Test Drive: Ford F-150 Raptor can flat out fly

The 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor is a 450-horsepower, off-roading beast.
The 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor is a 450-horsepower, off-roading beast.
photo The interior of the 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor is as comfortable as the exterior is rugged.

FAST FACTS

* Model: Ford F-150 Raptor 4X4 Supercrew* Exterior color: Ruby Red Metallic* Interior color: Black* Engine: 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V-6* Horsepower: 450* Transmission: 10-speed automatic* Fuel economy: 18 mpg highway, 15 mpg city* Local Dealer: Mountain View Ford* Price (as tested): $70,870

Would you pay more than $70,000 for a pickup truck?

Before you answer that, you should know that pricey Ford F-150 Raptors like this week's tester are selling like hotcakes at local dealerships.


View other Test Drive stories by Mark Kennedy



Looking for a used or new car?

Mountain View Ford in Chattanooga took delivery of a Ruby Red F-150 Raptor 4x4 Supercrew truck this week, and new-car sales manager Doug Cawood said Raptors typically last only a few days to a couple of weeks at the dealership before they are snapped up by eager buyers.

"It's the hottest truck Ford has out," said Cawood, before handing us the keys to the Raptor for a mid-day test drive earlier this week.

That customers are willing to pay $70,000-plus for a purpose-built off-road truck like the Raptor - which also happens to be a performance prodigy - is simply the way of the world in 2018. Some buyers, who in previous generations might have shown off their bank accounts with luxury cars, are turning to tricked-out trucks as status symbols, instead.

If you think about it, this makes some sense.

The F-150 has been America's best-selling truck for four decades, so it's little wonder the Raptor, the most audacious version of Ford's half-ton pickup, should quicken the pulse of more than a few affluent truck buyers. Factor in limited supply, and rapid sales are bound to follow.

With a stance like an NFL nose tackle - the Raptor is 6.5 inches wider than a regular F-150 - and a ridiculously powerful 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 engine, the Raptor Supercrew is one of the most macho trucks ever built.

A base Raptor starts at about $51,000 and shoots up quickly from there. Our tester has about $16,000 worth of options; or roughly the price of a new Ford Focus. But who's counting, right? Tell me another vehicle this side of a Space Shuttle that can go zero-to-60 miles per hour in about five seconds and can also tow up to 8,000 pounds.

We'll wait while you contemplate your answer.

STYLING AND FEATURES

For the premium price you'll pay for an F-150 Raptor, you dang sure want the neighbors to know. A Raptor tail badge, Raptor lettering on the cast-aluminum running boards and special hood graphics should do the trick. Together they send the message: This is not your ordinary work truck.

Meanwhile, the Ruby Red exterior paint on our tester calls attention to the Raptor's lane-eating width. Squeezing into a parking place at the mall with this rig can be a challenge.

But malls aren't this beast's natural habitat, anyway. That would be creek-beds, deserts and and muddy roads. The truly remarkable part of the Raptor's architecture is a sophisticated suspension system that has several settings for different off-road conditions. B.F. Goodrich All-Terrain tires complete the look.

The Supercrew configuration puts extra emphasis on back-seat leg room (which is immense) and assumes that a 5.5-foot bed is all you'll ever need. Indeed, the cabin is open and airy. The center-stack armrest is so big you could almost use it as a dining table for all your passengers.

Seats are clad in black, perforated leather. Carbon fiber door panel inserts add to the upscale look.

Our tester comes with the substantial and pricey Equipment Group 802A package ($9,770) which includes a power sliding rear window, Sinc 3 telematics system, a 360-degree parking camera, a Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, voice-activated navigation and more.

A twin-panel moonroof is a $1,295 upgrade; black, forged-aluminum wheels will set you back $1,165 and the Raptor Technology Package (adaptive cruise-control, lane-keep assist, etc.) is $1,950.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

All Raptors come equipped with Ford's 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 engine which makes 450 horsepower. For those lamenting the lack of a V-8 options, please know that Ford's Ecoboost engine brings all the power you will ever need to the party.

That absorbent, off-road suspension also makes the Raptor a comfortable cruiser. We took the Raptor on a quick spin to Raccoon Mountain, and noticed that the truck attacks a lot of lookers. And that's the point, right?

The engine is mated to a 10-speed transmission. Flip it into simulated manual mode, though, and you can manage the shift points with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.

BOTTOM LINE

Somethings tells us that Raptor buyers will be highly satisfied with their choice. After all, this vehicle is designed to make truck-lovers smile. It also has a strong halo affect, creating an aspirational vehicle for the millions of truck owners who can't quite write the check, but can definitely dream the dream.

Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.

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