Ford Raptor: Everything you need to know

Ford Raptor is the best off-road vehicle, built to surmount difficult and rough terrains. The design of the Ford Raptor was inspired by desert racing trucks, and its exterior is well structured to match the demands of the interior. The latest Ford Raptor was released in December of 2021 as the third generation of the Ford Raptor series. The Ford F-150 Raptor has a twin-turbo V6 engine with an upgraded exterior design, suspension, powertrain, and technology compared to the 2021 model.

But, there is anticipation in waiting for the soon-to-be-released 2023 model, Ford Raptor R. it is expected to have a couple of interiors and exterior upgrades. The most notable is the engine. The Raptor R is projected to have a 700-750 horsepower V8 engine.

About Ford F-150 Raptor
The F-150 is a crew cab-styled pickup truck with four doors and five seats. It has a 3.5 liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine of 450 horsepower, and the F-150 is a front-engine vehicle. The transmission of the F-150 is a 10-speed automatic, and it’s also a four-wheel drive with a maximum payload of 1,400 pounds. Also, the full trailer towing capacity of the F-150 is 8,200 pounds.

Performance
In terms of performance, the Ford Raptor is among the top trucks. Though the zero-to-60-mph for the F-150 has not been released, it will certainly measure up to the Ram 1500 TRX and Rivian R1T.
The Rivian R1T has the best zero-to-60-mph at 3 seconds, while the Ram 1500 TRX sits at 4.5 seconds. So, expect the F-150 to be within this time range. A stand-out area for the Ford F-150 Raptor is the exhaust system. And when the valves trigger this three-inch-long exhaust setup, it displays quiet, normal, sport, and Baja modes. And, you must know that the Ford Raptor was not designed for the streets but off-road. So, let us see how it performs off-road.

Off-road Performance
One significant addition to the F-150 is the revamped rear suspension, which uses different sensors to evaluate driving conditions. And as the sensors are working, the damp suspension adjusts rapidly, about 500 times in a second.

The leaf springs in the previous models have been swapped for a five-link coil spring with a massive capacity for potential wheel travel. The F-150 uses a fox internal bypass shock that is controlled electronically, and its electronic terrain management system ranges from normal to Baja and rock crawl. The Raptor F-150 allows people to drive through complicated routes with just the throttle pedal using its off-road one-pedal driving mode. It has a camera system that shows the projected path of the tire and helps you avoid obstacles that are hidden from your eyes.

The F-150 comes with standard tires of 35 inches, while the BFGoodrich all-terrain T/A KO2s of 37 inches are also available. When you use the 35-inch, you gain a ground clearance of one foot, but the 37 inches tire gives you more. With the 37-inch tire, you get 13.1 inches of ground clearance and improved break over and departure angles.

Exterior design
The Ford F-150 Raptor, as you know, is a crew cab design setup that has a 145.5-inch wheelbase and a 5.5-footbed. This truck has a wide fender flare on its tires, and due to its width, the F-150 requires a clearance light. On the front of the truck, it has a black grille with a display of Ford. You can find a functional engine heat extractor on the hood dome, and the vents are designed kike the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet on the back edge of the fender. The Raptor has three 17-inch wheel design, and two offer the Beadlock-capability. The Beadlock-capability is necessary when you are driving at reduced tire pressure.

Interior Features
The Ford F-150 has some cool interior features that include the following;
– Proximity keyless entry
– Power-adjustable power
– Push-button start
– Well ventilated and heated front seats
– Switch bank for accessories
– Heated steering wheel
– Second-row heated seat
– The wireless device charging pad
– Telescoping steering wheel.
 
Connectivity and infotainment
The F-150, like every other Ford car, has a standard 12-inch horizontally displayed SYNC 4 touchscreen, it serves as an infotainment system, and Android and iPhone users can connect through wireless support. Other Ford Apps can also merge, e.g., Amazon Alexa, and the system is upgradable over the air through FordPass telematics.
It also has a navigation system that regularly updates the latest mapping, construction, and traffic information. The F-150 has an upgraded 18-speaker Bang and Oulfsen sound system.

Fuel Economy
The engine’s power deeply affects the fuel mileage, so the bigger the power, the more fuel is consumed.
According to EPA, the 450-horsepower engine consumes around 14 to 15 mpg within the city and 16 to 18 mpg on the highway. You should know that your tire choice also plays a role in fuel economy.
Also, the Raptor has a tank size of 36-gallon when full and can cover 500 miles if you avoid accelerating your car.

Driving assistance and safety
All the models of Ford Raptor come with a Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 suite to assist the driver and improve safety. This feature includes an automatic high-beam headlight, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic braking, automatic emergency braking when a pedestrian is detected, and blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage.
But, with the new Raptor R, the BlueCruise is expected to be available for semi-automated driving. And adaptive cruise control is also a standard feature that helps to improve the driving experience.

Ford Raptor Price
The Ford F-150 had a starting price of $68,675, and it was among the cheapest trucks on the market. And this makes it a high-value target because as demand increases, the price could shoot up to $80,000. While Chevy and Chevrolet are yet to announce their starting price, the Ram 1500 TRX pegs at $76,880, but the incoming Raptor R is expected to add $10,000 and above to the F-150 starting price.

Conclusion
The Ford F-150 Raptor is a great bargain for those that love trucks because of its price and quality.
There are other formidable competitors like the Ram 1500 TRX, which has always led in the engine capacity. But the Raptor could go toe to toe with it when it comes to interior and exterior functionality.