Autoblog

Graphics offered for 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:09:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Design/Style, Off-Road

2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor with optional hood graphics - Click above for high-res image gallery

You can get graphics for your Ford Fiesta, Mustang and Taurus, and now the 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor joins the wrapped-up bunch. There will but one customization option: a black hood inspired by the racing Broncos of the 1970s - wilder trucks in wilder days. As well as lending a little bit of old-school-style badass, a side benefit of the new graphic is a reduction of glare coming off the hood. The digital mud bedside graphic available since the Raptor's debut remains an option. Follow the jump for the press release and see what Ford hath wrought in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor graphics

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Graphics offered for 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Graphics offered for 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobile checks in for border control duty with Ford F-150 Raptor

Zach Bowman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Etc., Government/Legal, Ford, Off-Road

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor serves and protects

Aside from the recent dust-up over immigration law in Arizona, we've heard very little about America's efforts on border patrol lately. Where once we heard all about fences, militia parties and night-vision, now the collective media consciousness is focused elsewhere. That doesn't mean that the challenges facing border patrol have exactly evaporated, of course. The men and women charged with keeping an eye on the line between the U.S. and Mexico still face mile upon mile of some of the most grueling terrain on the planet, which is exactly why the Yuma Sheriff went ahead and ordered up a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor before the official government-issue fleet arrives.

Automobile Magazine's Eszra Dyer decided to tag along with Major Leon Wilmot to see how the truck handles itself in an official capacity and just what this border patrol business is all about. As it turns out, the majority of the operation is concerned with large expanses of sand, moon dust, non-exploded ordinance and the cleverness of a people who want nothing more to outwit American law enforcement. If you've got a hot second, click over to Automobile for a quick read.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Automobile checks in for border control duty with Ford F-150 Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reader Spy: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew spotted naked and unashamed

Zach Bowman — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew - Click above for high-res image gallery

Autoblog reader Geo happened to be cruising on I-275 in Detroit last week when he was passed by a convoy of Ford F-150 pickups. Snugged smack dab in the middle was none other than the upcoming F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew without a stitch of camouflage to cover those two extra doors. Geo did what any good enterprising AB reader would do and clicked a couple of photos as the desert-crushing truck blew by.

The prototype in the photos has ditched the outlandish graphics of its shorter brother, but it still looks just as mean, and it's even slathered in silver paint, a color that isn't currently available. If the badge on the fender is any indication, this particular example packs the same 411-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 mill we were fortunate enough to sample not too long ago, which means it should have no problem jumping over hill and dale. If ever there was a backyard party on four wheels, this is it.

Gallery: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew

Reader Spy: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew spotted naked and unashamed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: EcoBoost-powered Ford SVT Raptor R coming?

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Ford, Off-Road, Racing

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford is really proud of its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and while the automaker currently only offers this mill in the Taurus SHO, Flex, Lincoln MKS and MKT, PickupTrucks.com reports that the Baja-blasting SVT Raptor will get a version of this powerplant, as well.

Ford will be offering the EcoBoost V6 as a top-range engine on the F-150 for the 2011 model year, producing something in the range of 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, but in the Raptor R, expect output numbers to be significantly higher. Currently, the Raptor R 6.2 produces roughly 500 peak horsepower out of its modified version of the automaker's latest V8, and we doubt that Ford will want to skimp on power when it comes to a no-holds-barred race truck like the Raptor R.

PickupTrucks.com reports that we could see the Raptor R EcoBoost compete in this year's Best In The Desert off-road racing series, as well as the Baja 1000 later this year. All we know is, this sounds like one seriously brutal pickup for desert storming.

Gallery: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: EcoBoost-powered Ford SVT Raptor R coming? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Not too long ago, the rumormill was buzzing about the possibility of Ford offering a SuperCrew version of the brutal F-150 SVT Raptor, adding four-door versatility to the already awesome prowess of the automaker's latest pickup. Now, Inside Line reports that Ford has confirmed production of the more spacious Raptor for the 2011 model year.

IL also states that Ford will only offer the SuperCrew Raptor with the top-rung 6.2-liter V8, which produces a healthy 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque. Need to get the family across the desert in a hurry? This is the truck you'll want to opt for. We'll wait for the official word from Ford before we discuss pricing, but expect the SuperCrew model to ring in just above the standard 6.2-liter Raptor's base price of $41,995.

Ram Power Wagon, prepare to meet your match.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Inside Line]

Ford confirms Raptor SuperCrew, only available with 6.2-liter V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford adding SuperCrew to SVT Raptor lineup

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, Rumormill, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford's desert-clobbering SVT Raptor is already off to a relatively good start, and things are only poised to get better now that the automaker has shoehorned its new 6.2-liter V8 under the truck's hood. Adding to that, the folks at InsideLine report that a four-door SuperCrew version of the Raptor is also in the cards, possibly slated to debut later this year.

IL states that mules of what appear to be a SuperCrew Raptor have been spotted near Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. When prompted for a response, a spokesperson for the automaker simply said, "We do not comment on future product." (We've heard that one a thousand times before.) Still, we don't dispute IL's predictions, and having four-door functionality only boosts the Raptor's attractiveness to potential consumers.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Ford adding SuperCrew to SVT Raptor lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Raptor 6.2-liter goes on sale, nearly 3,000 already ordered

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you've been holding off on taking the plunge on a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor until the more potent 6.2-liter engine found its way to the option sheet, we've got good news for you. The big 411 horsepower, 434 lb-ft of torque V8 is officially on sale right now, and Ford says the mills are flying off the shelves. According to the Blue Oval, the company has received over 3,000 orders for the Raptor with the more powerful engine.

The bigger engine offers a 91 horsepower bump over the base 5.4-liter V8, which should help the Raptor be a little quicker on its toes when it comes to desert maneuvers. That's all fine and dandy, but how much will it cost you? If you go for the 6.2, expect to add another $3,000 to the final price tag. While we haven't had a chance to play with the uprated Raptor just yet, that sounds like a mighty fine deal to us.

Ford has also announced a number of other optional features now available for its off-road beast, including special halogen lamps mounted atop a light bar, a tow kit for pulling lesser machines from the sand, and blue powder-coated cam covers for both engines. Far be it from us to look down on a little show with your go.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Raptor 6.2-liter goes on sale, nearly 3,000 already ordered

Ford Raptor 6.2-liter goes on sale, nearly 3,000 already ordered originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford brings back "Swap Your Ride" with 0% financing, $1,000

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Ford

2010 Ford Mustang GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has some good news if you've been eying its products and happen to drive a vehicle from another manufacturer. The company's "Swap Your Ride" campaign is back in full swing, and will run wide open until the end of next month. All you have to do to qualify for zero-percent financing and a $1,000 trade-in bonus is simply hand over the keys to your old set of wheels.

As you might expect, the offer doesn't apply to the Blue Oval's really fun or efficient toys. You can forget picking up any of the company's hybrids, a Shelby GT500 or an F-150 SVT Raptor under the campaign. The fine print doesn't say anything about the 2010 Mustang, though, so you could be doing doughnuts in an all-American muscle car before you know it.

Expect to see a new slew of ads featuring Mike Rowe on your television promoting the incentives soon.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang

[Source: Ford Special Event via Car Connection]

Ford brings back "Swap Your Ride" with 0% financing, $1,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler shows off eight Mopar concepts at Easter Jeep Safari 2010

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:22:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Performance, SUV, Truck, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Military, Design/Style, Diesel, Off-Road, Racing

2010 Easter Jeep Safari Mopar Concepts - Click any image to enlarge

Chrysler's engineers have been busy lately. Mark Allen, head of the Jeep design studio, has introduced a total of eight new concept vehicles at this year's Easter Jeep Safari. Each one has been worked up by the company's off-road engineering team, and while most are nothing more than pure fantasy, at least a few can be crafted out of parts available from the Mopar go-fast catalog. Even better, all have the off road guts to go anywhere you please.

That includes the Jeep Wrangler J7. Consider this the stripped-down beast we would build if Chrysler gave us the keys to the kingdom for a week. Fluffy stuff like carpet, the stereo and alloy wheels have been ditched in favor of more utilitarian goods. New all-steel bumpers, complete with helicopter hooks, join a sturdy rear gate and steel wheels wrapped in 35-inch rubber. A small 2-inch lift helps accommodate the larger rollers, and the eye-searing Mustard Plug paint sets the truck apart from the crowd. While we have no problem with the 3.8-liter V6, we would probably swap the four-speed automatic gear box for a row-your-own.

Speaking of rowing your own, the Jeep Patriot Extreme is more than happy to accommodate third-pedal lovers everywhere. While Wrangler guys may be quick to rag on the baby Jeep, this Patriot is more than capable of dispatching rough terrain. A two-inch suspension lift gives the trail-rated package just a little more clearance, and custom rock rails protect the bodywork from getting too close to the trail. We're also digging those 16-inch TJ Moab wheels, extra lighting on the bumper and roof rack for... snowboards?

Chrysler says it turned out the Wrangler Trail Boss (right) just to show off all of the products available from the Jeep trail catalog. The truck's specs read like a recipe for a Wrangler wish list. Outside, the most noticeable difference between the Trail Boss and a standard Wrangler is the addition of new AEV off-road bumpers, complete with a Warn 9.5ti winch, though the half-doors and sun bonnet do much to alter the truck's attitude, too. A 3-inch lift kit allows for healthy 35-inch rubber down below, wrapped around those slick Hutchinson Rock Monster beadlock wheels. Click the jump to read about the rest of the Mopar monsters.

Gallery: 2010 Easter Jeep Safari Concepts

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler shows off eight Mopar concepts at Easter Jeep Safari 2010

Chrysler shows off eight Mopar concepts at Easter Jeep Safari 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:02:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Performance, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in Blue Flame - Click above for high-res image gallery

When Ford first revealed the new F-150 SVT Raptor a year ago, the initial powerplant was the same 5.4-liter V8 found in more pedestrian F-series trucks. At the launch, however, Ford officials promised that an all-new 6.2-liter V8 would become available right about ... now!. Well a month from now. The order books for the Raptor 6.2 officially open on December 1. Ford has already taken 3,000 orders for the 5.4-liter Raptor and 700 have gone to customers.

Last year, Ford told us the 6.2 would crank out at least 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of twist. Now that the engine has been certified and the final numbers are in, the targets have been exceeded. The 6.2-liter for the Raptor has been officially rated at 411 hp at 5,500 rpm and 434 pound-feet at 4,500 rpm.

According to F-150 Marketing Manager Mark Grueber, the Raptor 6.2 will get to 60 mph 1.5 seconds faster than the 5.4 while matching its fuel economy (as though anyone buying a Raptor will car about MPGs). That should put the 6.2 somewhere in the upper six- to low seven-range for a 0-60 mph run (Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com clocked a Raptor at 8.8 seconds with a brake torque). But take heed, with more power comes a higher MSRP: the new engine will cost $3,000 more than the carryover 5.4, starting at $41,995 delivered.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP

SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2 packs 411 HP originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor XT, $100K off-road race truck

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, SEMA Show, Truck, Ford

2010 Ford F150 Raptor R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Does the idea of a $100,000 pickup truck give you heart palpitations? If so, you might want to skip over the rest of this text. For the past year Ford has been using off-road races like the Baja 500 and 1000 as real world test tracks to prove out the performance and durability of the new F-150 SVT Raptor pickup. The Raptor R that Ford has been racing is actually pretty close to the production truck, although it does have more power and suspension travel.

Now the Ford Racing crew is following in the footsteps of the various FR500 Mustangs of the last five years and offering a factory-built race truck. Called the Raptor XT, it features the same 500-hp 6.2-liter V8 found in the latest edition of the Raptor R. The Raptor XT also gets all the interior amenities of a standard road going Raptor while adding the chrome-moly roll cage and tubular bumpers of the R. The XT even gets the 15-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel travel of the race truck.

Only 50 units of the Raptor XT will be built for the 2011 model year and only the most extreme off-roaders will be willing to pay the $99,950 price tag. Like the FR500 race Mustangs, the Raptor XT is off-road only, but in this case it's really off the road.

Gallery: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor XT, $100K off-road race truck

SEMA 2009: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor XT, $100K off-road race truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popular Mechanics calls out automotive excellence

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

As we head into the final weeks of yet another year, that means it's time for everyone to pick out their favorites. In this business that means its time to select cars, trucks and SUVs of the year. Over at Popular Mechanics, the editors have put together a list of vehicles that they feel exemplify excellence based on a number of characteristics. For example, the list opens up with what they consider the most off-road capable - a likely easy choice this year with the launch of the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.

The technical innovation prize went to the new Remote Touch System that appeared in the Lexus HS 250h and RX this year. This joystick control provides haptic feedback when the cursor hits a selection button on the screen. As a result it's not as fiddly as a conventional joystick might be, allowing the driver to keep more attention on the road. Check out the full list of automotive excellence at Popular Mechanics's web site.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Popular Mechanics calls out automotive excellence originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gets suspension explained by IL

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Ford, Specialty, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor under the skin - Click above for high-res image gallery

In stock form, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is one of the most impressive bits of machinery available from any automaker extant. We've managed to snag some seat time in one a couple of times now, and each time we've walked away mightily impressed. But just what is it that makes the off-road-ready supertruck so good? It's not the powertrain, it's the suspension.

While we've offered a basic walkaround of what makes the Raptor tick, the chaps at Inside Line took it upon themselves to delve a bit deeper into the mystery of the truck's cushy pogo sticks. Chief among the updates that turn an ordinary mild-mannered F-150 into a fire-breathing desert runner are the beautiful cast aluminum lower control arms and the special inverted Fox Racing Shocks with remote reservoirs.

Also worth noting are the 13.8-inch ventilated brake rotors with dual-piston sliding calipers and the beefy 17-inch wheels wrapped in LT315/70R17 All-Terrain tires from BFGoodrich. Add it all up and you've got yourself $38,995 worth of eminently capable pickup goodness - and a hearty "attaboy" for Ford's SVT engineers.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: Inside Line]

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor gets suspension explained by IL originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is a diamond on the rough

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Ford, First Drives, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although some of us have an unabashed love for all-things off-road, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor didn't register a huge blip on our collective radar. We figured it would be a performance kit that was much more kit than performance, or an off-road wunderkind that makes life a Hobbesian kind of brutish when used anywhere but the moon. We spent two days in Southern California, one of which in the Raptor's Anza Borrego Desert birthplace, to discover one thing: We were wrong. The Raptor is all that. And a bag of chips. And dessert.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

All photos copyright Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is a diamond on the rough

First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is a diamond on the rough originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor starts at $38,995

John Neff — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:08:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Ford, Off-Road

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com is currently embedded in an F-150 SVT Raptor R with the Ford Racing Team at the "Terrible 250" in Primm, Nevada. Being that close to the action, Levine has managed to wrest some hard info about the upcoming production SVT Raptor from Ford. The off road-ready half-ton will start at just $38,995, which may sound like a lot until you consider this desert flier will be only about $3,000 more than a well-equipped F-150 FX4. The SVT Raptor will launch with Ford's 5.4-liter V8, but soon after will be joined by the company's new 6.2-liter V8, as well. The truck certainly isn't for everyone with its huge tires, high suspension and compensating-for-something "FORD" grille, but those who do go for that kind of thing will at least not get gouged at the checkout counter.

Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor starts at $38,995 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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