If you assumed that Ford would stick to the V8 script for the all-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, you’d be wrong. And if you assumed that the new Ford Raptor would have a conventional 6-speed, or even 8-speed transmission, you’d be mistaken as well. No, what you have in the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is a completely different beast.
An EcoBeast, that is.
Rather than using a V8, the 2017 F-150 Raptor draws power from a high-output variant of Ford’s 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine exclusive to the model. The motor promises a more power than the outgoing 6.2L V8, which was rated at 411 hp and 434 pound-feet of torque, but exact power figures have not been released at this time. Whatever it ends up being, it will be pushed through an all-new 10-speed automatic transmissio. The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor also boasts a first-ever dual exhaust and new 17-inch wheels with next-generation BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires specifically designed for off-road performance.
ABS and AdvanceTrac stability control handle traction for optimal performance, with the truck featuring six driving preset modes, including:
- Normal mode for everyday driving
- Street mode for higher-performance, on-road driving
- Weather mode for rain, snow or ice
- Mud and sand mode for muddy and sandy trails and terrain
- Baja mode for high-speed desert running
- Rock mode for low-speed rock crawling
It wouldn’t be a Raptor without a set of all-new Fox Racing “Shox,” either. These new units feature a custom internal bypass technology that works to both dampen and stiffen suspension travel over terrain to keep the truck from bottoming out. The front and rear shock canisters have grown from 2.5 inches to 3 inches in diameter for improved performance and feature more suspension travel than the current Raptor’s 11.2 inches at the front and 12 inches at the rear. Meanwhile, advanced LED lighting and camera technology contribute to improved visibility on the trail or street – day and night.
And, along with a more rigid steel frame, yes, the 2017 Ford Raptor is aluminum-bodied.
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