Review 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: the dangerous beast that lurks deep in the forest

Ford's press release reads, "The all-new 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor is a
purpose-built, high-performance 4WD off-road truck versatile enough to
take on the most challenging desert adventures as well as the everyday
commute."

Hmmm. So we didn't go adventuring in the desert nor
commit an everyday commute. We didn't even drive the F150 SVT Raptor
on-road. We did, however, take the Raptor over ruts and rocks and up
and off steep hillsides in the woods of northeastern Pennsylvania, and
even if the Raptor wasn't in its native Southwest desert domain, we'd
learn if Ford's pickup could handle terrain usually best left to Jeep
Wranglers and Land Rovers.

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is an
F-150 pickup adapted and factory-built to actually perform what
standard pickups are shown doing in TV commercials, the leaping, the
rock flinging, the barreling through water like the Titanic in search
of an iceberg, the stuff that if done by actual owners would have the
truck suffering a fate equivalent to that of the big ship, and not
covered by the warranty either.

With the F-150 SVT Raptor,
however, Ford leverages off its extensive desert -racing credentials to
fill what it saw as a yawning gap in the truck market, the
high-performance off-road truck market.

"Most of the major
manufacturers have focused on-road performance [sic], so when we looked
at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat
limited," explains Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for
pickups and large SUVs. "The was the perfect opportunity for Ford to
further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market."

And
certainly the Ford Raptor looks the part, with a grille with "FORD"
carved into it, widened front and rear fenders with black fender
extenders outside of that, covering Big BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO
315/70-17 tires. The hood and front fenders are vented to allow hot
underhood air to escape, the fender vents . Tiny clearance lights are
set into the leading edge of the hood rather than on the top of the
cab. The SVT Raptor is seven inches wider than the base Ford F-150.

And for those so inclined, there's an optional "digital mud"
graphics package for the rear sides of the cab and rear outer fenders,
as on our test 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor pickup.

The interior is
at least as graphically enhanced, particularly with the Raptor Interior
Color Accent Package. To say that the dark orange accented interior is
intense it like saying a drum set rolling down the basement steps is
loud. The interior package is available only on Raptors with exteriors
in Tuxedo Black or, as we drove, Molten Orange Tri-Coat. Raptors in
Blue Flame Metallic and Oxford White come with the standard black
interior.

But bulging fenders and outrageous color combinations
have been tried before. Where the Raptor differs is in having the
muscle to match the flash. The standard engine is Ford's well-seasoned
5.4-Triton "three-valve" V-8 engine rated at 320 horsepower and 390
lb-ft of torque. It uses, says Ford, a new open-valve fuel injection
strategy that "delivers increased horsepower during towing and higher
rpm operations, lower emissions and more efficient use of fuel." A new
6.2-liter engine designed for truck use will be available in early 2010
(as a $3,000 option).

Scroll down for full photo gallery of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and its features.

It's
the suspension, however, that distinguishes the Ford Raptor pickup.
Ford has engineered a full 12.1 inches of usable travel in the rear
suspension and 11.2 inches in the front. "Triple internal bypass" FOX
Racing Shox used front are rear have internal valving that firms up
damping as the shocks move towards their limits, reducing the
likelihood of the truck bottoming out. Combined with the big off-road
tires, the suspension allows a more supple ride over rough terrain.

The
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor's stability control system has two modes in
addition to standard. "Sport" mode turns off the traction control,
allowing more vehicle yaw movement. The full off-road mode turns off
the electronic stability program completely while switching the ABS to
a special off-road setting that allows the wheels to lock more, helpful
when driving off-road. The locking rear differential is also allowed to
stay locked at higher speeds, which Ford says imitates the spool
(permanently locked) rear differentials of race trucks.

The F-150
Raptor is also the first Ford application of hill descent control. This
technology uses the traction control sensors to control the speed of
the vehicle in steep downhill situations, applying and releasing brakes
individually and available traction and vehicle speed allow.

The
Off-Road Mode button on the center console (next to a panel of
auxiliary switches provided to make aftermarket customization easier)
selects a throttle map and transmission shift schedule better suited
for off-road operation, the transmission holding each gear for longer
periods of time. This allows better throttle modulation to control the
vehicle.

For trailering–presumably not off-road–the Raptor has
standard trailer sway control and an integrated trailer brake
controller as optional equipment.

Trailer control was unnecessary
where we were driving, however, crawling through narrow passes between
trees and rocks over jagged boulders that made basketballs look small.
Ford designed the Raptor's long suspension travel for soft landings
from desert racing-like jumps, but it also allowed articulation
allowing all four wheels to stay on the ground even over the most
contorted terrain.

We
were able to stop the F-150 Raptor in awkward positions for dramatic
photography, places where momentum would usually be needed to get
through without getting stuck or having to back up to try again.

We
were able to get moving again by just putting the transmission in gear
and giving the Raptor some throttle. Not too much throttle, however,
because the off-road mode adjusts throttle response to specific
off-road conditions. At slow speeds the F-150 Raptor allows finer
calibration of power–and less likelihood of breaking traction–by
softening response to pedal movement. Sometimes less is more.

Ford's
hill descent works as advertised, the big knobbly tires gripping
allowing feet-off-the-pedals on our steep downhill test section.

Diving
at speed in desert conditions we weren't able to test because there
isn't very much desert in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But from our
limited experience in the woods, we think the Ford press release missed
as aspect of the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. There are raptors in the
forest, and we think it's a suitable environment for Raptors as well.

Illustrations: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Photos by John Matras.

Click HERE to view a slideshow of the Raptor.

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For almost thirty years, award-winning author John Matras has written
about cars. He’s been in all the major car magazines, on the web and
written five books, and he’s even been translated into Estonian. His
website is carbuzzard.com, but you can find most of his recent reviews on Examiner.com as John is also the National Car Examiner.