It may be all Ecoboost and 10-speed automatic underneath, but the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor strikes that balance of aggressive and goofy characteristics that made the outgoing model such a hit.
Oh yeah, and the off-road credentials were pretty good, too.
Unsurprisingly, like the 2015 F-150, the new Raptor is a case of same-but-different on the outside. The FORD letters on the grille are still enormous, an endearing characteristic. They’ve also been added to the tailgate in lieu of a blue oval. The whole look is perhaps more modern and sophisticated, but in person the Raptor still comes off as a tough thing.
Ford didn’t let us pop the hood to see the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 that’s supposed to be in there. Nor did they let us get too close to the interior, which at least doesn’t stray too far from the new F-150’s style. The paddle shifters inside were the first thing I noticed, though. And I’m still not convinced they look right in a truck, especially when they bear a similar appearance to the ones in the new Ford GT.
The thing about the Raptor has always been that it’s a ridiculous vehicle. It’s ridiculously large, ridiculously powerful for its size, ridiculously capable. But at the end of the day, the main attraction to this thing is its looks and sounds. They just make you smile.
This new one may be smarter under the skin, but it looks like it still has a sense of humor on the outside.
Photos: Zac Estrada / Carscoops.com
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