2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition
On Tuesday Ford released the anticipated updates to the very popular street legal off road race ready vehicle in their truck line. The Ford Raptor has been a wild success for Ford Motor Company tapping into the high end off road market. With an average price tag of about 46 grand, more people are left wanting a Raptor than actually being able to afford one. With all this demand for the vehicle comes a large group of eagerly awaiting enthusiasts for each new model year. It seems like the announcement of the 2014 Raptor did not live up to the hype around the internet. Rumors of decreased weight and engine enchantments were all laid to rest when Ford phrased the upgrades like this: “… adds unique new touches to Raptor’s existing Luxury Package…”
Wow! No engine upgrades, no suspension upgrades, they didnt squeeze a few more inches of travel? I am disappointed. Ford called the new release the 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition in response to a demand for more exclusivity in parallel to the extreme off road capability. The special edition will feature a unique exterior color, new graphics kits for the body, and higher end interior design features.
The new color is a ruby red metallic exterior paint color and box side graphics. The upholstery on the seats will have brick red seat bolsters with black inserts and cloth honeycomb highlighting. The console will have a new finish as seen in the newly released photos. New door accents and center console accents will differentiate this special model from the other Raptors. Personally I would not want a Ruby red raptor, so they also have a Tuxedo Black exterior color for the less flashy off roaders.
The SVT Raptor is seeing increased sales since its launch in 2009 with a 14% increase this year alone. 13k Raptors were sold by Ford in 2012 alone. Not a staggering number for a generic vehicle, but considering the price tag and the niche of potential customers, this is a great success for Ford Motors. Below is a quick recap of the changes.
2012
-Grill Mounted Camera for rock climbing
-Torsen limited slip differential for balance between the front and rear end: 4.10:1 gearing front and rear ratio with electronically locking functionality so you do not need to get out of the vehicle
2013
-Custom beadlock wheels for better grip in low traction situations and keeping the tire from ripping off the wheel
-More advanced headlights with high intensity discharge capabilites
-SYNC connectivity to myFordTouch system
As per the previous models the Raptor SVT will come with a 6.2 liter V8 engine. This baby produces 411HP and 424FT-LBS of torque. The transmission is a electronic 6 speed with tow mode and SelectShift modes. The 4 wheel drive system can also shift automatically which is nice for those stretches of dirt roads in between obstacles.
Now we wait for the 2015 Raptor with hopefully so more exciting upgrades huh!! What do you want to see in the next model Raptor? Post your comments below after checking out the new pictures.
