2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Lightning may have struck twice, but when the folks at Ford's Special Vehicle Team decided to trick out another F-150, the result - the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - was a completely different kind of truck. Though the F-150 Lighning may have appealed to those hankering for muscle-car fun and a pickup bed out back, the F-150 Raptor allows drivers to take blistering performance off the beaten path.

SVT looked first at the F-150's underpinnings, and scrapped most stock suspension parts. The most change came up front, where SVT added unique upper- and lower A-arms, a new tie-rod, and new half-shaft joints. All four corners also benefit from the addition of internal-bypass Fox Racing Shox, which increase stiffness as the suspension compresses to keep the truck from bottoming out.

The front suspension has a whopping 11.2 inches of travel, while the rear suspension has 13.4 inches. Coupled with the standard 35-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, the package should be more than adept at tackling boulders or landing a stratospheric jump.

310-hp three-valve 5.4-liter V-8 offered is a standard equipment on the Raptor, as well as the forthcoming optional 6.2-liter V-8, rumored to produce approximately 400 hp. They may also care more about the auxiliary switches for their off-road lighting or the off-road driving mode, which eliminates all stability controls and allows for some wheel lock under low speed braking.

Which is just as well. Ford offers no less than nine flavors of the F-150 for casual pickup users like ourselves.

© Source: automobilemag
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