MCipriani
01-15-2009, 12:52 PM
Submitted by SVT Communications:
October, 2008
You’ve been hearing all the rumors. You’ve been anticipating this for a long time. Well, wait no more, it’s finally here! After two years of hard work, thousands of man-hours of testing, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, Ford SVT has introduced the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. Knowing that SVTOA members are loyal Ford and SVT enthusiasts, the Special Vehicle Team wanted to give the SVT Owners Association one of the very first opportunities to read about SVT’s latest creation.
http://www.t5design.com/SVTOA/Raptor1.jpg
The SVT Raptor is a one-of-a-kind enthusiast truck that no other manufacturer has dared to build. SVT is breaking new ground, and delivering a performance truck unlike anything ever seen from any OEM. Take one look at these pictures and it becomes abundantly clear that this vehicle has a completely different mission than anything else SVT has ever engineered. Simply put, the SVT Raptor is a hard-core, high-speed off-road performance truck.
Many people familiar with SVT offerings from the past will probably wonder why SVT went in the off-road direction, especially after the highly successful SVT Lightning trucks. “We wanted to play to a truck’s natural capabilities,” explained Hermann Salenbauch, Director of Advanced Product Creation for SVT. “What we have created is a truck capable of very high speeds off-road, with a level of performance that many thought was impossible to reach by an OEM.”
The engineers at SVT were up to the challenge of creating an off-road truck, even though the performance goals were far different in nature than anything they’ve worked on before. Modifications to turn a new F-150 into a Raptor were primarily focused on chassis and suspension – but to much greater extremes than all previous SVT-developed products.
“The suspension and chassis are the keys to high-speed off-road performance,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT’s chief functional engineer. Because of that mind-set, SVT looked to Fox Racing Shox to co-develop an all-new shock absorber setup for Raptor. Fox Racing Shox is one of the top-tier aftermarket suppliers for off-road performance shocks.
With Fox’s expertise, SVT was able to take Raptor to a whole new level in terms of off-road capability. The special Fox Racing Shox, in conjunction with SVT-designed upper and lower a-arm assemblies, allows the Raptor a whopping 11.2-inches of front suspension travel. Rear suspension travel reaches up to an amazing 13.1-inches, with the help of Raptor-specific internal bypass shocks that are exclusive to Raptor, and unavailable to the public.
While it is important to have a strong, powerful engine, tons of raw horsepower is not the key to off-road driving. “High-speed off-roading is about maintaining speed, and not constantly accelerating to high-speed,” Baldori noted. To that end, Raptor will be offered with two powertrains, which is a departure from past SVT vehicles that came with only one specific engine. Ford’s 5.4-liter V-8 and an all-new 6.2-liter V-8 (delayed availability) will be the two choices for the 2010 model year Raptor.
This all-new 6.2-liter engine is currently under development, but engineers are targeting 400 horsepower. Both powertrains offer broad torque curves and are perfectly suited to the demands of off-road performance. They will both be equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions, electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive with rear E-Locker, and four different modes for stability and traction control.
Design was also a crucial element for Raptor. The front and rear tracks were extended by 7.0 inches, and specially-developed BFGoodrich 35-inch tires were fitted to 17 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels. This tremendous increase in width necessitated that the truck’s bodywork be stretched to fully house the Raptor’s wheel and tire package. Because of this, Raptor is the first SVT vehicle to have its very own unique sheet metal, giving it an aggressive look that breaks from typical pickup truck tradition. Notable is that fact that there is no trademark “Blue Oval” Ford badge in the front grille – but far more noticeable is Raptor’s distinctive “Coke bottle” shape – one normally associated with sports cars – and its unique LED-marker lighting.
Raptor’s greater width required that it have marker lights like you’d see on a traditional Super Duty, or a tractor trailer. Ford designers chose to make a statement with the lights, by using LED technology and implementing it in a unique way. Instead of running the lights along the roofline, just above the windshield as is commonly seen on trucks, Raptor has them in the fenders and front grille. In the back, the LEDs are below the tail lights, and in the center high mounted stop light (CHMSL). “Even from 200 yards away at night, there will be no mistaking whether you’re seeing a Raptor of not,” asserted Bruce Williams, Lead Designer for the SVT Raptor project.
http://www.t5design.com/SVTOA/Raptor2.jpg
The interior has SVT Raptor-specific seats with large bolsters and unique leather material. The steering wheel is covered in perforated leather and has special thumb recesses at the 3- and 9-o’clock positions. There is also a band of red leather right at the 12-o’clock position so drivers can see the steering angle in their peripheral view. Gauges are unique to Raptor and have white faces with black numerals, true to SVT practice. What’s more, the dash has an appliqué that is Raptor-specific, as well as a panel full of auxiliary switches that can control hard-wired aftermarket components such as supplemental lights and winches.
There are still plenty more details to come out about the all-new SVT Raptor as the production truck is still under development – so we will be following its progress right though the retail launch to keep you on the inside track. What we can tell you right now is that the first deliveries are expected for summer of 2009. SVT engineering tells us they will keep the SVTOA updated on further plans for the Raptor program as information becomes available.
One thing they did confirm for us is something that all SVTOA members and true SVT Enthusiasts are often concerned about. We are told that, YES – even though it is much different than any other SVT product before it, Raptor will still subscribe to the core SVT principles of offering “Performance, Substance, Exclusivity, and Value.
So stay tuned: Things are about to get very interesting …
October, 2008
You’ve been hearing all the rumors. You’ve been anticipating this for a long time. Well, wait no more, it’s finally here! After two years of hard work, thousands of man-hours of testing, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, Ford SVT has introduced the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor. Knowing that SVTOA members are loyal Ford and SVT enthusiasts, the Special Vehicle Team wanted to give the SVT Owners Association one of the very first opportunities to read about SVT’s latest creation.
http://www.t5design.com/SVTOA/Raptor1.jpg
The SVT Raptor is a one-of-a-kind enthusiast truck that no other manufacturer has dared to build. SVT is breaking new ground, and delivering a performance truck unlike anything ever seen from any OEM. Take one look at these pictures and it becomes abundantly clear that this vehicle has a completely different mission than anything else SVT has ever engineered. Simply put, the SVT Raptor is a hard-core, high-speed off-road performance truck.
Many people familiar with SVT offerings from the past will probably wonder why SVT went in the off-road direction, especially after the highly successful SVT Lightning trucks. “We wanted to play to a truck’s natural capabilities,” explained Hermann Salenbauch, Director of Advanced Product Creation for SVT. “What we have created is a truck capable of very high speeds off-road, with a level of performance that many thought was impossible to reach by an OEM.”
The engineers at SVT were up to the challenge of creating an off-road truck, even though the performance goals were far different in nature than anything they’ve worked on before. Modifications to turn a new F-150 into a Raptor were primarily focused on chassis and suspension – but to much greater extremes than all previous SVT-developed products.
“The suspension and chassis are the keys to high-speed off-road performance,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT’s chief functional engineer. Because of that mind-set, SVT looked to Fox Racing Shox to co-develop an all-new shock absorber setup for Raptor. Fox Racing Shox is one of the top-tier aftermarket suppliers for off-road performance shocks.
With Fox’s expertise, SVT was able to take Raptor to a whole new level in terms of off-road capability. The special Fox Racing Shox, in conjunction with SVT-designed upper and lower a-arm assemblies, allows the Raptor a whopping 11.2-inches of front suspension travel. Rear suspension travel reaches up to an amazing 13.1-inches, with the help of Raptor-specific internal bypass shocks that are exclusive to Raptor, and unavailable to the public.
While it is important to have a strong, powerful engine, tons of raw horsepower is not the key to off-road driving. “High-speed off-roading is about maintaining speed, and not constantly accelerating to high-speed,” Baldori noted. To that end, Raptor will be offered with two powertrains, which is a departure from past SVT vehicles that came with only one specific engine. Ford’s 5.4-liter V-8 and an all-new 6.2-liter V-8 (delayed availability) will be the two choices for the 2010 model year Raptor.
This all-new 6.2-liter engine is currently under development, but engineers are targeting 400 horsepower. Both powertrains offer broad torque curves and are perfectly suited to the demands of off-road performance. They will both be equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions, electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive with rear E-Locker, and four different modes for stability and traction control.
Design was also a crucial element for Raptor. The front and rear tracks were extended by 7.0 inches, and specially-developed BFGoodrich 35-inch tires were fitted to 17 x 8.5-inch alloy wheels. This tremendous increase in width necessitated that the truck’s bodywork be stretched to fully house the Raptor’s wheel and tire package. Because of this, Raptor is the first SVT vehicle to have its very own unique sheet metal, giving it an aggressive look that breaks from typical pickup truck tradition. Notable is that fact that there is no trademark “Blue Oval” Ford badge in the front grille – but far more noticeable is Raptor’s distinctive “Coke bottle” shape – one normally associated with sports cars – and its unique LED-marker lighting.
Raptor’s greater width required that it have marker lights like you’d see on a traditional Super Duty, or a tractor trailer. Ford designers chose to make a statement with the lights, by using LED technology and implementing it in a unique way. Instead of running the lights along the roofline, just above the windshield as is commonly seen on trucks, Raptor has them in the fenders and front grille. In the back, the LEDs are below the tail lights, and in the center high mounted stop light (CHMSL). “Even from 200 yards away at night, there will be no mistaking whether you’re seeing a Raptor of not,” asserted Bruce Williams, Lead Designer for the SVT Raptor project.
http://www.t5design.com/SVTOA/Raptor2.jpg
The interior has SVT Raptor-specific seats with large bolsters and unique leather material. The steering wheel is covered in perforated leather and has special thumb recesses at the 3- and 9-o’clock positions. There is also a band of red leather right at the 12-o’clock position so drivers can see the steering angle in their peripheral view. Gauges are unique to Raptor and have white faces with black numerals, true to SVT practice. What’s more, the dash has an appliqué that is Raptor-specific, as well as a panel full of auxiliary switches that can control hard-wired aftermarket components such as supplemental lights and winches.
There are still plenty more details to come out about the all-new SVT Raptor as the production truck is still under development – so we will be following its progress right though the retail launch to keep you on the inside track. What we can tell you right now is that the first deliveries are expected for summer of 2009. SVT engineering tells us they will keep the SVTOA updated on further plans for the Raptor program as information becomes available.
One thing they did confirm for us is something that all SVTOA members and true SVT Enthusiasts are often concerned about. We are told that, YES – even though it is much different than any other SVT product before it, Raptor will still subscribe to the core SVT principles of offering “Performance, Substance, Exclusivity, and Value.
So stay tuned: Things are about to get very interesting …