2011 Ford SVT Raptor SuperCrew [w/video]

To live up to its billing, the only thing more important than power was a well developed suspension, so Ford turned to Fox Racing to tune the undercarriage. The front end features an independent setup with Fox Racing dampers and aluminum lower control arms, much like a real race truck. The solid axle rear end sports outboard mounted dual Fox dampers to absorb the immense shock of jumping this beast. Functionality aside, these bling'ed out CNC-machined aluminum and anodized bits have an all-business look and are on display so there is no secret how off-road ready it is. Completing the package are massive 315/70R17 all terrain tires mounted on aggressive 17-inch alloy wheels. While the suspension keeps that meaty rubber planted, big brakes are needed to ensure the Raptor SuperCrew stops just as well as it flies. The braking duties are handled by 351mm (13.8-inch) vented discs at the front and similarly huge 348mm (13.7-inch) vented discs at the aft end.



Once they got the off-road handling under control, Ford looked to make sure the drivetrain was every bit as stout as the rest of the truck. For 2011, a 6.2-litre V8 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the capable 4-wheel drive system. The iron block V8 wears aluminum heads and generates 411 horsepower and a stump-annihilating 434 lb-ft of torque. Not only does this grunt give the SVT Raptor SuperCrew a healthy launch, but is also ensures that the big Ford can do the work that most buyers expect from an F-150. The engine pulls hard and sounds intense doing it because we couldn't help sacrificing fuel economy just to listen to it take off with that trademark grumble. While we think the engine was very capable of pushing this heavyweight around, the upshifts leave something to be desired and throttle the acceleration with a huge gap in between gears.



Beyond the mechanical muscle, Ford has incorporated a wealth technological toys to give the SVT Raptor SuperCrew an edge both at work and at play. The rear diff locks electronically to apply power evenly at the back when traction is limited. AdvanceTrak with Roll Stability Control keeps things stable and allows for Ford's first use of Hill Descent Control. That system also works with the integrated trailer braking controller to limit trailer sway on trailers with advanced braking systems, an important safety feature for those who tow. Our tester was the new SuperCrew variation which has a towing capacity of 3,628 kg or 8,000lb!




All of these performance goodies combine to generate some rather serious performance numbers for such a hulking mass of truck. The most astonishing is the fact that the Raptor hauls from rest to 60 mph (96 km/h) in a scant 6.6-seconds. It wasn't so long ago that a decent car was doing 0-60 times around that! The quarter mile comes up in just 15.2 seconds at 148 km/h (92 mph). The top speed is limited to 160 km/h, though we know the aftermarket tuners have a solution for that. With all that go fast effort, Ford is still able to reign in the Raptor from 112.6 km/h (70 mph) to a dead stop in just 66.4-metres (218-feet). Not surprisingly, creating this sort of performance from a machine this big comes at a cost at the pumps. The Raptor inhales gasoline at a rate of 14.2 L/100 km on the highway and a rather mind boggling 19.1 L/100 km in the city but you probably guessed that already.




Aside from its capabilities and brutish performance, there is a level of comfort and refinement in this fully loaded SuperCrew that we didn't expect. Our SuperCrew offered four doors and seating for five adults, unlike the mini back seat in the SuperCab version. The Raptor comes standard with the Luxury kit that includes leather seating, 10-way adjustable front heated seats that looked stunning in black to set off the white exterior for the trendy Stormtrooper appearance. Thankfully, the optional exterior vinyl was not applied to this truck because we think it cheapens the package of an already stunning shell. The tester did however have a bunch of other goodies, including a power moonroof, Sony satellite radio with navi, a rear view camera and the trailer braking controller. Perhaps the most useful option is the cool folding tailgate step. Without this, one would never make it into the 5.5-foot bed to access cargo without using a step ladder or a pole vault.



The F-150 SVT Raptor SuperCrew starts at $55,199 which may seem a bit lofty at first glance, but when you realize just how much technology is jammed inside this truck as compared to a base truck, it feels about right. Imaging having to take an F-150, widen it, swap the motor, upgrade the wheels and beef up the chassis for less money than that... it just isn't happening. Our tester had $4,830 worth of additional options which brought the total up to $60,029 and given the funds, we'd consider it. But at the same time, we would realistically opt for the lighter, shorter and overall more capable SuperCab version.

We simply couldn't get enough of the SVT Raptor SuperCrew, however through a scheduling glitch we got to hold onto it for double the time we expected, it was still half of what we craved. In the urban jungle the SVT Raptor SuperCrew was mild and composed with a bit of predictable hop from the solid axle rear but take it offroad and you have a high speed desert truck that lives to take jumps and absorbs nearly everything with ease. While we played in the mud and the deep ruts, there wasn't much that offered a challenge for the Raptor SuperCrew, but then again we're not offroad savvy enough to really get in too deep. Admittedly, the SVT Raptor has easily been our most exciting truck experience to date, but were also excited to see that sector of the market heat up. GM and Toyota are watching and as we live out our last few decades of unique road-going vehicles like this, let's spark some off-road wars shall we?

EDIT: Our review of the new 2012 Ford SVT Raptor SuperCab is just around the corner!







Image Credit: Copyright 2011 Ste Ho / AOL