FORD F-150 RAPTOR


Ford Raptor is one of the best pickup trucks you can find in the market. There are different types of pickup trucks, but we are focusing on the crew/super cab.

 

While a pickup truck is a rare scene in India, it is quite popular in other countries. Pickup trucks are light-duty/utility vehicles with a comfy cabin and open space for cargo at the rear with a tailgate. It is known as ‘utes’ in Australian and as ‘bakkie’/bak/ meaning bowl or container in African regions.

 

When it comes to the global market, GM, Ford, and Fiat make the lead in pickups. In India, we have Mahindra Bolero Maxi Truck, Mahindra Imperio etc mostly used for commercial purposes. You might have seen Isuzu pickup once or twice but still, it’s not a common sight for Indians right now.

Of course, you don’t see small moveable houses being pulled by pickups in India which is a common sight in the US, Australia, etc. 

 

I think pickups are almost a cultural acceptance in different countries and in India, owning a pickup is not as owning any other car and you will be stereotyped as a laborer, blue-collar job person or many more unless the pickup is an X-Class.

 

In the international market, you may see Toyota Hilux, Chevrolet Montana, Izusu D-Max and many more

 

These types of pickup trucks are more of a trend than utility.




Looks and design

 

Raptor is one of the best-looking pickup trucks I have ever seen and it is big really big, the width of the car is 7.19 feet and is roughly more than 18 feet long. Still, if you look at the Raptor it’s such a muscular and sporty looking truck. It is a beefed-up version standard F150 or you can say raptor is on steroids. From any angle, when you look at it you will feel the power and presence, this is a car you don't see in your rearview mirror honking. I bet if you dress up properly in a macho or rugged way and go to a party or something; when you get off this machine, I guarantee you that you'll look the manliest man in that place. That is how much power and presence this pickup gives out. D**n it would make a great monster truck

 

The headlight is big and half inverted trapezium if that's the shape, the front grill is beautifully designed with a big Ford logo in the middle. A functional vent in the upper quarter wheel arch which fits in the design, power-folding side mirror just close to it with a camera integrated into it(360-degree set). A long-running board with small mature design with Raptor written over it.

Panoramic sunroof is of appropriate size for this vehicle. Muscular lines running the from door handles from front to the back of the car where you can see the taillight of the same design as the front one. In the rear on the tailgate also you can find the big Ford logo, d*mn this machine is full macho style; the logo covering the majority of the tailgate!! There is a camera in the back, completing the 360-degree cam.

 

The all-terrain tires are good looking,17inch aluminum wheels adding the significant bad boy look to it. The Raptor is 3 inch taller than a normal F150. fitted with dual exhaust having a matte black finish beautifully matches the design. The tailgate is super smooth and opens even smoothly, with embedded steps so you can climb in easily. 

 

If you have seen a Ford SVT Lightning in real or in movies; chronologically, it is the predecessor of F150 Raptor.

 

The Raptor is unaltered for the 2020 model, yet still benefits from updated adaptive Fox Racing dampers and minor trim changes that were added to it in 2019. Three new paint colors grace the pallet: Iconic Silver, Lead Foot, and Rapid Red are added to the new model.

 

Interior and Tech

 

Because it's 7 feet wide you can imagine how much space you will get inside. It’s so big and spacious and so high up in the ground that they have also given a handle so that people can pull themself up. The dashboard is well planned and organized but the infotainment system is something I feel should have been updated and the screen size should have been made bigger. There are lots of storage places you can find and enough electric charging points for everyone. When it comes to the seats, front seats are good supportive Recaro seats, and seats are big enough for any size of people to fit perfectly. Now when we go to rear seats because it is a super cab there is lots of leg space and height is never an issue in this one even if there are 3 full-grown men at the back they might not even have to touch their shoulders and sit comfortably. They have even given a bit of storage place below the rear seats.

 

The Raptor's comfy, the laid-back interior is at odds with its muscular exterior. It's best in base form, but available features such as heated and cooled front seats, leather seating surfaces, & unique color choices can add a touch of elegance. The Raptor's 5.5-foot cargo bed is fantastic and a big advantage over its rivals and its interior spacious storage is the best among rivals. Those needing a longer bed that's easier for loading should consider the regular normal F-150.

 

The Raptor's touchscreen infotainment system—called Sync 3—is well equipped and easy to use. It supports Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

 


Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Raptor does its best to avoid passenger extinction with fantastic crash-test ratings. While rivals have similar options for active safety, Ford's full-size pickups offer several driver-assistance technologies. Key safety features include:

 

1.Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking

2.Available lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist

3.Available blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert



Specification:

Base engine size

3.5 Liters

Base engine type

V-6

Horsepower

450 Hp

Horsepower rpm

5,000

Torque

510 Lb-Ft.

Torque rpm

3,500

Payload               

1,000 Lbs.

Maximum towing capacity

6,000 Lbs.

Drive type

4X4

 

 

Performance:

 

Unlike other normal pickup trucks, Raptor is a sports Pickup truck enough though it weighs more than 3 tones it can go 0- 100 kph is just 5.5 sec, for a car this big and this heavy its a great performance. The current-gen raptor has dual turbocharged EcoBoost V6 which gives 450 bhp and 510 lb-ft of torque which is way more than what the previous-gen V8 use to give. Yes for people who are obsessed with how it sounds now will be disappointed, but even they can’t argue that it has way more performance than before. To handle this much weight it still has FOX Racing Shocks suspension for off-roading but now it also has active suspension which adjusts the stiffness depending on the mode, which means on curvy roads you will be able to push it a bit harder without much body roll and at the same time going offroading with higher ground clearance absorbing all the bumps. It has 6 driving modes  

 

Normal

This mode is perfect to drive down a city road or highway, smoothly sliding through loose traffic.

Sport

You can’t always use an SUV for offroading, you can but it won’t be as fun as a pickup, especially once you have driven a Ford pickup. The raptor in sports mode is a free-spirited beast that gives high throttle response and sportier steering feel. 

Weather

When the path is not normal as it used to be, this mode helps you to drive with confidence in any weather at any condition possible. snow/wet mode automatically engages 4auto. Advance Trac, throttle response & the shift schedule optimizes for increased confidence in slippery slopes.

Mud/Sand

For the off-road track, this mode is your favorite, I can tell now itself. The four high and the electronic locking differential automatically engage for driving over loose or soft ground.

 


Rock Crawl

This setting is for an intense off-roading session, and low-speed rock climbing, which an SUV can barely do. Rock crawl gives confidence to the driver to place the vehicle in 4 Low, the electronic locking differential is automatically engaged & AdvanceTrac is set to the least intrusive settings for optimum rock-climbing effort. Throttle modulation and transmission response are optimized for best control experience. And if, the front camera allows the driver to see what’s right in front of the truck, and it can be kept on at speeds up to 15 mph.

Baja

This mode is when Raptor reaches the epitome of the competition. High-speed desert running, 4 high, Advance Trac is programmed to least intrusive settings, throttle map adjusts linear power & improved engine response, hardcore off-roading with greater control are some of the changes you’ll notice. Quicker shifts in transmission which hold the gear longer; keeping the vehicle in its powerband.

Baja Along with the individual AdvanceTrac settings tied to drive modes, Raptor continues the Ford Performance tradition of letting the driver program the system’s settings to match conditions and skill-level. The driver can decrease traction control but keep stability control on with a single press of the electronic stability control button; or, by holding the button for five seconds, the driver can turn AdvanceTrac settings off.

 

As long as you select the right mode it will help do things better then what you can hope for. It comes to life when you’re in Baja mode and on smooth uneven sand or lose surface, in normal production SUV or Trucks u would have to go slow but in raptor faster you go better it will be like gliding over the uneven parts. It’s not just good for a straight line you can even drift like a pro especially on a loose surface, it’s a truck purpose-built to take out anywhere but not like a boring way but in a crazy fast way. 

 

This truck will feel best in snow and sand or any place where you won’t have to worry about speed because of big rocks and just slap the accelerator and go as fast as you can, it will always give you confidence that you can do it. Even while going off-roading it has around it has a 30.2-degree approach angle and a 23-degree departure angle and with the ground clearance of 11.5 inches can get it through most of the big obstacles and is also available with Beadlock capable wheels to grip on any surface.

 

With both 4 high and 4 Low gearboxes, along with that, it can also be driven only as RWD when driving normally on the main road to improve efficiency. It also has a system to help with the trailer while you reverse it with a trailer attached, but its a feature I don’t think most will use.

Price in the USA:- $ 53,205 

Expected Price if launched in India:- INR 1.2 cr 



Final verdict:

It is an expensive truck, which is worth the price, this type of trucks or more of a lifestyle than a necessity, mostly suited to those who like to drive from a position high up the ground and to feel like the king of the roads, not for those who want on-road performance but something of a kick on every road and make everyone inside comfortable while doing it and especially of road blasts.

 


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