When gas prices spiked and automakers began focusing more attention on fuel efficient cars and crossovers, we began wondering if the pickup truck's best days were behind it. The next big blow came when domestic automakers began postponing or canceling development of light-duty diesel engines for their half-ton trucks. Then, when things were at their bleakest, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor arrived. The SVT-badged baja bruiser is one serious piece of hardware, with unique Fox struts and 35-inch rubber.
With the overwhelmingly positive reaction that the Raptor has received, we've been wondering if General Motors, Chrysler or even Toyota would follow suit with their own sand monster. After seeing a Camaro video posted by Chevrolet on YouTube, we may have evidence that it's a strong possibility.
The purpose of the video is to showcase several new Camaro graphics packages that will appear at SEMA next month, but anyone can see the pair of pics in the upper right hand corner that show a bad ass green machine dressed up in a bow tie and sporting six-spoke wheels. The hopped-up Silverado is lifted to within an inch of its life with highly flared wheel wells to corral all that rubber, but it's hard to tell if the mods are more for show than actual dune diving.
It's no secret that the Texas Auto Writer's Association loves Ford trucks: The Blue Oval's F-Series pickups have won the Truck of Texas award six straight times. Actually, you can make that seven straight times now, with the F-150 SVT Raptor taking the top honor this year in the Lone Star State.
We didn't go through the precise reasoning of the F-150's dominance in previous years, but the arrival of the Raptor probably made the choice just too easy this time around. After having driven the Raptor ourselves we knew that there is simply nothing like it, and nothing anywhere near as good as it is, to be found in the OEM pickup truck world. When you throw in the purchase price of $39K for the 5.4-liter, you're going to look hard to find a similarly priced competitor in the OEM or aftermarket. The press is after the jump, and to Ford, congratulations are well deserved.
Ford is looking to drum up some extra interest in its F-150 SVT Raptor off-road specialist ahead of its actual on-sale date (which is still only listed as "coming soon") with the introduction of a new dedicated microsite that you can check out here. Features on the new web destination include a place to learn what makes the Raptor different from the rest of the F-150 lineup, along with videos, a gallery and an online tool to build your own.
more ...
Ford's race-ready SVT Raptor R made it's competition debut last fall in the Baja 1000 and managed a respectable third place finish in its class for its first time out. That same truck is returning to racing soon in the hands of Rob MacCachren and Steve Olliges to run the five race "Best in the Desert" series. The SVT Raptor R has a 500-hp version of the 6.2L V8 that will be available in the production SVT Raptor next year. Underneath, the Raptor R also has a standard Raptor frame and a production spec 6-speed automatic transmission. The initial run of production SVT Raptors that go on sale this summer will use the F-150's current 320-hp 5.4L V8. Ford will also be using the Raptor R race program to test new performance parts that will offered to regular customers after the truck launches.
We've got to give the folks at Ford credit for the camoflague (or lack thereof) they've used to conceal the newest mule for the F150-based "Raptor" pickup. Despite the artfully placed stickers on the windows and bumper, nothing can draw attention away from the massively flared wheel arches and lifted ride-height of the off-road mule.
According to a report from Pickuptruck.com, the four-wheeled titan will be sporting a Fox Racing-tuned suspension, 35-inch tires and possibly a supercharged V8 pulled from the upcoming Boss Mustang when it's unveiled in the next year or two.
There are rumors circulating the web of a Ford truck so freakin' cool it'd make even the most Euro-centric bloggers among us stop dead in our tracks, and if true, would make everything else do just the same.
The report claims that Ford is working on a derivative of the all-new F-150 pick-up internally known as "Raptor". The pumped-up version of the popular truck is said to feature a long-travel suspension (developed with Fox Racing), 35-inch tires, and – wait for it – a possibly turbocharged version of the upcoming Boss V8. Essentially a Baja 1000 or Dakar racing truck available to the public, the Raptor would be capable of covering rough terrain at high speeds, and also feature distinctive bodywork wider and lower than a conventional F-150. Word of the Boss V8 finding its way into an F-150 has also led to speculation that Ford is preparing a new Lightning, but the Raptor seems much, much cooler. If given the green light, the Raptor could be a year-and-a-half to two years away. Stay tuned.
