When Ford introduced the 2015 F-150 full-size pickup at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, it wasn’t clear if the well-known, off-road oriented Raptor sub-model would live on with the new generation. Now, thanks to spy shots posted on Autoblog, we know the Raptor program is here to stay.
The spy shots show a silver 2015 F-150 garnished with Raptor exterior pieces including SVT-branded side vents, black plastic wheel wells, a new front bumper, and off-road style wheels with knobby tires. The most notable changes, however, seem to be taking place in the engine compartment, where we see a bulge in the hood and a new grille wedged between a set of recognizable Raptor headlights. The front also reveals a set of heavy-duty A-arm suspension pieces and a good amount of ground clearance.
These spy shots answer the question of whether or not the F-150 SVT Raptor will live on, which brings to light so many more questions like whether it will use the same amount of aluminum in its construction as the standard 2015 F-150, and what powertrain options will be available. Some would love to see Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 under the hood, but the automaker could also elect to utilize a naturally-aspirated V8, with the only eight-cylinder in store for the 2015 F-150 being the revised 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
We expect more information on the next-gen Raptor to trickle out once the 2015 F-150 officially goes on sale later this year, so stay tuned.
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