All-new F-150 Raptor charges into the Middle East
Ford’s toughest, smartest, most capable truck for ultimate off-road performance
KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Eagerly anticipated and still unmatched by any auto manufacturer, Ford — America’s truck leader — introduces the all-new 2017 F-150 Raptor to the Middle East, adding agility, versatility and roominess to the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 Raptor ever.
Developed with the DNA of a Baja race truck, F-150 Raptor is unique among off-road and performance vehicles, with a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension that enables it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain.
Using the same high-strength, aluminium alloy body and a fully boxed highstrength steel frame as the current F-150 trucks, the 2017 Raptor is up to 227 kg lighter than the 2014 model. Combined with a new high-output second-generation EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission, it delivers a 21 per cent improved average torque-to-weight ratio and a 23 per cent improvement in EPArated combined fuel economy compared with the previous generation Raptor. The new engine produces more power with greater efficiency than the current 6.2-litre V8, delivering 421 PS* at 6,000rpm and 678 Nm of torque* at 3,750rpm.
The all-new F-150 Raptor starts with a purpose-built fully boxed frame — the backbone of the truck — that is the strongest in the F-150 line-up, featuring more high-strength steel than the outgoing Raptor.
The F-150 Raptor’s chiselled looks are reminiscent of Trophy Trucks — the fastest and most powerful class of off-road pickups. F-150 Raptor is more than 150 mm wider than the standard F-150 for enhanced stability off-road. The all-new F-150 Raptor also boasts its first-ever dual exhaust and new 17-inch wheels with next-generation BFGoodrich All-Terrain tyres designed for off-road performance. Smartest F-150 Raptor ever F-150 Raptor is powered by Ford’s all-new, second-generation high-output 3.5-litre EcoBoost® engine that produces more power with greater efficiency than the outgoing 6.2-litre V8.
Within performance circles, Ford’s EcoBoost engine has gained a following among truck enthusiasts and racing fans alike. Already robust and efficient, Ford developed the second-generation 3.5-litre EcoBoost, which the Ford Performance team then tuned specifically for the new Raptor.
Key 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine improvements include a new twin direct and port-fuel injection strategy, stronger and lighter crank and valvetrain components, a redesigned twin-turbocharger system with electronic wastegate, and a redesigned valvetrain and variabledisplacement oil pump.
Among the high-output EcoBoost performance enhancements for Raptor are more aggressive turbo compressors with increased boost calibrations, cast stainless steel manifolds and full dual exhaust, oil-cooled pistons and more aggressive engine control calibrations.
An all-new four-wheel-drive, torqueon-demand transfer case, with advanced, easy-to-use off-road mode driver-assist technology, further improves Raptor’s performance so it is easy to drive offroad across varying terrain.
F-150 Raptor’s new transfer case, which manages power distribution between the front and rear wheels, combines the best attributes of clutch-driven, on-demand all-wheel drive with durable, mechanical-locking four-wheel drive to send power to the wheels in slippery conditions.
The pioneering off-road driving mode technology has evolved into an all-new Terrain Management System™ that enables the driver to select modes to optimise driving dynamics to environmental conditions — from snow to mud, sand and more.
All-new 10-speed automatic transmission
The all-new 10-speed automatic transmission, standard on the 2017 Raptor, features Auto Start-Stop and an integrated electric pump that improve driving efficiency. The transmission’s closer ratio between gears and Fordpatented hydraulic control system better optimise the power and torque curves of the new 3.5-litre high-output EcoBoost engine.
Raptor’s all-new adaptive shift algorithms monitor more than a dozen powertrain and driver control signals in real time — ensuring the right gear at the right time for an engaging driving experience, including Raptor’s normal, sport, weather, mud/sand, rock/crawl and Baja modes. In addition, a high-speed, oneway clutch allows for non-sequential shifting. Weight savings play a key role in improved shift performance. The 10-speed gearbox — the first from Ford not to employ cast-iron components — uses advanced materials and alloys that result in less weight. Additionally, an integrated torque converter/turbine clutch helps shed around one kilogramme, while also reducing the packaging footprint. By re-engineering almost every part, Ford proudly introduces its ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck, the all-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, across the Middle East now.
* As per Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO) ratings.