We know some of our customers who are off-road enthusiasts are looking forward to the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor just as much as we are. Ford has been testing the Raptor in extreme conditions to make sure it’s ready for whatever you plan to throw at it.
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Performance Testing
The test itself took place in the desert conditions of the southwestern United States. The test track was a 66-mile loop filled with all sorts of hazards and obstacles, such as fast sandy washes, deep-rutted silt beds, steep climbs in deep sand, and tight trenches. The Raptor also completed a jump at the end of each lap. Over 1,028 miles of testing was done on the trail, which may seem extreme, but it was meant to mimic the grueling Baja 1000 race.
The tested vehicles were early build prototypes that were a mash of 2015 F-150 and 2017 F-150 Raptor parts. At times the new Raptor achieved speeds of more than 100 mph on the test route, and had to slow down to 10 mph for some of its hazards. Based on lap times, the new Raptor is about 25 percent faster than the current truck.
What is the Baja 1000?
The Baja 1000 is an off-road motorsport race that is held in the Mexican desert. Its distance varies, but is often over 1,000 miles long (last year’s was 1,275 miles in length). The Ford Raptor took first place in 2011 and 2012, and last year’s winner drove a Ford F-150. The winners completed the race after about 22.5 hours of driving at an average speed of 56.64 miles per hour.
About the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
The new raptor will also be coming with an all-new engine. Its 3.5 L ecoBoost engine is set to beat the horsepower and torque of the previous model’s V8 engine — which puts out 411/434 respectively. Like the rest of Ford’s newest F-150 trucks, it will also be much lighter do to its aluminum body. That 500 lbs. of weight lost coupled with a powerful engine is going to result in some great performance!
We’re not expected to get the F-150 Raptor until fall of 2016, but keep an eye on our blog for the latest news regarding this off-road monster (or dinosaur?). Otherwise, remember to check out our current, impressive lineup of trucks in Fond du Lac, WI.
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