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Feb 4

2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is high-speed off-roader with cult following – Detroit Free Press

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The third generation 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is an epic high-speed off-road performance pickup truck that goes on sale this summer. Wochit

This insane truck was once killed in development.

Then resurrected.

On sale this summer, the third generation 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is a high-speed, off-road, performance pickupwith what has become a cult following, owners whowantto go 100 mph in the desertand fly through the air over ruts and rocks. The Raptor that debuted on Wednesday adds new features, including a built-in generator to power anything fromcampsites to power tools.

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The beefy 37-inch tires and wheels and cutting-edgesuspension deliver stability despite the extreme terrain even while you're holding onto the "oh, sh*t" handle.

Normally, you'd have to tear apart a vehicle to get it to fit such enormous tires. These are stock, not special order. And they're 2 inches bigger than earlier models.

More: Top designer of Ford F-150 Raptor gets ideas from fighter jets, Hollywood

Getting this level of equipment, once custom, is now turnkey. Itlifts the truck to a new level. And the sound of the exhaust is a "deeper more menacing sound."

If testosterone had a soundtrack, this would be it.

This is a high-performance war that started a decade ago.

"We couldn't be more excited. Ford invented the off-road high performance pickup segment withthe first generation Raptorin 2009. It was truly inspired by the trophytrucks thatraced the Baja 1000," said Todd Eckert, Ford Truck Group marketing manager.

The Raptorwas so different from anything that had been done before that it took awhile for some people at Ford towake up to the fact the company could create a whole new category of high performance off-road pickups. So initial plans were shelved.

The passion of the Fordteam internally played a role in resurrecting the idea. Butas soon as the internet spreadrumors and spy photosof the truck, the groundswell ofenthusiast demand was enough to help get it resurrected.

This latest version will debut with the popular heavy metal song"Enter Sandman" by Metallica.

The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is known for its smooth flights through the air and comfortable landings.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

"Raptor was born not only to speed over rough terrain but also jump and catch air. It was a one-of-a-kind entry in the performance market," he said. "Over the last fouryears, thepresent generation Raptor cumulatively outsold Porsche'sentire line of sports cars and also outsoldChevrolet's Corvette."

2021 Ford F-150 Raptor has 37 inch tires and big wheels and all-new suspension.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

In 2018,Sergio Marchionne, then-CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles,rolled out afive-year plan that included a vow tocompete with the Ford Raptor. The battle has been fierce;MotorTrend namedthe Ram 1500 TRX, a more powerful and expensive desert-racer,the 2021 Truck of the Year in December.

Ford will reveal the new Raptor's power, fuel economy, priceandspecifications closer to when sales begin. The previousRaptor runs $55,150 to $76,290 with destination and delivery fees included, Ford said..

The TRX's challenge to Raptorsupremacy as the ultimate racing truck won't go unanswered. Ford is expected to add a more powerful and expensive Raptor R model with a V-8 engine in 2022.

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX pickup in rock climbing mode.(Photo: Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press)

Battles to build sporty pickups have gone on for years.

The Detroit Three builtthe Ford Lightning, Chevy Silverado SS and Ram SRT-10 like the Mustang, Camaro and Dodge Challenger of pickupsin the early 2000s. Great for street racing.

More: Ford just revealed 2021 F-150: Why this new model is different

More: New F-150 design consumed his life and inspired his house

This is the modern day encore for desert racing.

"Off-road performance is in our blood," Eckert said.

2021 Ford F-150 Raptor sketches by exterior designer Tom Liu.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

The Raptor is for buyerswho want a truck to drive off-road straight from the factory while not compromising onpayload, towing, comfort ortechnology for daily use.

Features include a terrain management system, trail control and one-pedal drive. Terrain management allows owners to choose settings for driving conditions including sport, rock crawl andthedune-jumping, frequently airborne, Baja mode.

Thesystem automatically modifies steering feel, active valve exhaust, position-sensitive damping, throttle mapping and transmissionshift points to optimize Raptor's performance to conditions. Trail control is standard.

"Think of it as cruise control for low-speed driving," Eckert said. "Drivers just set a speed up to 20 mph and the Raptor manages throttle and braking to allow the driverto focus really only on steering.It makes it easier for drivers to maintain constant speeds over difficult terrain ... or for getting throughdeep snow or sand. It's activated simply using a button on the center console."

Sketch of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor by exterior designer Tom Liu.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

One pedal drive combines acceleration and braking; press to accelerate and release to brake. Just one footisneeded for off-road activity like rock crawling.

Raptor also has an onboard generator that prevents the need for a portable generator tocampor work, a key feature cited whenthe F-150 won the North American Truck of the Year.

More: Ford reveals new F-150 Tremor series in plan to dominate off-road action

Here is an animation of the new Fox shock system featured on the Ford F-150 Raptor. Detroit Free Press

The Ford team spent months in the desert torture testing.

"We start with a high-strength steel F-150 frame, which has been modified and reinforced for Raptor's extreme usage," said Tony Greco, Raptor program manager."The modifications and reinforcements which we makeinclude taller and stronger shock towers, unique control arm pivot locations, a lower front axle which is needed for increased travel, stronger bracketry for suspension, shocks and spring attachments and a Raptor-specific trailer hitch."

The Ford Raptor front shock.(Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Raptor's front and rear suspensions were redesignedto improve off-road traction and stability and on-road ride andhandling quality, he said.

"The new five-link suspension design ...stabilizes the rear axle laterally and dramatically improves traction, which allows more torque to the rear wheels to be put to the ground," Greco said. Result: faster acceleration and better throttle responsiveness.

A sketch of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor by exterior designer Tom Liu.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

There's moreto shareabout ball joints, knuckles, wheel bearingsand coil springsbut you get the idea. Anytime designers talk about "geometry changes" in vehicle discussions, well, it's a good thing.

This is about aggressive control and stability off-road and smooth plush ride on road.

If youre jumping, the further down your wheels are hanging, the more absorption you're going to get when you land, due to the shock absorbers stroking.

"That's where we see the big value in off-road events, when you're often up and down quite a bit. The shock technology and how we've deployed that on this vehicle," architecture engineer Jack Cooper said. "You can go faster in the desert, you can hit bigger things. If youdon't have as much travel and can't absorb that energy, you'll hit harder, the suspension will bottom harder, and it'll be less comfortable and not as durable in theend."

Jack Cooper with his daughter, Allison Cooper, outside his Ford office in Allen Park in 2018. The architecture engineer played a key role in developing the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor.(Photo: Jack Cooper)

"We learn more and moreevery time we push the envelope. It's one of the best parts of my job, working with the vehicle dynamics team." said Cooper, whose brother is a software developer at Google."I have a dream job."

This Molten Orange first generation 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor is seen here in November 2008, possibly in Anza Borrego, California. The vehicle went on sale in 2009.(Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

Ford builds the Raptor in Dearborn.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-222-6512or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.

Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2021/02/03/2021-ford-f-150-raptor-ram-1500-trx/4349903001/

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2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is high-speed off-roader with cult following - Detroit Free Press

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