When I was a kid, I had a bright yellow Tonka toy truck and loved nothing more than pushing it around the living room floor, bashing it into table legs and chairs. Unsurprisingly, we went through quite a lot of furniture at home, but that my truck survived some awful abuse with barely a scratch is testament to its durability. And while sitting in the plush leather seats of the Raptor which is ‘built Ford tough’ — I’m left wondering, just how tough?
It looks like it was designed by a class of 12-year-old boys. You can just imagine the design process: “Let’s have some really big wheels! And great big decals on the bonnet and fenders! And we’ll stick a huge V8 in there!” This formula, believe it or not, works an absolute treat.
Featuring a 6.2-litre V8, all-wheel drive and internal triple-bypass suspension by Fox Racing Shox (the first on a production truck), the Raptor means business. But it’s not all brawn and no brains.
It packs a 4.2in LCD productivity screen between the gauges of the instrument panel, which shows you information such as steering wheel angle and vehicle angle on a grade during off-road manoeuvres, has four pre-wired auxiliary switches to enable aftermarket goodies such as extra lights or a winch and it has Ford’s Sync connectivity system making this one smart piece of kit. The best way to describe this thing is to call it a ‘sophisticated toy’.
I’m in the middle of the desert and I’ve been blasting over and through some massive dunes. Though I normally don’t enjoy this kind of thing, half an hour at the helm of this beast and my mind has changed. Dune bashing has become my favourite pastime — 411 horses, 588Nm of torque and an exhaust note that would scare thunder can be quite persuasive.
It has a, frankly ridiculous, go-anywhere capability that I haven’t experienced. Sure, I’ve driven in the rough in many 4x4s that cost twice as much as this, but none of them have put a smile as wide on my face as the Special Vehicle Team-tuned F-150.
I’d say it’s one of the most unique and capable off-road production vehicles ever built. It’s so good that it can tear across the desert at just under 100kph. That’s astonishing.
Engage the Off-Road mode located by the chunky gear lever and select 4Lo (it also has 2Hi and 4Hi settings) and it’ll calibrate the SelectShift six-speed automatic to the stability and traction control systems, getting you ready for some serious playtime. Slam the throttle into the footwell and the V8 explodes into life.
The Raptor isn’t stopping for anything.
Boasting an extra-wide stance that adds to its aggressive nature (it’s 7.0in wider than a regular F-150); balloon-like 35in all-terrain tyres; and heavy-duty shocks that allow 12.1in of usable wheel travel in the rear (11.2in in the front), the Raptor begs to be unleashed on the most difficult of terrain. And, it’ll tackle the really intense stuff without a fuss; the Torsen front differential adds extra grip when climbing steep angles while there are many other useful features, including Hill Descent Control, that can help make a novice look like a pro.
Sure, it looks particularly good blasting through and kicking up sand as the images on these pages will testify, but it’s even better washed, waxed and parked by the side of the road. It’s such a hunky piece of metal and the feel-good factor it provides, before you’ve even turned the key, is incredible. Kitted out with a massive grille, blacked-out air vents on the bonnet and fenders and large side steps, you really can’t miss one of these, even if you’re looking the other way. It has such a huge personality.
The vast interior is another highlight, so much so that I found I couldn’t hang my left arm out of the window while driving because I simply couldn’t reach that far. It really is that big — both on the inside and out. This standard SuperCab Raptor features the suicide rear doors and even though the back seat area might be a little cramped, it’s fine for short journeys.
As for the ride, it feels smooth and offers a brilliant vantage point on the tarmac while off the beaten track. You’re not tossed around like a rag doll when things get really rough — it seems to cushion you from all the blows. On the road and when encountering a bend at anything over 80kph, the steering is rendered almost useless. It will continue straight on — a daunting proposition at first but you soon learn how to tame it and that’s by driving it very, very slowly in the corners. When the tyres stop screaming and it begins to negotiate a curve, prepare yourself for excessive body roll. It’s like a ship at sea. It bounces and wobbles but never, for a second, stops being fun.
With a towing capability of 3,630kg, it’s one of the most powerful half-tonne pick-ups on the market. But there is a drawback. Its fuel economy is laughable, averaging about 20 litres-per-100km. But, without a shadow of a doubt, this is the ultimate 4x4 pick-up that you can buy today. Nothing else comes remotely close in matching its macho looks and awesome performance.
The starting price of Dh255,000 might seem a little steep, but it’s worth every penny. My Tonka truck is 21-years old and can still take down a table or chair. There’s no doubt that decades from now, the Raptor will also be going strong. It’s ‘built Ford tough’, remember? And that’s not marketing hyperbole.
