SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1262216
10-YEARS Of THE FORD RAPTOR By Taylor Vlahos Photos courtesy Ford Archives The iconic off-road truck began its long reign of off-road dominance by competing in the SCORE BaJa 1000 For 10 years now, the Ford Raptor has masterfully terrorized the trails, tracks, and towns with its high-performance pedigree, but it got its start with a Baja racing lineage that continues today. Before the idea of a Raptor was conceived, the 1993-2004 Ford Lightning was king of the street and Ford was eager to match the performance of the second-generation Lightning with something new. Slowing down for speedbumps, however, no longer sat right with Ford’s SVT team and they realized it was time to fully embrace the DNA of a truck and take their hot-rod F-150 off-road. “The idea of the Raptor is radically different than the SVT Lightning was,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford’s Chief Nameplate Engineer SVT at that time. “The truck hits a whole new market, a whole new genre, and it’s a market that no one has ever done.” By 2008, gas prices were sky high, truck sales were imploding and the trend of turning trucks into sportscars was starting to grow old. The idea of bringing some excitement back into the truck market continued inside Ford and that year, it began a campaign touting its new Ford Raptor SVT off-road truck for the 2010 model year. From BaJa To The Showroom In 2008, before the official launch, however, Ford engineers wanted to prove their new truck would be a serious off-road beast. They built a racing version, the Raptor R, and competed in the 2008 SCORE Baja 1000. The truck proved its overall performance in the world’s toughest off-road race and production models arrived in showrooms for the 2010 model season. The first-generation Ford Raptor F-150 was a street-legal combination of powerful ingredients including four-wheel drive, a mid-travel suspension, all-terrain tires, a beefy engine, wider fenders, and nostalgic big fat FORD emblem letters filling the front grill. The 2010 Ford Raptor featured a distinctive front grille with a redesigned racing exterior including a new bumper, hood, fenders, and emblems, along with a unique racing interior with a black leather-wrapped steering wheel. You could have had any color you wanted, as long as it’s Molten Orange. It was the only color the 2010 model was offered in. Nevertheless, the Raptor proved it’s off-road capabilities, even with a 5.4 Liter Triton V8, (320 hp and 390 ft-lb of torque). Despite having 200 hp less than the race version, it did have the same suspension, which featured 12.1 inches of travel in the rear and 11.2-inches of travel in the front. FOX internal bypass racing shocks were used in the new 2010 models along with BFGoodrich 35-inch All-Terrain T/A KO (315/70R-17) tires. Special technologies included an electronic locking rear differential, Hill Descent Control, Off-Road Mode, unique cast aluminum SVT front control arms, and a massive front skid plate. Safety features included AdvanceTrac with RSC (roll stability control), Trailer Sway Control, and a factory-installed Integrated Trailer Brake Controller. 2011 upgrades offer a SuperCrew Cab option and a standard SCORE Baja tested 6.2 L V8 producing 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque. The newly available 145-inch wheelbase SuperCrew came with a shortened 5.5-foot bed to optimize departure angle. The SelectShift Automatic transmission gives more control of transmission gear selection. The Raptor exterior got new graphics and paint, adding Silver Metallic to the previously orange only line up, with Standard Black interior or optional Molten Orange interior accent package. New hood graphics are inspired by older off-road racing Ford Broncos. The matte black accent graphics along the hood include the F-150 SVT Raptor logo and helped reduce hood glare. The hood graphic was available with or without the optional body side “digital mud” graphics. New Technologies included auxiliary switchboard on the center console to make aftermarket customization easier and a standard 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen. New Safety features included a Safety Canopy System, SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and MyKey programmable vehicle key. New and notable features for 2012 included increased capability and performance with a new Torsen front axle. Interior upgrades included an updated matte anodized blue interior color accent package along with aluminum trim added to the instrument panel and a flow-through center console. Every paint color was now available except for the newly offered Race Red. A new body side graphic, based on two diagonal stripes with jagged lines and shapes, gave an off-roading racing vibe. New technologies included the SOS Post Crash Alert System and an off-road front camera system. The 145-inch wheelbase SuperCrew was also still available. 2013 brought the use of 17-inch aluminum wheels with beadlock capability, dual-stage front airbags, and HID headlamps included in the new Raptor Luxury Package. MyFord driver connection technology with a 4.2-inch screen could be upgraded to MyFord Touch with an 8-inch touch screen. Both systems enabled voice control of the vehicle functions including WiFi capacity, text-to-voice capability, HD Radio with iTunes, and a voice-activated Navigation System. 2014 offered a new color option, Sunset Metallic. Following the 2014 introduction of the thirteenth generation F-Series, the Raptor model line went on a two-year hiatus. Enter The Second Generation The new generation model saw its return to race in Baja. A Raptor R (racing model) was driven by Greg Foutz in the Stock-Full Class at the 49th SCORE Baja 1000 in 2016 where it finished third in class. The new model Ford Raptor was released in September 2016 for the 2017 model year, dropping the SVT prefix. Compared to previous model years, the curb weight was reduced by over 500 pounds thanks to the aluminum body, but still using steel primarily for the frame rails. The second-generation Raptor retained its FOX Racing internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs but used a larger shock (3-inch diameter versus the previous 2.5 inches). This increased wheel travel to 13-inches for the front axle and 13.9 inches at the rear. An all-new transfer case featured a torque-on-demand system combining the on-demand capability of all-wheel drive with the durability of four-wheel drive. The biggest departure from the previous generation was the retirement of the 6.2L V8 engine. The new models used a Twin Turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6. This was a detuned version of the Ford GT engine that in the Raptor made 450 hp and 510 lb-ft. of torque. 2017 also marked the debut of the 10-speed 10R80 automatic transmission, the first non-commercial vehicle fitted with a 10-speed transmission of any sort. SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations were both available. The “Digital Mud” decal was replaced with a large black decal on the pickup bed, denoting the Raptor name and a black “FORD” tailgate decal was also offered. 2018 didn’t see too many changes from 2017 except for a revised tailgate design and restyled taillights. New paint colors, Lead Foot, Guard, and Race Red replaced Ruby Red and Avalanche. The Sony audio system was replaced with a new Bang and Olufsen 10-speaker stereo. In 2019, Fox Racing shocks were updated to “Live Valve” capability, automatically adjusting for the terrain. The class-exclusive FOX Live Valve monotube shocks with internal bypass technology, have an electronic solenoid valve engineered to provide continuously variable compression damping. Trail Control allows for low-level off-roading cruise control. Other updates include new paint colors, new wheel design, and optional Recaro front seats. 2020 Raptors are pretty much unaltered from the 2019 year but these trucks continue to be at the top of the OE off-road truck category, offering unmatched capability and reliability.SJ FIRST GENERATION RAPTOR SPECS Chassis • 2.5-inch Fox Racing internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs • 11-inches front travel, 12-inches in rear • Redesigned rear leaf springs and front upper and lower A-arms • Widened track by 7-inches and raised ride height by two inches • Locking rear differential with 4.10:1 gear ratio • Open differential front axle • 2012 upgraded to Torsen helical gear limited slip differential and 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. Powertrain • 2010 standard engine 5.4L V8 or optional 6.2L V8 with 6-speed automatic transmission • 2011 upgraded to standard engine 6.2L V8 Drive Technology • Anti-locking brakes • AdvanceTrac with RSC stability control • Traction control • Hill Descent Control • Sport Mode (traction control off) • Full Off-Road Mode (no electronic intervention except ABS: throttle and ABS reprogrammed for low traction) Body Design • Model specific front fascia • Composite hood • Wider fenders • Grille mounted clearance lamps • Bold FORD lettering in grille • Redesigned cargo bed to accommodate wider rear track and tires • Bed shortened to 5.5-feet to maximize departure angle • 2010 only offered as 2+2 DOOR SuperCab (no standard-cab option) and only four colors: tuxedo black, oxford white, blue flame, and molten orange. Digital Mud vinyl decal offered for rear sides of vehicle • 2011 introduced four-door Super Crew cab configuration along with fifth color: Ingot Silver Metallic • Unique interior featuring High-bolstered seats, orange stripe in the leather wrap of steering wheel and prewired for aftermarket equipment SECOND GENERATION RAPTOR SPECS Chassis • Larger 3-inch Fox Racing internal-bypass shocks with external reservoirs • Wheel travel increased to 13-inches for front axle and 13.9-inches for rear axle • All new transfer case • Torque-on-demand system • Leaf-spring rear axle and upper and lower A-arms for front axle • 2019 upgraded Fox Racing shocks with “Live Valve” capability to adjust to terrain • 35-inch All-Terrain tires fitted to 17-inch beadlock wheels Powertrain • Introducing second generation Twin Turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque • 2017 debuts 10-speed 10R80 automatic transmission, first non-commercial vehicle fitted with 10-speed transmission of any type. Body Design • Aluminum body construction and composite hood • FORD grille with clearance lights mounted in the grille and front fenders • 5.5-ft unique pickup bed design • SuperCrew and SuperCab configurations • Digital Mud decal replaced with large black Raptor decal on bed • Black FORD tailgate decal • Optional Recaro front seats • New paint colors Drive Technologies • Anti-locking brakes • AdvanceTrac with RSC stability control • Traction control • Hill Descent Control • Sport Mode (traction control off) • Full Off-Road Mode (no electronic intervention except ABS: throttle and ABS reprogrammed for low traction) • Trail Control for low level off-roading cruise control