branding of the word "Limited" on the rear quarter panel.

This truck may not be for everyone, but some drivers are going to love it.

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2013 Ford F-150 Limited unveiled as range-topping luxury truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Ford F-150 debuts with slight enhancements

Scott Burgess — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Ford, Design/Style

Ford officially took the wraps off the 2013 Ford F-150 this morning in Waco, Texas.

While not a dramatic overhaul, the new F-150, which arrives later this year, includes a number of enhancements, including new grilles that are part of a fully made-over front facia, giving the pickup a closer family resemblance to the Super Duty. Ford has also added high-intensity discharge headlamps as an option for 2013. There will also be some new 18- and 20-inch wheel choices, as well as the addition of MyFord Touch inside the cab of the F-150.

The incremental changes to Ford's top-selling F-Series is one way the automaker keeps its pickups fresh, Doug Scott, head of Ford truck marketing marketing, told Autoblog. Instead of waiting for the next scheduled refreshing, Ford pushes new features into vehicles whenever they are available. Last year, Ford overhauled its powertrain options for the F-150, adding two V6 options.

Truck buyers appear to like Ford's approach. For the past 13 months, more than half of all F-150s sold have had either a 3.7-liter V6 or Ford's well-received 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 under their hoods.

Full-size pickups represent the fourth-largest segment in the United States, and Scott said the company thinks it could grow into the third-largest segment in the coming years. "We're tracking 1.6 million truck sales this year (for the segment)," Scott said. "For our longer-term projections, 2 million is not out of the question."

For the full details on the refreshed F-150, scroll down for the official press release, and check out the new features for yourself in the high-res image gallery above.

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2013 Ford F-150 debuts with slight enhancements originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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