Romping in the desert dirt Ford style gets expensive with prices starting at $44,000 and fuel economy of about 10 mpg.
Since launching as a 2010 model, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has gathered some small notoriety as an off-road performance pickup truck. A two-door Super Cab debuted first, then came a 2011 add, the four-door Super Crew model. Prices now start at more than $44,000.
Not much is changed for 2013, except some minor color, trim and electronic tweaks, including a new 4.2-inch multifunction LCD screen for the controversial and customer satisfaction challenged MyFord driver connect telematics technology.
“New optional beadlock wheels help to improve Raptor’s performance in soft sand and other challenging conditions, enabling our customers to go further,” said SVT Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi.
Beadlock wheels secure the edges of a tire to the wheel between two surfaces so the tire is unlikely to roll off the rim if it’s reduced to very low pressure, as off roaders do since it makes for grip in the dirt
Raptor’s wheels are said to be unique because converting from conventional rim to beadlock only requires that customers unbolt the standard outer decorative ring, dismount the tire from its regular position and then remount the tire in the lock-enabled position with an optional beadlock ring kit from Ford Racing. This marks the first application of a wheel that has both conventional and beadlock-mounting abilities, according to Ford.
Power continues to come from a 6.2-liter V8 engine, producing best-in-class 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, connected to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and Select Shift. The 4WD system has an electronic shift-on-the-fly capability for the transfer case. The front axle has a Torsen differential with 4.10 to 1 gearing. The rear axle is also 4.10 to 1, with an electronic-locking differential.
Aggressive all-terrain tires, industry-exclusive internal triple-bypass FOX Racing Shox(sic) dampers, skid plates and standard Hill Descent Control round out the Raptor off-road package.
