2017 Ford F-150 Raptor terrain modes detailed
Six performance options make for an exciting drive
When the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor arrives, it will have a number of different drive modes to help you conquer a variety of situations.
Six modes will be offered in total, with each modifying a number of different aspects of the Raptor’s performance to best suit the terrain. The modes are: normal, sport, weather, mud/sand, Baja and rock crawl.
As a quick refresher, the 2017 Raptor will come with a 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 engine that makes over 411 horsepower, hooked to a brand new 10-speed automatic transmission.
As if it needs an explanation, Ford says that normal mode is for everyday driving, offering a balance between comfort and convenience. Sport mode will help with “spirited on-road driving ” by increasing throttle response, speeding up shift times and holding gears for longer to keep the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine in the power band. Weather mode is meant for driving through snow or rain while on road and will automatically activate the automatic fourwheel drive system along with AdvanceTrac traction control.
Throttle response will also be dulled a bit to help the truck keep traction and stay confident.
The final three drive settings have to do with heading off road. In mud/ sand mode, four-wheel drive high is activated, the electronic locking differential is engaged and traction control settings are tailored to make sure the truck has optimal traction.
Steering in this setting is set to com- fort to make it less jarring over rough trails.
Baja mode, easily the best name of the bunch, is meant for high-speed desert running. When switched into baja, four-wheel drive high is activated while traction control is set to its least intrusive. The throttle map is also adjusted for more linear power and increased responsiveness from the engine, while the transmission shifts quicker and holds gears longer.
Finally we have rock crawl mode, meant for low-speed manoeuvring over obstacles. This will prompt the driver to put the truck into low range, while the electronic locking differential will engage.
Throttle response is changed to allow for greater control and a frontmounted camera allows the driver to see what is right in front of the truck at speeds below 24 km/h.