Off-road Test: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor quick take: paying rapt attention

Ford's press release reads, "The all-new 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor is a purpose-built, high-performance 4WD off-road truck versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures as well as the everyday commute."

Hmmm. So we didn't go adventuring in the desert nor commit an everyday commute. We didn't even drive the F150 SVT Raptor on-road. We did, however, take the Raptor over ruts and rocks and up and off steep hillsides in the woods of northeastern Pennsylvania, and even if the Raptor wasn't in its native Southwest desert domain, we'd learn if Ford's pickup could handle terrain usually best left to Jeep Wranglers and Land Rovers.

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is an F-150 pickup adapted and factory-built pickup truck intended to actually perform what standard pickups are shown doing in TV commercials, the leaping, the rock flinging, the barreling through water like the Titanic in search of an iceberg, the stuff that if done by actual owners would have the truck suffering a fate equivalent to that of the big ship, and not covered by the warranty either.

With the F-150 SVT Raptor, however, Ford leverages off its extensive desert -racing credentials to fill what it saw as a yawning gap in the truck market, the high-performance off-road truck market.

"Most of the major manufacturers have focused on-road performance [sic], so when we looked at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat limited," explains Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for pickups and large SUVs. "The was the perfect opportunity for Ford to further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market."

And certainly the Ford Raptor looks the part, with a grille with "FORD" carved into it, widened front and rear fenders with black fender extenders outside of that, covering Big BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires. The hood and front fenders are vented to allow hot underhood air to escape, the fender vents . Tiny clearance lights are set into the leading edge of the hood rather than on the top of the cab. The SVT Raptor is seven inches wider than the base Ford F-150.
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And for those so inclined, there's an optional "digital mud" graphics package for the rear sides of the cab and rear outer fenders, as on our test 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup.

The interior is at least as graphically enhanced, particularly with the Raptor Interior Color Accent Package. To say that the dark orange accented interior is intense it like saying a drum set rolling down the basement steps is loud. The interior package is available only on Raptors with exteriors in Tuxedo Black or, as we drove, Molten Orange Tri-Coat. Raptors in Blue Flame Metallic and Oxford White come with the standard black interior.

But bulging fenders and outrageous color combinations have been tried before. Where the Raptor differs is in having the muscle to match the flash. The standard engine is Ford's well-seasoned 5.4-Triton "three-valve" V-8 engine rated at 320 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. It uses, says Ford, a new open-valve fuel injection strategy that "delivers increased horsepower during towing and higher rpm operations, lower emissions and more efficient use of fuel." A new 6.2-liter engine designed for truck use will be available in early 2010 (as a $3,000 option).

Scroll down for full photo gallery of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and its features.

It's the suspension, however, that distinguishes the Ford Raptor pickup. Ford has engineered a full 12.1 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 inches in the front. "Triple internal bypass" FOX Racing Shox used front are rear have internal valving that firms up damping as the shocks move towards their limits, reducing the likelihood of the truck bottoming out. Combined with the big off-road tires, the suspension allows a more supple ride over rough terrain.

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor tailgate logoThe Ford F-150 SVT Raptor's stability control system has two modes in addition to standard. "Sport" mode turns off the traction control, allowing more vehicle yaw movement. The full off-road mode turns off the electronic stability program completely while switching the ABS to a special off-road setting that allows the wheels to lock more, helpful when driving off-road. The locking rear differential is also allowed to stay locked at higher speeds, which Ford says imitates the spool (permanently locked) rear differentials of race trucks.

The F-150 Raptor is also the first Ford application of hill descent control. This technology uses the traction control sensors to control the speed of the vehicle in steep downhill situations, applying and releasing brakes individually and available traction and vehicle speed allow.

The Off-Road Mode button on the center console (next to a panel of auxiliary switches provided to make aftermarket customization easier) selects a throttle map and transmission shift schedule better suited for off-road operation, the transmission holding each gear for longer periods of time. This allows better throttle modulation to control the vehicle.

For trailering--presumably not off-road--the Raptor has standard trailer sway control and an integrated trailer brake controller as optional equipment.

Trailer control was unnecessary where we were driving, however, crawling through narrow passes between trees and rocks over jagged boulders that made basketballs look small. Ford designed the Raptor's long suspension travel for soft landings from desert racing-like jumps, but it also allowed articulation allowing all four wheels to stay on the ground even over the most contorted terrain.

2010 Ford F-150 SVT RaptorWe were able to stop the F-150 Raptor in awkward positions for dramatic photography, places where momentum would usually be needed to get through without getting stuck or having to back up to try again.


We were able to get moving again by just putting the transmission in gear and giving the Raptor some throttle. Not too much throttle, however, because the off-road mode adjusts throttle response to specific off-road conditions. At slow speeds the F-150 Raptor allows finer calibration of power--and less likelihood of breaking traction--by softening response to pedal movement. Sometimes less is more.

Ford's hill descent works as advertised, the big knobbly tires gripping allowing feet-off-the-pedals on our steep downhill test section.

Diving at speed in desert conditions we weren't able to test because there isn't very much desert in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But from our limited experience in the woods, we think the Ford press release missed as aspect of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. There are raptors in the forest, and we think it's a suitable environment for Raptors as well.


Illustrations: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Photos by John Matras.

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2009 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor selected specificationsType Pickup truck, 4WD
Engine 5.4L/320-hp SOHV 24-valve V-8
Displacement, cc 5400
Compression ratio 9.8:1
Materials, head / block Aluminum / cast iron
Fuel delivery Sequential multi-port injection
Transmission / drivetrain 6A / 4-wheel drive
Suspension, front / rear Coil-on-shock double A-arm / live axle on leaf springs
Steering Power rack-and-pinion
Turning circle, ft 44.6
Brakes, disc dia., in. 13.8 / 13.7
Wheels, size / type 17-inch / cast aluminum
Tires, size 315/70R-17 light truck all-terrain
Dimensions & capacities
Lenght, in. 220.9
Width, in. 86.3
Height, in. 78.4
Wheelbase, in. 133.0
Cargo box, length in. 67.0
Curb weight, lbs. 5863
Fuel tank, gal. 26
Payload, lbs. 1,020
Towing, lbs. 6,000
Performance
Fuel economy, EPA mpg, city / hwy 14 / 18



2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor features and pricesBase price $38,020
Powertrain/functional: Four-wheel driver; 4.10 front axle/4.10 rear axle w/ electronic locking differential; trailer tow package, AdvanceTrac w/ roll stability control std
Suspension/chassis: Heavy-duty front chassis and engine skid plates; long-travel high-performance suspension; high-performance off-road front and rear triple internal bypass FOX Racing Shox; SVT performance cast-aluminum front upper and lower control arms; SVT performance tie rods; SVT performance front coil springs; SVT performance rear leaf springs; SVT performance front and rear microcellular jounce bumpers; steering rack travel/boost curve; Hill descent control/easy Off-Road Mode std
Exterior: Flared front fenders with functional air extractors; flared pickup box outers; power dome hood w/ functional air extractors; cast aluminum running boards; "brick wall" front grille; front and rear wheel lip moldings; unique front and rear bumpers; integrated marker lights; Securicode keyless entry; front and rear towhooks; power windows; power sliding rear window w/ defrost, power mirrors std
Interior: front, front side and side-curtain airbags; autodimming rearview mirror; leather steering wheel with center strip, controls; power locks; cruise control; unique Raptor trim; leather/cloth front seats / vinyl rear seat; six way adjustable driver's seat; front and rear rubber floor mats with SVT logo std
Audio: AM/FM/CD/Sirius/SYNC std
Stowable bed extender 195
Tailgate step 350
Power one-touch moonroof 995
Integrated trailer brake controller 230
Rear view camera system (mirror-based or nav screen based) 450
Navigation with Sony audio (requires Luxury Package) 2,430
Interior Orange Accent Package 395
Graphics Package 1,075
Luxury Package: 10-way power driver and passenger seats w/ heat and driver memory, dual automatic temperature control, Sony audio w/ 6-disc CD, power/heated/signal/driver-dimming memory side-view mirror, power-adjustable pedals 1,950
Delivery 975
Total MSRP w/ all options $47,065
Note: 6.2-liter SOHC V-8 / six-speed auto trans available early 2010 $3,000