Ford F150 Truck Blog

Here’s one of the latest F150 SVT Raptor videos to hit YouTube. It’s the Raptor at Monster Jam in Detroit that was last weekend.

Good PR move for Ford - bringing the Raptor to Monster Jam. But…. you could just hear the disappointment when they didn’t jump the Raptor F150 over junk cars…. oh well, maybe next time. The Raptor is still a sweet truck!

The first 2010 Ford Raptor SVT F-150 sold at auction on Saturday, January 17 for the nice sum of $143,000. That price includes a $13,000 buyer’s premium. It was lot #1333.

We’ve started a Raptor F150 section here at FordF150.net, you can check it out at http://www.fordf150.net/raptor/

The Raptor truck details from the Barrett-Jackson website are as follows:

Summary: The DNA of a Baja Prerunner. Built Ford Tough. The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) takes performance supremacy off-road with the new F-150 SVT Raptor. All proceeds above MSRP vehicle will go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Details: The DNA of a Baja Prerunner. Built Ford Tough. The Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) takes performance supremacy off-road with the new F-150 SVT Raptor. This purpose-built, high performance truck is rugged enough to take on challenging desert adventures, and refined enough for everyday use. F-150 SVT Raptor-specific triple internal bypass Fox Racing Shox, an electronic locking rear differential, and hill descent control mark its serious off-road capability. Outrageous styling backs up its performance with a brick-wall grille, unique front fenders, box outer panels, hood and front bumper, plus a Raptor-exclusive interior. This is one awesome truck. The winning bidder will take delivery of the first F-150 SVT Raptor offered for sale. All proceeds above MSRP vehicle will go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Over the last three years, Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised over $2.5 million dollars for charity through the auction of Ford products. This new model will give the winning bidder an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while making automotive history. Features include 7″ Wider than a standard F-150, 5.4L SOHC V8 FFV with 320hp and 390 lb-ft. of torque, 11.2″ of front suspension travel, unique cast-aluminum front control arms, unique skid plates, 12.1″ of rear suspension travel, unique rear springs. 4.10 rear axle, electronic locking rear differential, 17″ cast-aluminum wheels, BFGoodrich 35″ All-Terrain T/A KO (315/70R17), Hill Descent Control, unique Off-Road Mode and auxiliary switches for additional lighting and accessories.

Here’s what we do know about a potential SVT truck for 2009. Earlier this morning AutoBlog reported that an SVT rep commented “a new SVT truck is coming … later this fall”. Shortly thereafter PickupTrucks.com reported from a credible source that the truck won’t be called a Lightning. In fact it looks like it’s going to be part of the Harley-Davidson line-up of trucks.

Here’s what we don’t know. We don’t have details but it’s probably safe to say the truck will likely be a version of the supercharged Harley F-150. Expect big custom wheels, a custom instrument cluster, perhaps special stitching in the seats. Production may be limited. We also don’t know whether this will satisfy 01-04 Lightning owners. Will this new SVT truck be a Lightning replacement? We’ll see.

One thing is clear. Ford needs to keep coming up with new models and incentives to get truck sales levels back to where they were not that long ago. Trucks are big business and the F-Series was the top selling vehicle for many years (that is until this year). With rumors of a Raptor F150 and a new Ford F100, this potential new SVT truck might be just what Ford needs to be #1 again.

Sources: [Ford SVT Lightning Concept 2004 - Photos] [Autoblog] [PickupTrucks]

Here’s what we do know about F-150 Raptor.

Four Wheeler Magazine broke the news about a truck in the works from Ford. It’s a Raptor edition truck which features:

• Fox Racing long, reservoir shocks
• Fender flares to help fit large tires (possibly 35″)
• Unique styling
• Boss 6.2L V8 engine (380 - 420 hp) or EcoBoost engine

The big question is…. will it sell? Gas prices are at record levels and show no sign of going down. Truck sales are already down this year so in a year or two will this even be produced? Only time will tell.

More reading: Four Wheeler - PickupTruck - AutoBlog