Looking imposing from any angle, the 2013 Ford SVT Raptor pickup excels and not just going fast in a straight line, but handling just about any off-road challenge it comes up against.
Story and photos by Jim Robinson,
Metroland Media/Wheelstalk.com -
DRUMHELLER, Alta: Most people think of the Ford SVT Raptor pickup as one of the most potent vehicles on the road, and it is.
But did you know it is just as capable off-road?
At a press presentation of the full line of Ford F-Series pickups held in Drumheller, Alberta, there were several different comparative exercises such as fuel economy, towing, payload and off-road.
Beside an ordinary looking F-150 4X4 was a Raptor looking like it was ready to leap off the line to an off-road test track with serious down hills, tight climbing turns and undulating “whoopdedoos”.
Available in SuperCab and SuperCrew configuration, the SVT Raptor is fitted with a 6.2-litre SOHC V8 engine, producing 411 hp and 434 lb/ft with a 5-1/2 foot box. Power goes through an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and SelectShift Automatic functionality.
The 4WD system features electronic shift-on-the-fly capability from the transfer case that can be selected by a rotary knob on the centre stack for 2H, 4A, 4H and 4L (two-wheel high, all-wheel-drive, four-high and four-low.
Probably the most outstanding feature is the way the tires can be locked to the optional forged wheels so they can’t become detached in situations where the air pressure is reduced when extra grip is needed.
When it comes to going down steep inclines, standard Hill Descent Control is what you want. The Raptor also comes with available “beadlock” rims (shown) that lock the tire to the special forged wheel to prevent them rolling off when air pressure has been reduced to extreme grip conditions.
All the owner has to do is take off the outer decorative ring, put on the optional “beadlock” ring kit and put the tire back on.
Ford says this is the first time there has been a wheel capable of both normal and beadlock at the same time and Ford has filed for a patent on it.
Also offered is a Torsen limited-slip front differential in the 4WD system that routes torque back and forth between the front wheels. If the left front wheel loses traction, the system forces torque to the right front wheel, and vice versa.
The front axle Torsen has 4.10 to 1 gearing. The rear axle is also 4.10 to 1, with an electronic-locking differential making for matched power usage and resulting in more stability.
Taking a hard turn on the earthen off-road test track in 4L, the Raptor with Torsen cornered very well as opposed to the F-150 4X4 we drove next that had a very wide turning circle (also in 4L) as do most 4X4s of my experience.
With all the power, the Raptor climbed like a mountain goat, but it also went down steep inclines with no sweat thanks to standard Hill Descent Control that is engaged by a button on the transmission tunnel.
What it does is sense the angle of descent and controls the brakes and engine so the Raptor inches down at a controlled pace without driver intervention.
Well folks, when you stop at the edge and all you see is sky ahead, going over the crest takes a leap of faith. I’ve done this before but it always unnerves me.
The Ford Raptor also has a front facing camera that allows the driver to see what is below his field of view such as boulders or in this case, coming down with the standard Hill Descent Control engaged.
But this time there was something different.
Last year Ford started fitting cameras to the nose of the Raptor.
It’s really a backup camera looking to the front with grid lines that twist to follow the surface and give the driver a look at what is ahead – and below.
It can be viewed on the centre stack LCD screen. It even has a washer that keeps the lens clean in muddy, wet or snow conditions. The camera actives when the driver is in 4L and under 20 km/h.
For me, seeing when the bottom of the ridge was before tipping over was very reassuring, but still intimidating.
And for those who buy a Raptor for its power in flat-out desert driving, there’s more than just the very rugged suspension and tires. The Raptor comes with industry-exclusive internal triple-bypass FOX Racing Shox dampers and skid plates.
The cabin, as was the case in all the F-150s I drove in Drumheller, is well equipped and, in the case of the Raptor, comes with standard unique leather and cloth-trimmed seats with driver’s side power actuation and six-way adjustability. These seats feature Raptor-specific bolsters to keep the driver and first-row passenger firmly in place, regardless of terrain conditions.
The SVT Raptor interior features a unique centre stack and door trim applique finish and leather-trimmed steering wheel with thumb pads. In addition, the SVT Raptor can be specified with an interior color accent package, featuring contrasting blue against a black environment and real aluminum trim components.
For 2013, SVT Raptor’s driver connectivity has been upgraded to MyFord Touch using an eight-inch centre stack touch screen with five-way controls mounted on the steering wheel.
In addition, this connectivity upgrade features the 4.2-inch productivity screen, mounted in the instrument cluster. Driver-configurable, this LCD screen includes menus for gauge setup, trip computer, fuel economy and towing/off-road applications.
Truck-specific MyFord Touch offers additional button controls and rotating knobs to accommodate work gloves.
Going fast, going slow or going about your business, the SVT Raptor for 2013 blends performance with the ability to go just about anywhere at anytime.
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 2013 at a glance
BODY STYLE: Performance light duty pickup.
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel-drive.
ENGINE: 6.2-litre, SOHC V8 (411 hp, 434 lb/ft)
FUEL ECONOMY: (Regular) 18.5/12.8L/100 km city/highway
TOW RATING: 3,691 kg (8,000 lb)
PRICE: $58,599
WEBSITE: www.ford.ca
