A 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor prototype testing in the wilds of Michigan
For all the noise that Ford made throughout 2015 with the reveal of the upcoming GT supercar, Shelby GT350R Mustang, and Focus RS, it seems as if the 2017 F-150 Raptor has taken something of a backseat. To make sure that this unrepentantly badass truck gets thrust into the limelight where it belongs, Ford has graced us with some footage of F-150 Raptor prototypes trail testing in a quaint forest in the middle of Northern Michigan.
It’s every bit as amazing as you think it would be. Check it out.
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Video: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Prototype Testing
Per Ford’s press release:
Here an early engineering prototype that combines parts from the 2017 Raptor with the 2015 F-150 climbs tight two track trails in Northern Michigan, where the team is testing the new truck’s components over challenging terrain. The 2017 F-150 Raptor has better ground clearance than the first-generation Raptor and comes standard with new 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The shock absorption technology works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain. An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case further improves Raptor’s trail performance. The 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.
The 2017 F-150 is still about a year off, which is why we don’t yet know all of the pertinent figures. As of now, we know that the F-150 Raptor will be powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine mated to a ten-speed automatic paddle-shift transmission. Ford’s Vice President of Global Product Development, Raj Nair, let slip earlier this year that the Raptor is expected to produce 450 horsepower, and we know that it’s expected to be up to 25% faster off-road.
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