The Goodwood Test: Ford F-150 Raptor

Heritage

How far back do you want to go? Just over a century ago Ford introduced a workhorse chassis cab version of the Model T, called the TT. Capable of carrying half a ton and marketed successfully to rural communities Ford pick-ups have since become an American institution, the F-150 the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for the last 35 years straight.

In 1992 Ford’s Special Vehicle Team hot-rodded the F-150 with the V8-powered Lightning, creating a pick-up that could lap circuits as fast as a contemporary Mustang. Its supercharged successor in 1999 became the world’s fastest street pick-up, the Baja 1000 race-inspired F-150 Raptor of 2010 taking its performance off-road. This latest version takes the idea to new extremes, helped by a version of the turbocharged engine powering the GT supercar.

Design

In a word? Unapologetic. A standard F-150 is a huge vehicle by European standards but the Raptor takes this to near caricature, its off-road suspension and tyres making it tower over other road users while the giant FORD script across the grille and Raptor-specific bodywork, blistered arches and slatted bonnet stretch Ford’s ‘built tough’ machismo to near parody. 

In true all-American style, this latest version is wider, taller and more butch than ever, the track increased by nearly 180mm alone while the whole vehicle is 2.2m wide – big enough to make even a Range Rover Sport SVR look about as manly as a Suzuki Jimny in comparison.

Performance

A desert racer for the road, the original Raptor stunned the market when it launched in 2010. That said its 320hp 5.4-litre V8 was criticised for being underpowered, Ford responding with a 411hp 6.2-litre V8. Downsizing comes to all things though, even Raptors. And the new one has a 450hp version of the 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 Ecoboost engine related to that in the Ford GT. It drives through a new 10-speed automatic gearbox and switchable four-wheel drive transmission. It’ll do 0-60mph in about six seconds, does huge burnouts with two-wheel drive selected and massive jumps in its off-road settings, including its dedicated ‘Baja’ mode. Built by the same team who developed the Focus RS, Mustang and Ford GT it combines the spirit of all to devastating effect on and off the road. 

Passion

Back in America the starting price of a Raptor is nearly double that of a basic F-150 and over here importers are charging supercar money for right-hand drive conversions. No supercar can do what a Raptor does though and for all the absurdity of driving a vehicle this big in the UK it attracts nothing but smiles. It is ridiculous – you can’t park it, the left-hand drive makes it difficult to place on the road, the cab isn’t actually that spacious and, Ecoboost engine or not, it absolutely guzzles fuel. 

But for all the macho posturing this is a vehicle of both real engineering substance and unabashed frivolity that makes everyone grin. American excess never looked so appealing.  

Price tag of our car

Ford F-150 Raptor - $49,265 (US price), c. £85,000-plus UK registered via private importers