USA - The Editors of Autotrader USA has picked the F0150 Raptor as one of its Must Test Drive cars.

The editors at Autotrader have discovered what owners, fans and the media have been reporting now for months: The all-new F-150 Raptor is a “Must Test Drive” vehicle for 2017.

The Autotrader designation is a consumer-focused award program designed to highlight the top 12 vehicles shoppers must see and experience to believe. 

Winning vehicles are chosen based on a diverse set of criteria outlined by Autotrader editorial experts, who log thousands of miles test driving the latest cars, trucks and SUVs each year.

“For all the awards and accolades owners and the media have bestowed upon the all-new F-150 Raptor, the only way to truly understand how incredible this truck has become is to get to a Ford dealer and get behind the wheel,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager.

The purpose-built, off-road F-150 Raptor builds on the success of its predecessor with performance gains and new technology. The all-new Raptor stands alone among high-performance off-road trucks, featuring a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, plus a segment-first 10-speed automatic transmission and six-mode Terrain Management System^™. Its high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body saves 500 pounds over the previous model.

The 2017 F-150 Raptor’s competition-proven chassis also sets the performance bar with its second-generation BF Goodrich KO2 tires designed exclusively for the truck’s extended off-road capabilities. In addition, upgraded FOX Shocks (jointly engineered by Ford Performance and FOX) are 44 percent larger with 3-inch diameter shock canisters (2.5-inch previously) and nine-stage bypass damping delivering improved suspension control. The new shock design enables an increase in suspension travel to 13-inches at the front and 13.9-inches at the rear (a 0.8-inch front and 1.9-inch rear increase in wheel travel compared to its predecessor).

The Autotrader award is the latest in a series of accolades for the all-new F-150 Raptor, including Truck of the Year from FOUR WHEELER, AutoGuide.com and Cars.com.The recognition for Raptor further highlights Ford’s yearlong celebration of F-Series as best-selling truck in America for 40 consecutive years, and 35 years as best-selling vehicle in America. Join the #40YearsTough celebration at www.40YearsTough.com.

The Storming Ford F-150 Raptor has landed on UK shores with a right hand drive conversion.

• Twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine produces 444bhp and 510lb ft of torque
• Two cab options: SuperCab with rear-hinged coach doors, SuperCrew with full size doors
• 2017 model available from £78,000 (incl. VAT)
• Optional Sutton Bespoke right-hand-drive conversions, and tuning package taking power to over 590bhp
• Tax-free sales for export outside of the EU

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor has arrived in the UK, with delivery-mileage examples of the 444bhp ‘super truck’ available from Clive Sutton, one of London’s leading supercar and luxury car dealers. 

The car sourcing specialist has initially acquired five left-hand drive examples of the latest F-150 Raptor, with three already snapped up by long-standing clients. 

vehicle can be viewed now by appointment at Clive Sutton’s premises in St John’s Wood, with on-the-road prices starting from £78,000 (incl. VAT).

Ford’s latest F-150 Raptor has been widely anticipated in the UK since the end of production of the previous truck in 2014. Significant features include a lightweight aluminium body, an efficient and powerful twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine producing 444bhp and 510lb ft of torque, and a 10-speed automatic gearbox. 

High-performance Fox Racing shock absorbers are fitted as standard, giving the Raptor incredible off-road agility.

Customers interested in right-hand-drive vehicles can commission a conversion of the new F-150 Raptor through Sutton Bespoke’s specialist programme, at a cost of £36,000 (incl. VAT). Sutton’s right-hand-drive conversions use precision-sculpted mouldings of interior components, before specialist craftsmen use a blend of both traditional and modern techniques to ‘mirror’ the dashboard appearance and steering assembly.

Further personalisation of the new F-150 Raptor can be achieved through Sutton Bespoke’s supercharging package, taking the truck’s V6 petrol engine to over 590bhp, priced at £10,800 (incl. VAT), and an active sports exhaust option from £3,200 (incl. VAT). Clive Sutton is also able to offer tax-free sales for export outside of the EU.

Clive Sutton can source vehicles with specific optional extras on request. The raft of factory extras available for the F-150 Raptor include: 10-way electrically adjustable and heated seats, dual-zone climate control, a 360-degree camera system, twin-panel ‘moonroofs’, and a trailer towing package with Ford’s Backup Assist technology.

Two examples of the F-150 Raptor are available to view by appointment at Clive Sutton’s facility in St John’s Wood, London – are a SuperCab in Lightning Blue and a SuperCrew in Shadow Black. The latter is the more spacious variant, with larger rear doors and more room for occupants inside. The SuperCab model has rear-hinged coach doors that open to reveal a pillarless cabin aperture.

Sutton Bespoke offers a complete 'tailor-made' service to its customers, affording the opportunity to create a truly unique vehicle. Numerous upgrade packages and specialist customisation options can be supplied and fitted, either to modify a car already owned by the client, or as a complete service with the base vehicle sourced as well. Attractive funding options are available to enable the car and the upgrade package to be financed together.

CHINA - Ford in the U.S. has exported the first batch of F-150 Raptors to China.

• First all-new Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew shipped to China, bringing unmatched levels of off-road excitement and performance to the world’s largest auto market
• F-150 Raptor – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 Raptor ever – marks first-ever official export program for Ford F-Series and F-150 to China
• All-new F-150 Raptor joins Ford GT, all-new Focus RS, Focus ST and Fiesta ST to expand Ford Performance portfolio in China and offer more powerful, fun-to-drive products for customers there

Ford has started shipping its all-new 2017 F-150 Raptor – the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck – to eager customers in China, marking the first time any U.S.-built F-Series truck has been officially exported to China.

F-150 Raptor is a class of one among off-road performance vehicles, with purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension – all of which enable it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl along rocky terrain, from Baja to the Gobi Desert.

“Ford is one of America’s top exporters, and F-150 Raptor’s appeal and unmatched off-road performance has earned the truck a loyal following around the globe,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Export to China enables us to bring a new group of enthusiasts into the Ford family.”

Exported as a four-door SuperCrew model, the second-generation F-150 Raptor leverages the latest advanced technologies, including a military-grade, high-strength, aluminum-alloy cab, while its muscular body is uniquely composite. The all-new Raptor features an exclusive high-output version of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine, plus a Ford-built 10-speed automatic transmission and advanced six-mode Terrain Management System^™.

Other one-of-a-kind F-150 Raptor features include a Ford Performance-engineered high-strength steel frame with custom Fox Racing shocks with higher ground clearance, BFGoodrich off-road tires and full dual-performance exhaust system.

“Raptor’s unique looks and capability have generated amazing buzz at every auto show we’ve brought it to around China,” said David Schoch, Ford group vice president and president, Ford Asia Pacific. “F-150 Raptor is another example of our commitment to offer a wide range of vehicles for customers in China – everything from SUVs to high-performance cars and trucks.”

F-150 Raptor is one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020. It joins Ford GT, Focus RS, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R in a growing Ford Performance lineup.”

The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor is built at Dearborn Truck Plant in North America. 

New Shocks fitted to the 2017 Model Year, Ford F-150 Raptor, gives it the most comfortablest off road ride ever.

The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor, the toughest, smartest, most capable Raptor ever, gets even more capability with help from a new set of FOX shocks –jointly developed by Ford and FOX to create a purpose-built setup exclusive to the off-road pickup.

The new 3.0-inch FOX shock adds a base valve piston that enables lower gas pressure, resulting in a more comfortable-riding truck on the road. 

The internal bypass in the front and rear shocks has nine distinct zones that progressively manage shock forces, allowing for smooth on-road trips along with hard-hitting off-road driving.

The final zones act like hydraulic bump stops to send fluid through the top of the piston while the shock is fully compressed, preventing Raptor from bottoming out. 

This allows Raptor to maintain a comfortable ride, and leads to improved confidence for the driver to explore all of its extra-long suspension travel.

F-150 Raptor’s front and rear FOX shocks have grown from 2.5 inches to 3.0 inches in diameter for improved performance – offering 44 percent more volume for increased heat dissipation and fade resistance. 

two inches more suspension travel over the previous truck’s 11.2-inch front and 12.0-inch rear bring 2017 F-150 Raptor shocks to 13.0 inches at the front and 13.9 inches at the rear – roughly a 15 percent increase in overall suspension travel.

With a larger-diameter outer body and internal piston, the new FOX shocks allow Raptor to handle harder impacts while reducing harshness to the driver.

Ford shocks with All new Supercar dubbed the GT.

• All-new Ford GT supercar sets new standards for Ford innovation through performance with advances in light-weighting, aerodynamics and ultra-efficient EcoBoost^® engine
• Ford GT features the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever – a new twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost V6 producing more than 600 horsepower
• Ultra-high-performance supercar is Ford’s most extreme offering, infused with race-proven technology engineered to keep company with exotics when it goes into production in 2016

Ford today unveiled the all-new GT, an ultra-high-performance supercar that serves as a technology showcase for top EcoBoost^® performance, aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

The GT is one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020. It joins Focus RS, F-150 Raptor, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R in the growing Ford Performance lineup.

Beginning production late next year, the GT hits the road in select global markets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“As we at Ford drive innovation into every part of our business, it’s worth remembering that our first innovation as a company was not in a laboratory, but on the racetrack,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and chief executive officer, referring to Henry Ford’s win of a 1901 car race that inspired financial backers to invest in his company. “We are passionate about innovation through performance and creating vehicles that make people’s hearts pound.”

The all-new GT supercar features rear-wheel drive, a mid-mounted engine, and a sleek, aerodynamic, two-door coupe body shell. It is propelled by the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever – a next-generation twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 producing more than 600 horsepower.

The GT makes extensive use of lightweight materials, including carbon fibre and aluminium – enabling outstanding acceleration and handling with improved efficiency.

Ford’s commitment to and capability in delivering technologies typically offered only in elite vehicles is evident in the GT. These include advanced active aerodynamics, such as a deployable rear spoiler, and a host of material and technology innovations.

“The GT is the ultimate execution of an enthusiast supercar,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “GT includes innovations and technologies that can be applied broadly across Ford’s future product portfolio – another proof point that Ford continues raising the performance bar while ultimately improving vehicles for all of our customers.”

Carbon fibre innovation

Few innovations provide a more wide-ranging performance and efficiency advantage than reducing weight. All factors of a vehicle’s capabilities – acceleration, handling, braking, safety, efficiency – can improve through the use of advanced, lighter materials.

The all-new GT features advanced lightweight composites, which will help serve Ford’s entire product lineup moving forward. With the broad application of structural carbon fibre elements, the GT will exhibit one of the best power-to-weight ratios of any production car.

Anchored by a carbon fibre passenger cell, the GT features aluminium front and rear subframes encapsulated in structural carbon fibre body panels. Carbon fibre is one of the world’s strongest materials for its mass – enabling an ultra-stiff foundation for chassis components, while creating a lighter overall package for increased dynamic performance and efficiency.

Most powerful production EcoBoost ever

Ford EcoBoost technology is available in every new Ford car, utility and light-duty pickup in North America beginning this year.

EcoBoost engines power a growing number of Ford performance models, including the new Mustang, just-announced F-150 Raptor, as well as Fiesta ST and Focus ST.

Based on the same race-proven engine architecture serving Ford’s IMSA Daytona Prototype endurance racing efforts, the next-generation twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the GT features a wide powerband with impressive time-to-torque characteristics.

The engine demonstrates remarkable efficiency – a key attribute of its endurance racing-derived powertrain, where exceptional performance combined with efficiency is a critical competitive advantage.

Ford’s twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 raced to three wins in its first season of the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in 2014, including a win in the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring, along with seven podiums over more than 15,000 endurance racing miles.

The GT features an all-new, port/direct dual fuel-injection setup to improve engine response, plus a low-friction roller-finger-follower valvetrain. The twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 will be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle for near-instantaneous gear changes and exceptional driver control.

Aero innovation gets active

Aerodynamic efficiency is at the heart of the GT design, actively reducing drag while aiding downforce and stability.

From its optimum tear-drop shape to its aircraft-inspired fuselage and visibility-enhancing curved windshield, every slope and shape is designed to minimise drag and optimise downforce.

Although each surface on the GT is functionally crafted to manage airflow, it also features fully active aerodynamic components to improve braking, handling and stability.

An active rear spoiler is keyed to both speed and driver input, reactively deploying and adjusting its height and/or pitch angle depending on conditions.

Designed for purpose

While it shares a legacy with classic Ford racing and performance cars, GT is a fully contemporary and functional shape that communicates modernity and pure beauty.

The state-of-the-art chassis is suspended by an active racing-style torsion bar and pushrod suspension, with adjustable ride height. The 20-in wheels are shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tyres featuring a unique compound and structure designed specifically for the Ford GT. Multi-spoke wheels encircle carbon-ceramic brake discs at all four corners.

The narrow-profile canopy reduces frontal area and caps a purposeful interior that provides state-of-the-art technology to ensure control, comfort and safety. The two-seat cockpit is accessed by upward-swinging doors, and features driver and passenger seats integrated directly into the carbon fibre passenger cell.

This configuration significantly reduces seating hardware and weight, and provides a consistent and direct sensory connection to the chassis. The fixed seating is combined with adjustable pedals and steering column to accommodate a very wide range of driver statures.

An F1-style steering wheel integrates all necessary driver controls, creating a stalkless steering column that allows uncluttered access to the transmission paddle-shift controls. A fully digital and configurable instrument cluster provides a wealth of driver-focused data. The display is configurable for multiple driving environments and different driving modes.

“While we hope enthusiasts rejoice about this all-new GT, all Ford customers will benefit from the ultimate performance Ford and its new-generation innovations,” said Nair.

Fords performance division gears up for a busy few years.

• Ford bringing more global performance vehicles to customers worldwide; more than 12 new performance vehicles through 2020 – including Focus RS – to be available globally
• Ford uniting regional performance engineering and racing teams as one global team under Ford Performance, delivering more new vehicles and parts, more quickly

Ford will deliver more than 12 new performance vehicles for global enthusiasts through 2020, as the company announced today its new global Ford Performance team. The vehicles include an all-new Focus RS that will be available to customers in major markets around the world for the first time. It is part of Ford’s plan to deliver even more performance vehicles, parts and accessories for customers around the world more quickly.

“Ford remains committed to innovation through performance,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Our new global Ford Performance team ties together racing, performance vehicles and parts. It will allow us to more quickly introduce products and accessories that meet the needs of customers around the world on-road and on the track.”

Focus RS, which builds on a pedigree of driving excellence dating to the first Ford RS in 1968, was last introduced in 2009.

“To earn the RS badge, the vehicle has to be a no-compromise driver’s car that can deliver exceptional performance on the track when required while providing excellent every day driving,” said Nair.

Focus RS will join Ford’s existing performance lineup, including Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Shelby GT350 Mustang and F-150 Raptor.

In addition to pleasing enthusiasts, these vehicles help deliver the company’s One Ford plan for profitable growth, product excellence and innovation in every part of its business. Performance vehicle sales are growing around the world – with sales up 70 percent in the United States and 14 percent in Europe since 2009.

Ford’s ST lineup, for example, is attracting younger buyers who love to drive. In the United States, more than 65 percent of ST customers come from outside the Ford brand, and more than 50 percent of Ford performance vehicle owners’ next vehicle purchase is a Ford. Millennials are purchasing ST vehicles at a rate twice that of other Ford-branded vehicles.

Powering performance vehicles, such as Fiesta ST and Focus ST, is Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost^®engine range. Since the introduction of the EcoBoost engine in 2009, Ford has produced more than 2 million EcoBoost engines globally.

“EcoBoost is a strong example of how we are migrating technology and engineering across our lineup, ensuring our vehicles are fun to drive – not just our Ford Performance lineup,” said Nair. “From our most nimble Fiesta to our hard-working full-size pickups and racing vehicles, our lineup benefits from the innovations we deliver at the track and at the limit.”

For instance, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine in the IMSA TUDOR Championship series powers a record-setting Daytona racing prototype sports car, as well as Ford cars, trucks and utility vehicles.

Another example of this technology transfer can be found in the recently revealed Shelby GT350 Mustang, which goes on sale next year in the United States and Canada. Aerodynamic innovations developed through Ford’s investment in racing were applied to the front end of the new Shelby GT350 Mustang, helping improve downforce in the car as well as cooling.

Ford considers racing an important proving ground for cultivating passionate engineers – allowing them to innovate in top-level competition as they face challenges that require successful solutions in very compressed time frames.

New global team

The new Ford Performance organization unifies Ford SVT, Team RS and Ford Racing globally, serving as an innovation laboratory and test bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers.

This includes developing innovations and technologies in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency that can be applied more broadly to Ford’s product portfolio.

In addition to using racetracks around the world, the team will develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centers globally and at the new technical center in Charlotte, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility will help the team deliver racing innovations, as well as advance tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike.

The Ford Performance organization is led by Dave Pericak, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance.

Heritage of performance innovation

Performance and racing are deeply embedded in Ford’s DNA, dating back 113 years when Henry Ford won the Sweepstakes Race against Alexander Winton, then America’s greatest racer.

Following Henry Ford’s remarkable upset victory in front of Detroit’s elite businessmen, some immediately came forward to back whatever automotive venture he had in mind. Ford Motor Company opened 18 months later.

“Ford still races for the same reasons Henry Ford did in 1901 – to prove out our products and technologies against the very best in the world,” said Nair. “The Ford Performance team will continue to pursue performance innovation, ensuring we can deliver even more coveted performance cars, utilities and trucks to customers around the world.”