The 2017 Ford F-150 is shaping up to be a 10.
The updated pickup will be the first Ford to feature a new 10-speed automatic transmission that was jointly developed with GM, and it’s been confirmed that the Raptor will have a new 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that’s rated at 375 hp, 10 hp more than the current motor and 470 lb-ft of torque, which is a boost of 50 lb-ft.
The 2017 F-150 Raptor will feature a high performance version of the 3.5-liter that Ford says will outgun the old Raptor’s 6.2-liter V8, which was rated at 411 hp and 434 lb-ft, but hasn’t yet revealed by how much.
While the horsepower rating trails the F-150’s 5.0-liter V8 and its competitors top eight-cylinder engines, the torque number beats the Chevrolet Silverado’s 6.2-liter V8 for best in class honors by 10 lb-ft.
Similarly, its horsepower rating beats out rivals like the Ram 1500 Rebel, which delivers 395 hp in its most powerful form. Ford says the new Raptor delivers more low-rpm torque than before and better optimized shift points with its new 10-speed automatic transmission and torque-on-demand transfer case.
“Looking at the torque curve of the Raptor’s EcoBoost engine, you see the twin turbos spool quicker for faster time to torque, it hammers quick and keeps delivering torque for a more brawny feel than its V8 predecessor,” said Al Cockerill, Raptor’s powertrain development engineer, in a recent release.
Using the same military-grade aluminum-alloy body and fully boxed high-strength steel frame as the current F-150 trucks, the 2017 Raptor is up to 500 lb. lighter than the 2014 model. It delivers 21 percent improved average torque-to-weight ratio and a 23 percent improvement in EPA-estimated combined fuel economy compared with the previous generation Raptor. EPA estimated fuel economy ratings for the 2017 F-150 Raptor are 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined.
“Raptor was designed to be a no-compromise, off-road performance machine. That is why we made the switch from the cast-iron V8 to the aluminum block, high-output GTDI V6 EcoBoost engine that our team tuned to add for today’s Raptor,” said Matt Tranter, Ford Performance engineering supervisor. “The torque-on-demand transfer case and six-mode Terrain Management System is unique to Raptor in the Ford family of vehicles. It gives you the benefit of a clutched all-wheel-drive system for easy around-town maneuverability in bad weather. Then, there’s Baja Mode, which automatically engages a mechanically locked 4X4 high, and optimizes throttle response, shifting and boost control to provide improved off-road capability.”
Ford has sold over one million of its 3.5 and 2.7 liter EcoBoosts since it first started, offering turbocharged engines the F-150 in 2011, and they now account for a majority of the model’s sales.
- High-output EcoBoost features for Raptor include more-aggressive turbo compressors with increased boost calibrations, cast stainless steel manifolds and full dual exhaust, oil-cooled pistons and more-aggressive engine control calibrations
- Standard 10-speed automatic transmission, the first from Ford not to employ cast-iron components, features Auto Start-Stop and an integrated electric pump to improve driving efficiency
- Raptor’s new adaptive shift algorithms monitor a dozen powertrain and driver control signals, ensuring the right gear at the right time in Raptor’s normal, sport, weather, mud/sand, rock/crawl and Baja modes
Although it hasn’t formally listed pricing on its website, Ford confirms that the F-150 Raptor will start at a base price of under $50,000. But this summer, Ford documents revealed a price of $49,520, including a destination charge of $1,195. The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor is now available to order from Ford Lincoln of Franklin.
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