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Ford had long competed in off-roading, but the introduction of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor established the off-road focus the company has maintained with today’s products.
When the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, with its now well-established imposing figure, was introduced in 2010, one important detail stood out that revealed the level of care Ford’s Special Vehicle Team had taken to ensure the new trophy truck would meet the expectations of off-road truck enthusiasts everywhere.
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The truck’s suspension was worthy of the sort of attention typically paid to flashy items like wheels and badges.
The first-generation F-150 Raptor introduced the distinctive grille with the Ford named carved into it and a wider stance necessitated by an upgraded suspension and the use of larger tires. The pickup shared F-150’s proven 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine, which delivered 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, though an optional and more powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine option was made available shortly after production began.
Peeking through the front bumper was a key piece of the truck’s suspension, which drew attention in a way that flashy wheels or shiny emblems would on a typical street-oriented vehicle. But on the chrome-free F-150 SVT Raptor, the shocks, carrying both the Ford SVT and FOX Racing Shox logos, served as the trophy truck’s eye candy.
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The shocks of the F-150 Raptor were an innovative solution created through a partnership with FOX to help prevent the truck from bottoming out.
The insignias represented a partnership between Ford and the racing company that exists to this day, but 15 years ago, the collaboration led to the creation of an internal triple bypass shock, an industry first on a production truck. The shocks featured position-sensitive dampening, which made them stiffen as they traveled through the suspension, allowing the F-150 SVT Raptor to glide comfortably over bumpy terrain.
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The FOX shocks were capable of handling seven times as much force when compared to standard shock absorber.
Demand for the F-150 SVT Raptor was high, as evidenced by the very first retail customer: an off-road enthusiast who rode his bike to the Detroit-area dealership before getting a flat tire and walking the final two miles of the trip. The man reportedly hit the sand dunes of northern Michigan soon thereafter.
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The F-150 SVT Raptor was in such demand that the first retail customer walked to the dealership to pick up the truck.
In the years since, Ford has continued innovating with Raptor. The FOX shocks, which could handle seven times the compressive damping force compared to a standard shock in their first iteration, have been further refined through Ford’s continued relationship with FOX, as well as through competition in off-road races such as the Baja 1000 and the Dakar Rally.
The shocks and suspension were just part of what defined Raptor, which has since evolved into a family of Ford Performance vehicles that now includes the Bronco Raptor and Ranger Raptor. The innovative suspension, the enduring relationship with FOX, and the expansion of the Raptor family all stem from that first bold step into the world of high-performance off-road trucks.
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