Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford to add more than 2,000 jobs in Kansas City]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ford-to-add-more-than-2-000-jobs-in-kansas-city/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ford-to-add-more-than-2-000-jobs-in-kansas-city/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ford-to-add-more-than-2-000-jobs-in-kansas-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ford Kansas City

Continued high demand for the Ford F-150, along with the addition of the all-new Transit series of commercial vehicles, has led Ford to announce that it will add over 2,000 jobs at its Kansas City Assembly Plant. At the time of the announcement, the plant boasts 2,450 hourly employees working on two shifts. All told, Ford will invest $1.1 billion in the Kansas City plant to expand truck production and begin producing the Transit series.

According to the automaker, fullsize truck sales are up 19 percent through April of 2013, leading to an additional 900 workers and a third shift of production for the F-150. Production of the Transit series will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, requiring an additional 1,100 workers. In addition, Ford estimates that a total of 18,000 jobs will be created by suppliers to its Kansas City plant to support the additional vehicle production.

Want to know more? Scroll down for the complete press release.

Continue reading Ford to add more than 2,000 jobs in Kansas City

Ford to add more than 2,000 jobs in Kansas City originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford f-150ford kansas city assembly plantford transitkansas cityThu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20555539/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/02/ford-to-add-more-than-2-000-jobs-in-kansas-city/20555539/article-detail.xml 20555539 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ford-kansas-city_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ford-kansas-city.jpg <![CDATA[How the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor became a reality]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/how-the-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-became-a-reality/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/how-the-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-became-a-reality/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/how-the-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-became-a-reality/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor prototype testing camouflaged in the deserve - video screencap
The camouflaged Ford F-150 SVT Raptor prototype captured above blazing its way across the desert during a test run left company engineers giggling in amazement, reveals Jamal Hameedi in a new Autoweek video. Ford's global performance vehicle chief engineer, accompanied by senior exterior designer Bruce Williams, sat down with the publication to discuss the concept and development of the automaker's super off-road F-150.

Designing a high-performance pickup in 2008, right when the cost of gasoline was going through the roof, seemed insane at the time, but the team pushed forward with the innovative vehicle regardless. The interview includes plenty of Ford B-roll footage as visual candy, and the conversations include discussions about exterior design, ride comfort, anti-lock brake tuning, suspension engineering, weight reduction and why it was necessary to make the Raptor visually different than Ford's standard F-150. The model's origin story is very interesting, and you can learn more about it by watching the video below.

Continue reading How the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor became a reality

How the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor became a reality originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-150 svt raptorfordford f-150ford f-150 svt raptorford svt raptorjamal hameediorigin storysvtvideoWed, 01 May 2013 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20553904/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/how-the-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-became-a-reality/20553904/article-detail.xml 20553904 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/svt-raptor-lead-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/svt-raptor-lead-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford faces class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles without brake override systems]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford emblem with water droplets

A total of 20 Ford customers are suing the automaker in a class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles "vulnerable to unintended acceleration." According to Reuters, the suit names 30 models built between 2002 and 2010 with electronic throttle control systems but without a brake override system. Those include the 2004-2012 F-Series pickups and the 2005-2009 Lincoln Town Car. Adam Levitt, a partner with the law firm of Grant & Eisenhofer says the plaintiffs in the case want "to be compensated for their economic losses by having overpaid for cars that contained defects." Levitt contends that the plaintiffs would not have bought their vehicles or paid less for them had they known there was no brake override system in place.

Ford began installing brake override systems in its vehicles beginning in 2010. In response to the lawsuit, Ford has pointed to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that indicated that unintended acceleration is mostly caused by driver error, saying in a statement that, "NHTSA's work is far more scientific and trustworthy than work done by personal injury lawyers and their paid experts."

Belville et al v. Ford Motor Co. will be heard in US District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Ford faces class-action lawsuit for selling vehicles without brake override systems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brake overrideclass-actionfordford f-150ford f-seriesford lawsuitgrant and eisenhoferlawsuitlincolnlincoln town carsudden accelerationunintended accelerationFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20523185/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/29/ford-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-selling-vehicles-without-bra/20523185/article-detail.xml 20523185 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ford-emblem-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ford-emblem-628.jpg <![CDATA[Shelby Raptor is a 575-horsepower off-road goliath]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/shelby-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-new-york/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/shelby-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-new-york/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/28/shelby-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-new-york/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Shelby Raptor

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.

Continue reading Shelby Raptor is a 575-horsepower off-road goliath

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-1502013 ford f-150 svt raptor2013 new york auto showford f-150ford f-150 svt raptorford raptornew yorknew york auto showshelbyshelby automobilesshelby raptorsvtThu, 28 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20521547/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/28/shelby-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-new-york/20521547/article-detail.xml 20521547 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/shelby-raptor-ny_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/shelby-raptor-ny.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercrew]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/2013-ford-f-150-supercrew-svt-raptor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/2013-ford-f-150-supercrew-svt-raptor/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/2013-ford-f-150-supercrew-svt-raptor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



I'm not normally a pickup kind of guy, but the 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor won me over nearly instantly. The street-legal trophy truck - there is really no other way to accurately describe it - is big, brawny and incredibly capable. Let's just say it's every bit the monster it visually portrays. I spent a week pretending I was one of Ford's Baja 1000 drivers, but lacking desert sand, I headed into the local mountains where a mild winter storm had dropped a couple inches of fresh snow on my favorite off-road park. The Ford was, for the most part, practically unstoppable.

Ford offers its SVT Raptor package on Supercab and Supercrew platforms with the five-foot, five-inch bed. The Supercrew I tested rides on a 144-inch wheelbase (about a foot longer than the Supercab). In addition to its cosmetic differences when compared to the standard F-150 - there isn't a young boy on the planet who doesn't think the matte black Ford grille is cool - the Raptor has a 73.6-inch track - nearly seven inches wider than the track on the standard F-150.

After upgrading the F-150 SVT Raptor significantly for the 2012 model year, there are only a few changes for 2013. The list includes standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, Hill Descent Control, forged beadlock-capable wheels, and the new matte Terrain color (aka "Desert Storm") option seen on my test model.

Driving Notes
  • The SVT Raptor grabs plenty of attention whether driving through a grocery store parking lot or bounding down the highway. Physically massive, it is amusing to watch other drivers move out of its way - nobody even considered cutting me off. Opinions were split on the new Terrain color. People either liked it or hated it. I liked it, as it hid dirt impressively well and it was a nice contrast to the trim and optional graphics without being overly loud like the Race Red or Blue Flame.
  • Nobody will question the power coming from the big-bore 6.2-liter V8. Its exhaust note is frightening, but so is its fuel consumption. I missed the EPA's ratings by a long shot, never seeing double digits around town. In fact, I found it challenging to hit 13 miles per gallon on the open highway. The six-speed transmission is sturdy and only about average when it comes to smoothness, though it never skipped a beat.
  • The commanding view, comfortable seats, spacious cab and kitchen-like storage space made the Supercrew very popular with passengers. The additional row of three-passenger seating, easily accessible through the second set of full-size doors, seemed to provide more legroom than an airport shuttle Lincoln Town Car. I found the backup camera a lifesaver, as I often had no idea what those LT315/70R17 All-Terrain tires were rolling over. The Raptor needs an all-around camera system (and, why can't the excellent front-facing camera work during parking maneuvers?)
  • Off-road, the Raptor was plush. Triple-bypass Fox Racing Shox, aluminum front suspension arms and generous wheel travel turned washboard surfaces smooth and absorbed impacts with aplomb. I never tried to jump 90 feet, but I did fly over several big berms at the wrong speed. I'd hold my breath, waiting for the suspension to crash into its bump stops - but the undercarriage absorbed the impact as if we were dropping into a down pillow. While its wide track improves stability at speed, its broad shoulders did keep the SVT off several of the narrower trails that I had enjoyed previously in the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (the Ford is a full foot wider).
  • Wet snow over deep sticky mud is challenging to any 4x4, even the Raptor. Following snow-covered trails, I tried to keep it in two-wheel drive as long as possible. The truck nearly bogged-down a few times, but it was never something the electronic locking rear differential and the Torsen front differential couldn't get me out of. Rain-sensing wipers, not available on the Raptor, would have helped keep the muck off the front windshield and allowed me to keep both hands on the wheel when splashing around.
  • On-road, the ride wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected it to be. There was a constant background noise from the tread blocks and the occasional shutter over uneven pavement, but the ride was never choppy or harsh. In fact, after a few days my sports-car-tuned equilibrium found the Raptor more than enjoyable in the handling department too. Yes, I could live with this big truck every single day. I'm even quite sure that I would eventually learn how to park it without placing one of its rear wheels on the curb!

2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Supercrew originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-150 svt raptorf-150f-seriesfeaturedfordquick spinquickspinraptorsvtsvt raptorFri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20505219/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/15/2013-ford-f-150-supercrew-svt-raptor/20505219/article-detail.xml 20505219 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/raptor04-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/raptor04-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fly like an eagle [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-fly-like-an-eagle/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-fly-like-an-eagle/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/04/watch-this-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-fly-like-an-eagle/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Raptor Jump

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is a very capable truck right out of the box, but "capable" has never translated into "invincible." Just ask the owner of the machine in this video. In it, the driver gets frisky with an aggressive jump with plenty of speed on his hands. The result is enough air to make Vaughn Gittin Jr. blush. As always, it's not the launch that's painful, but the re-entry. Gravity eventually asserts its dominance over the $43,630 pickup in a big way, and when it comes crashing down, it does so with a vengeance.

The impact was hard enough to set off both the alarm and multiple airbags inside the cabin. It's unclear if anyone was injured in the stunt, but we certainly wouldn't be surprised to hear that was the case. You can check out the stunt in the video below, and remember, when in doubt, back out of the throttle. Be warned, there may be some explicit/NSFW language in the clip.


UPDATE: Second video added with an even better look at the jump added below.

Continue reading Watch this Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fly like an eagle [UPDATE]

Watch this Ford F-150 SVT Raptor fly like an eagle [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f-150fordford f-150raptorraptor jumpraptor jump videosvtsvt raptorsvt raptor crashsvt raptor jumpvideoMon, 04 Feb 2013 11:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20447568/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/04/watch-this-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-fly-like-an-eagle/20447568/article-detail.xml 20447568 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/raptor-jump-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/raptor-jump-628.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Ford F-150 Limited]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Ford F-150 received yet another new model for the 2013 model year, the Limited trim, bringing the ways you can order this country's most popular vehicle to a grand total of 10. There really is an F-150 to suit any need now, and the Limited variant slots in at the very top of the range, above the already pampering Platinum model.

While normally I would admit that I'm the least-appropriate person to test a pickup, the fact that this particular trim places a much higher premium on luxury than anything with a bed and Blue Oval badge before it means that I don't need the workman chops of a skilled tradesman to judge how well this truck meets its true aim.

Driving Notes
  • With a base price of $52,895, the F-150 Limited is the most expensive half-ton Ford truck you can buy. Our tester came with the few options that don't come standard, including White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat paint ($495), a pickup bed extender ($250), tailgate step ($375) and spray-in bed liner ($475), bringing the final tally with a $995 delivery charge to $55,045.
  • The polished aluminum wheels on the Limited model are 22 inches in diameter, a full two inches larger than what's fitted to the Platinum model. They sure are pretty, though appear appropriate for on-road use only, lest you want to scratch and nick their polished finish. Other filigree on the truck includes the single-tip chrome exhaust, 'LIMITED' lettering along the box sides, the bold three-bar grille and body-colored everything.
  • Curiously, while you can have the less expensive Platinum model with your choice of three engines and two bed lengths, the Limited is only available with the twin-turbocharged EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 engine and 5.5-foot box. Both trims, however, are limited to the four-door SuperCrew cab style only. It's not clear why Ford went with the EcoBoost engine only in the Limited, but with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, the engine is up to the task and relatively efficient.
  • Speaking of which, remember a few years ago when the F-150 required a special SFE model to reach 21 miles per gallon on the highway? The F-150 Limited can technically achieve the same feat, despite all of its luxury trappings and lack of aero aids. The EPA estimates 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, and I managed to reach and sustain that number, though not on the highway. It was on a long stretch of 35-mph road with few lights and stop signs. On the highway traveling between 60-70 mph, the F-150 and its EcoBoost V6 still returned a respectable 16-17 mpg.
  • The headlights on the Limited model are segment-first HID lamps. They are incredibly powerful and cut a very wide swatch with sharply delineated edges. From the driver's seat, it's as if the truck has two poles sticking out either side of the front end with a bunch of lights hanging from them pointing forward. That said, the F-150 Limited rides high and I know those powerful low beams were at times bouncing off the rear and sideview mirrors of the cars I was following.
  • This truck is surprisingly easy to drive. Even though I feel it would be silly for someone like me, who only has the occasional need for a truck, to buy and use an F-150 Limited as a daily driver, I easily could. It's like a truck, a minivan and a luxury sedan rolled into one - eminently capable, comfortable and cool.
  • Its ride is composed and relatively smooth, though can be skittish over rough pavement. That said, this truck emits nary a squeak, noise or rattle no matter how hard the suspension and frame are being hit.
  • The level of luxury here is very high, with running boards that automatically deploy when the doors open, a red and black leather interior that both looks and feels rich, aluminum trim, ambient lighting and the very full suite of Ford infotainment electronics that includes Sync, MyFord Touch, an eight-inch main screen and 4.2-inch info screen between the gauges.
  • At the end of my week with the pickup, I came around to the conclusion that buying an F-150 Limited makes as much sense as luxury car or sports car. All three appeal to what one wants more than what one needs. Do I need a $55k luxury pickup? No. But now I want one.

2013 Ford F-150 Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-150 limitedf-150f-150 limitedf-seriesfordquick spinquickspinMon, 28 Jan 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20440018/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/28/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin/20440018/article-detail.xml 20440018 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin---01-opt-1359322521_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-ford-f-150-limited-quick-spin---01-opt-1359322521.jpg <![CDATA[George W. Bush's 2009 Ford F-150 fizzles with $300,000 bid at Barrett-Jackson [UPDATE: w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/20/george-w-bushs-2009-ford-f-150-fizzles-with-300-000-bid-at-ba/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/20/george-w-bushs-2009-ford-f-150-fizzles-with-300-000-bid-at-ba/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/20/george-w-bushs-2009-ford-f-150-fizzles-with-300-000-bid-at-ba/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

George W. Bush's 2009 Ford F-150

Despite some truly impassioned pleading from Jay Leno himself - including calling on Arizona's notoriously Republican-rich voters to beat the $600,000 level set the last time Leno sold a vehicle for this particular charity... in California - bidding for George Bush's 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck stalled at $300,000.

All proceeds will be sent to the Fisher House Foundation, so at least it's $300K going to a good cause. Feel free to check out the live image gallery above, which includes shots showing Leno's skills helming the auction, and read through the official auction description below.

*UPDATE: Video of the auction and Leno's prods to the crowd for more money can now be seen below.

Continue reading George W. Bush's 2009 Ford F-150 fizzles with $300,000 bid at Barrett-Jackson [UPDATE: w/video]

George W. Bush's 2009 Ford F-150 fizzles with $300,000 bid at Barrett-Jackson [UPDATE: w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best-selling vehicle in all the land last year was, of course, the Ford F-Series pickup. If our math is correct, that makes its string of sales crowns 31-years long. While last year's performance of 645,316 units sold is far from the 900,000+ sold in 2001, 2004 and 2005, it was still enough to best the F-150's main competitor and second-best-selling vehicle of 2012, the Chevrolet Silverado, plus that truck's twin, the GMC Sierra, combined.

This year's list of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the US doesn't hold a lot of surprises, but there are a few items to note. Look closely and you'll see that the Toyota Camry, long America's best-selling car, nearly overtook the Silverado for the list's second spot. Last year was probably the Camry's best shot, as an all-new Silverado and Sierra will go on sale soon and likely put first runner-up honors out of reach.

There were two vehicles bumped from the list year: the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Cruze. The Cruze made its first and only appearance on the list in 2011, but strong competition from redesigned competitors like the Honda Civic, which reappears on the list for 2012, kept its sales flat. The Fusion's absence is also likely due to its fiercely competitive segment. Redesigned for 2012 and with more production capacity than ever before, however, could see it on next year's list.

Scroll down to see the rest of this past year's best-selling vehicles.

Continue reading These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2012

These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012best-sellingbest-selling vehicles of 2012f-150fordFri, 04 Jan 2013 15:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20417241/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/04/these-are-your-top-10-best-selling-vehicles-of-2012/20417241/article-detail.xml 20417241 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/03-2013-ford-f-150-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/03-2013-ford-f-150-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford to counter GM's new trucks by offering peek at 2015 F-150 in Detroit?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/ford-to-counter-gms-new-trucks-by-showing-2015-f-150-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/ford-to-counter-gms-new-trucks-by-showing-2015-f-150-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/17/ford-to-counter-gms-new-trucks-by-showing-2015-f-150-in-detroit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Ford F-150 pickup - front three-quarter view

With the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra all getting major upgrades recently, there has also been plenty of speculation how Ford will respond as it looks to maintain its title as America's best-selling truck. Last week, Automotive News reported that Ford is looking to make a significant fuel economy gain with its 2015 F-150, and now Reuters is saying that the automaker will be offering some sort of peek at the new truck at next month's Detroit Auto Show.

The report seems to indicate that Ford might have a concept vehicle on display at the show, but when Autoblog reached out to the Blue Oval for comment, Mike Levine, Ford's truck communications manager, told us "we're highlighting our all-new global lineup of commercial vehicles at NAIAS, including the Transit and Transit Connect vans. We have no other news to announce at this time."

Thus, Ford could be showing absolutely nothing related to its F-Series future, or it might clandestinely slip something onto its display - a rendering, perhaps, a cutaway vehicle, a technology display, a concept, or perhaps a full-blown production vehicle, although the latter strikes us as highly unlikely given how far away the new production model actually figures to be.

All reports do seem to point to the fact that the next F-150, which could debut in late 2014 for the 2015 model year, will feature extensive use of aluminum body panels to help shave more than 700 pounds from its curb weight in order to help improve fuel economy by as much as 20 percent.

Ford to counter GM's new trucks by offering peek at 2015 F-150 in Detroit? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015 ford f-150detroitdetroit auto showdetroit auto show 2013f-150f-seriesfordnaiasMon, 17 Dec 2012 13:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20404917/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/17/ford-to-counter-gms-new-trucks-by-showing-2015-f-150-in-detroit/20404917/article-detail.xml 20404917 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-ford-f150-pickup-01-1338587289_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-ford-f150-pickup-01-1338587289.jpg <![CDATA[George W. Bush's Ford F-150 to be auctionated at this year's Barrett-Jackson]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/george-w-bushs-ford-f-150-to-be-auctionated-at-this-years-bar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/george-w-bushs-ford-f-150-to-be-auctionated-at-this-years-bar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/15/george-w-bushs-ford-f-150-to-be-auctionated-at-this-years-bar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



President George W. Bush was known as much for the many liberties he took with the English language as he was for being a Texan, and, in the latter regard, it is not all that surprising that the 43rd President's truck of choice was a Ford F-150... the key word here, of course, being was. The truck used by the former president around his Crawford, TX ranch, a 2009 Ford F-150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew, will be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson next month with the proceeds of the sale going to the Fisher House Foundation.

President Bush bought the truck new in 2009, and used it to drive around his ranch with families and dignitaries. As a part of the auction, President Bush autographed the instrument panel, and there will also be an accompanying video of him signing and driving the truck. It isn't clear how many miles are on the F-150, but it sounds like not too many, if any, were from driving on public roads.

"I haven't driven on a street in many, many years, but I have been able to drive this truck on my ranch," said President Bush. "I want to thank all those who are supporting the Fisher House. In supporting the Fisher House, you're supporting our veterans. And in supporting our veterans, you're helping America."

More about the Barrett-Jackson auction is posted after the jump.

Continue reading George W. Bush's Ford F-150 to be auctionated at this year's Barrett-Jackson

George W. Bush's Ford F-150 to be auctionated at this year's Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 ford f-150auctionbarrett-jacksonbushf-150f-seriesfisher house foundationfordgeorge w. bushSat, 15 Dec 2012 11:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20402135/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/15/george-w-bushs-ford-f-150-to-be-auctionated-at-this-years-bar/20402135/article-detail.xml 20402135 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/george-bush-truck-barrett-jackson-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/george-bush-truck-barrett-jackson-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford F-150 to counter new GM pickups with 3-mpg improvement]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/ford-f-150-to-counter-new-gm-pickups-with-3-mpg-improvement/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/ford-f-150-to-counter-new-gm-pickups-with-3-mpg-improvement/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/14/ford-f-150-to-counter-new-gm-pickups-with-3-mpg-improvement/#commentsFiled under: ,



A new battle is brewing among fullsize pickup trucks. On top of boasting horsepower or towing capacity figures, it seems the next generation of pickup trucks will also be getting pretty serious about fuel economy. With General Motors and Ram recently unveiling their latest pickups, Automotive News is reporting that Ford is working on the next-generation F-150, which is expected to include a lighter curb weight and higher fuel economy.

Reports of Ford cutting weight and using aluminum to do so on the next F-150 aren't new, but the AN article is finally putting a possible target fuel economy to go along with the expected 700- to 750-pound weight reduction. Currently, the F-150 with EcoBoost delivers the best highway mileage of up to 23 miles per gallon, which is off the pace of the 2013 Ram 1500 that stands as the fuel economy leader (for now) with up to 25 mpg on the highway. But Ford may be looking at a three-mpg gain on its new truck; official EPA ratings for the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra have not been released yet.

The article also mentions small-displacement (2.9 liters) engines and a shared Toyota hybrid technology, but it isn't clear if either would be used in the 2016 F-150. Until then, AN says that Ford is planning to bring an eight-speed automatic to its fullsize truck within the next couple of year.

Ford F-150 to counter new GM pickups with 3-mpg improvement originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f-150f-150 fuel economyfordpickup truck fuel economyFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20403362/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/14/ford-f-150-to-counter-new-gm-pickups-with-3-mpg-improvement/20403362/article-detail.xml 20403362 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2013-ford-f-150-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2013-ford-f-150-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford SVT Raptor commanding 300% of US MSRP on China's gray market]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/ford-svt-raptor-commanding-300-of-us-msrp-on-chinas-gray-marke/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/ford-svt-raptor-commanding-300-of-us-msrp-on-chinas-gray-marke/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/ford-svt-raptor-commanding-300-of-us-msrp-on-chinas-gray-marke/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor climbing rocks

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has plenty of fans all around the world, but the desert-beating pickup is perhaps most popular where it can't be had at all: in China. The Detroit News reports gray market buyers in the Asian country are snapping up the trucks at the equivalent of $160,000, or nearly three times the MSRP here in the States. Analysts credit the boom to shifting consumer perceptions. Chinese buyers have typically view pickups as utilitarian tools instead of lifestyle purchases, but that's changing. The Detroit News reports buyers in China are showing more interest in specialty vehicles like the SVT Raptor.

Vehicles like those from General Motors' Hummer family laid the groundwork ten years ago, and when the Raptor bowed in 2010, Chinese enthusiasm for the truck exploded on the internet. Importers are so keen to demand for the pickups that they've imported too many - prices are just now beginning to fall from their lofty heights. China has no laws against importing vehicles, though prohibitive taxes discourage all but the nation's wealthiest individuals from shipping in foreign models.

Ford SVT Raptor commanding 300% of US MSRP on China's gray market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-150 svt raptorchinaf-150f-150 svt raptorf-seriesgray marketraptorsvtMon, 12 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20377509/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/12/ford-svt-raptor-commanding-300-of-us-msrp-on-chinas-gray-marke/20377509/article-detail.xml 20377509 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/2013-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/2013-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford shows SEMA-bound Mustang, F-150 and Escape variants]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-shows-sema-bound-mustang-f-150-and-escape-variants/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-shows-sema-bound-mustang-f-150-and-escape-variants/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-shows-sema-bound-mustang-f-150-and-escape-variants/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford escape2013 ford f-1502013 ford mustangconcept carsescapef-150f-250f-seriesf-series super dutyfordmustangsematuner carsWed, 24 Oct 2012 15:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20359405/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/24/ford-shows-sema-bound-mustang-f-150-and-escape-variants/20359405/article-detail.xml 20359405 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/semaringbrothers-mustang-gt-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/semaringbrothers-mustang-gt-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford announces SVT Raptor off-road school]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-announces-svt-raptor-off-road-school/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-announces-svt-raptor-off-road-school/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/ford-announces-svt-raptor-off-road-school/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Ford is giving F-150 SVT Raptor owners and fans a chance to get better acquainted with the vehicle's capabilities. The Ford Racing Raptor Assault program puts drivers behind the wheel of the factory off-roader at Miller Motorsprots Park. The course includes eight acres of rock crawling, a 22-acre, high-speed off-road course and a 900-acre desert course. Instructors will work with drivers with varying skill levels for a unique experience. Participants can take part in a hot lap ride-along program or a three-hour Raptor Assault Experience that includes driving in both the rock crawling and off road courses as well as hot laps with a pro driver. A one-day school is also available.

Raptor owners will get special discounted pricing, which is a good thing given that prices range from $300 for the three-hour tour to $1,395 for the full day. Maybe there's a chance the school will help keep Raptor owners from carrying too much speed for their obstacles and breaking their trucks. You can head over to RaptorAssault.com for more information or check out the press release below.

Continue reading Ford announces SVT Raptor off-road school

Ford announces SVT Raptor off-road school originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 f-150 svt raptor2013 ford f-150 svt raptorf-150f-150 svt raptormiller motorsports parkraptorraptor assault experienceraptorassault.comsvtWed, 24 Oct 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20357953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/24/ford-announces-svt-raptor-off-road-school/20357953/article-detail.xml 20357953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/2013-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-1-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/2013-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-1-628.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch bows in Texas, V6 claims towing title]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/2013-ford-f-150-king-ranch-bows-in-texas-v6-claims-towing-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/2013-ford-f-150-king-ranch-bows-in-texas-v6-claims-towing-title/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/27/2013-ford-f-150-king-ranch-bows-in-texas-v6-claims-towing-title/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch - front three-quarter studio view

The 2012 State Fair of Texas is set to fire up this weekend in the Lone Star State, which means domestic automakers are in the mood to talk about trucks. Ford is using the occasion for two major announcements, the first being that the F-150's standard 3.7-liter engine can now pull a class-leading 6,700 pounds. That's 200 pounds more than the 2013 Ram 1500 and its 3.7-liter V6, and a whopping 1,300 more than the Chevy Silverado when powered by General Motors' 4.3-liter V6.

The second announcement is the debut of the 2013 F-150 King Ranch. The King Ranch has been offered by Ford since 2000 when the Blue Oval and the very large, very old and very much still in operation Texas-based King Ranch partnered up, making this year's model the 12th edition.

The 2013 F-150 King Ranch features its own version of the truck's new three-bar grille, and its two-tone exterior can be complemented with optional 20-inch machined aluminum wheels. Buyers can also opt for monochrome paint, HID headlamps, as well as a unique King Ranch chrome package. The interior features all of the latest Ford tech, including MyFord Touch and ambient lighting, and can be ordered in the King Ranch's trademark Adobe colors or black. Powering the King Ranch are your choice of Ford's 5.0-liter V8 or 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, though both are mated to the same six-speed automatic transmission.

So yes, the King Ranch is not much more than an F-150 with an earthy color palette, lux'd up interior and a unique set of wheels, but it's also one helluva handsome truck in our eyes.

Continue reading 2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch bows in Texas, V6 claims towing title

2013 Ford F-150 King Ranch bows in Texas, V6 claims towing title originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford f-150 king ranchf-150f-seriesfordking ranchstate fair of texastexastexas state fairThu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20334580/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/27/2013-ford-f-150-king-ranch-bows-in-texas-v6-claims-towing-title/20334580/article-detail.xml 20334580 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/king-ranch-pic-3-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/king-ranch-pic-3-opt.jpg <![CDATA[PickupTrucks.com holds Ultimate 4x4 Challenge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/pickuptrucks-com-holds-ultimate-4x4-challenge/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/pickuptrucks-com-holds-ultimate-4x4-challenge/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/pickuptrucks-com-holds-ultimate-4x4-challenge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Mark Williams of PickupTrucks.com with 2012 Ultimate 4x4 Challenge competitors

The crew at PickupTrucks.com has been busy lately. In addition to wrapping up its global pickup shootout in Australia, the site also took the time to pit four factory off-road kings against each other. After extending invitations to every manufacturer to send out their most capable pickup, the Nissan Frontier PRO-4X, Toyota Tacoma Baja, Ram Power Wagon and Ford F-150 SVT Raptor all showed up to play. General Motors, meanwhile, declined to join the party.

Each of the participants threw down in a total of 10 events with separate scoring, including old standbys like 0-60, 60-0, payload capacity and fuel economy. But Pickuptrucks.com also partnered up with 4Wheeler Magazine to put the bruisers through some legitimate off-road tests. Each pickup took on a tough sand hill climb as well as a stair climb and a rock scramble.

While we weren't surprised to see the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor take top honors, we were shocked to see where the Power Wagon wound up on the list. How'd the big Mopar place? You'll have to scroll down to watch the video wrap-up. After that, head on over to PickupTrucks.com to read the full comparison.

Continue reading PickupTrucks.com holds Ultimate 4x4 Challenge

PickupTrucks.com holds Ultimate 4x4 Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15002013 ford f-150 svt raptor2013 nissan frontier pro-4x2013 ram power wagon2013 toyota tacoma baja4wheeler magazinef-150frontiernissanpower wagonsvt raptortacomatoyotaultimate 4x4 shootoutvideoTue, 18 Sep 2012 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20326724/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/18/pickuptrucks-com-holds-ultimate-4x4-challenge/20326724/article-detail.xml 20326724 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mark-williams-of-pickuptrucks.com-with-4x4s_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mark-williams-of-pickuptrucks.com-with-4x4s.jpg <![CDATA[Canadian auto dealer uses radio spot to get even with crooks]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/11/canadian-auto-dealer-uses-radio-spot-to-get-even-with-crooks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/11/canadian-auto-dealer-uses-radio-spot-to-get-even-with-crooks/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/11/canadian-auto-dealer-uses-radio-spot-to-get-even-with-crooks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Marty Giles runs a Ford dealership in Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. Marty Giles had his dealership robbed over the weekend. Marty Giles has a good sense of humor... and a plan to get even.

What you are listening to in the video below is an actual radio spot, in which Giles tells listeners, "I know you've heard about our family pricing initative. Over the weekend, however, we had some non-family members come steal some rims and tires."

By that line at the 0:05 mark, we are already off to a rather humorous start. The wheels and tires belonged to a Harley-Davidson Edition Ford F-150, an F-150 FX4 and a Mustang. Rather than voice his anger, Giles decided to get even by offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who could provide information to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the crime. Another $10,000 will be donated to a charity of the Mounties' choosing.

According to the ad, if the tires are returned, Giles will "call off the posse... no harm, no foul."

Giles also attempts to get inside the heads of the criminals, by adding "I get a great deal on commercials, and I'll run them forever until you get caught," and several other truly great lines. Click below to hear this instant classic of a radio spot.

Continue reading Canadian auto dealer uses radio spot to get even with crooks

Canadian auto dealer uses radio spot to get even with crooks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadaf-150fordfort mcmurraymarty gilesmustangnorth star fordnorthstar fordvideoTue, 11 Sep 2012 16:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20320753/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/11/canadian-auto-dealer-uses-radio-spot-to-get-even-with-crooks/20320753/article-detail.xml 20320753 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/ford-radio-commercial-crooks-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/ford-radio-commercial-crooks-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford staring down F-150 fuel-injection patent lawsuit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/ford-staring-down-f-150-fuel-injection-patent-lawsuit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/ford-staring-down-f-150-fuel-injection-patent-lawsuit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/04/ford-staring-down-f-150-fuel-injection-patent-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ford is currently facing a lawsuit regarding the direct injection fuel systems found in its F-150 EcoBoost engine. TMC Fuel Injection System LLC is the company filed the lawsuit Wednesday in a federal court in Philadelphia. The suit alleges that Ford said it was "no longer interested" in the direct injection technology, yet proceeded to employ it in its engines.

Shou L. Hou is the patent inventor for the fuel delivery technology. Ford began talks with Hou and TMC over two years after the patent was filed.

The specific direct injection technology patented by Hou is the dynamic range of the fuel injection which maximizes performance while minimizing fuel waste. This system is said to conserve fuel by 25 percent in city driving, while offering improved power when needed.

The EcoBoost engine representd 42 percent of the F-150 sales in the month of July. Ford began offering this engine in early 2011, after apparently telling TMC and Hou that it had no interest in utilizing their patent.

Ford staring down F-150 fuel-injection patent lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 ford f-150 ecoboostecoboostf-150fordTue, 04 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20313857/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/04/ford-staring-down-f-150-fuel-injection-patent-lawsuit/20313857/article-detail.xml 20313857 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2011-ford-f-150-ecoboost-fx2-red_thumbnail.jpeg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2011-ford-f-150-ecoboost-fx2-red.jpeg <![CDATA[Roush, Greg Biffle build custom Ford F-150 SVT Raptor for charity [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/roush-greg-biffle-build-custom-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-for-charit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/roush-greg-biffle-build-custom-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-for-charit/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/roush-greg-biffle-build-custom-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-for-charit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Greg Biffle Roush F-150 SVT Raptor - front three-quarter view, static

We normally associate Roush Performance with the Ford Mustang, but the company's latest project involves the F-150 SVT Raptor. The tuner has teamed up with Greg Biffle, who drives for the Roush Fenway Racing in NASCAR, on the build as part of the Sherwin-Williams Planet Color All-Star Charity Challenge, pitting them against Toyota driver Clint Bowyer to see who can design the best custom truck.

The NASCAR rivals have gone in significantly separate directions, with Bowyer designing a '50s-style work truck based on the Tundra and Biffle coming up with the flashy off-roader pictured above. Roush has fitted the SVT Raptor with items like their TVS2300 supercharger system good for 525 horsepower, a performance exhaust system, custom 18-inch wheels shod with 35-inch BFGoodrich tires, TireGate tire carrier and light bars front and rear.

So what determines who built the best truck? The winner will be decided by the almighty dollar, with both trucks going to auction for charity. Bowyer's Tundra already sold at Barrett-Jackson's Orange County auction, raising $100,000 for the Emporia Community Foundation, while Biffle's SVT Raptor will look to beat that number at Barrett-Jackson's Las Vegas event in September.

You can check out the custom Roush F-150 SVT Raptor in detail in the gallery above and in a video by scrolling down, then let us know which truck you'd rather have in Comments.

Continue reading Roush, Greg Biffle build custom Ford F-150 SVT Raptor for charity [w/video]

Roush, Greg Biffle build custom Ford F-150 SVT Raptor for charity [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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