Ford unveiled its next-generation muscle car for the off-road, the F-150 Raptor at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Compared to the outgoing model, the all-new Raptor features a purpose-built, high-strength steel frame (no more bent chassis issues, I presume) and a lightweight aluminum body that sheds more than 500 pounds (226 kilograms).

Aside from the extensive diet, the all-new Raptor replaces its 6.2-liter V8 engine with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with “more horsepower and torque than the current Raptor”. In case you need a refresher, the current Raptor does 411 horsepower and 588 Nm). This 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 is exclusive to the Raptor in the F-150 line-up and so is an all-new 10, yes, 10-speed automatic gearbox.

An all-new four-wheel-drive, torque-on-demand transfer case, with an advanced, easier-to-use version of off-road mode driver-assist technology, further improves Raptor’s trail performance. The Raptor’s 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.


An available Torsen front differential increases off-road capability further. The system increases grip significantly for the front end of the truck and allows it to pull itself over obstacles and up steep grades – even when traction is split between the front tires.

F-150 Raptor comes standard with new FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology that works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain to help prevent the truck from bottoming out. Front and rear shock canisters have grown from 2.5 inches to 3 inches in diameter for improved performance

Advanced LED lighting and camera technology contribute to improved visibility on the trail or street – day and night.

The all-new Raptor will go on sale by fall of 2016 and will be built at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant.