The 2018 Ford F150 Raptor Has Teeth
The brutal Baja race inspired the Ford 2018 F150 Raptor, but truck owners aren’t just looking for something that can cross difficult terrain. They’re also looking for something that looks good on the paved roads as well. The Raptor has a unique look that gives it an aggressive and sporty attitude. At the same time, it’s good looking enough that it could be used for a red carpet arrival (doing so would send quite the message of the manliness of the driver). But that’s not really what you’re interested in. You want a truck that can sink it’s teeth into the backcountry.
The Raptor has plenty of raw power thanks to its twin-turbo, intercooled DOHC 24-valve, 3.5L EcoBoost engine with port fuel and direct injection system tied into a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s a big mouthful, all to say that the Raptor puts out an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque—more than the previous 6.2L V8.
It’s not just the engine that counts, though. The Raptor has an independent front suspension and an electronic-locking rear differential with 4.10 rear axle. The front has coil springs with two-stage, variable rate leaf springs in the rear. What’s more, the high-output, off-road FOX Racing Shox offer increased comfort with 13 inches in the front and 14 inches in the back of suspension travel, allowing for variable damping rates based on wheel travel.
The Raptor is perfectly at home on the paved roads, but even more so out in the wild.
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