The all-new F-150 Raptor is preparing for the 2016 Best in the Desert off-road racing series, putting its high-output 3,5-liter EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission to the test in grueling conditions.
This is the "Ford Tough" race-ready F-150 Raptor and comes with race-optimized 3" diameter external-bypass front and rear Fox Racing Shox, front and rear springs for additional ground clearance and increased compression rate, a custom roll cage, five-point harness safety belts, window nets, LED light bars, racing fuel cell, Lowrance GPS and a RacePak digital dash and data logger.
By all means, this truck is ready for whatever the desert has to throw at it and according to Ford, high expectations are already there.
"This is the most stock truck I've ever seen in my time building Ford race trucks," said Greg Foutz, owner of Foutz Motorsports, Ford's truck builder and main race truck driver. "Without custom technology or other modifications, this all-new Raptor is read to prove the toughness and performance in the Best in the Desert series."
Powered by Ford's second-gen 3.5-liter EcoBoost unit, the F-150 Raptor can push forward better than the outgoing 6.2-liter V8 model, rated at 411 HP and 588 Nm (434 lb-ft) of torque. In fact, the 2017 model is said to be 25% faster than the one it replacing, and that's nothing to laugh about.
"The all-new Raptor has the DNA of a Baja race truck, with a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension that enables it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain," added Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer at Ford Performance.
If you're looking to see the F-150 Raptor race truck in its natural environment, you can hit up events such as the Parker 425 in Arizona between Feb 4-7, Mint 400, Las Vegas, March 10-14, Laughlin Desert Classic, Nevada, May 5, Vegas to Reno, Nevada, Aug 17-20, Bluewater Challenge, Arizona, Sept 10 - Oct 6 or Pahrump Nuggent 250, Nevada, Dec 1-4.
