Ford Supersizes The Raptor

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew (Credit: Ford)

Following plenty of rumors, Ford has officially unveiled the F-150 Raptor SuperCrew, because Americans love to supersize everything. With a larger interior, people can finally take the whole family along for hardcore off-road adventures, while easily hauling around plenty of gear from an epic Cabela’s trip. It’s a proud time to be an American.

The SuperCrew doesn’t just look bigger than the SuperCab version of the Raptor, it really is an entire foot longer. Also, the rear doors are full-sized, making it easier for taller adults to ride in back. Thanks to the generous amount of aluminum Ford has been using on the F-150 lineup, the truck isn’t some bloated monstrosity. It should be able to whip around dirt courses like a champion, with enough room to make it practical for everyday trips around town.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew (Credit: Ford)

When Ford created the 2017 F-150 Raptor, it used a purpose-built fully boxed frame. It’s supposed to contain more high-strength steel than the last generation of the high-performance truck, improving rigidity and overall performance. The 2017 Raptor is also six inches wider than the standard F-150, and has aesthetics that are similar to Trophy Trucks, which is a sign that it’s for people who mean business or have a lot of money to burn (maybe both).

Under the hood of the 2017 Ford Raptor is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. While that doesn’t sound impressive compared to the old 6.2-liter V-8, it actually is more potent with 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, plus it’s lighter.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew interior (Credit: Ford)

Thanks to the lightweight design of the truck, plus the incredibly strong engine, Ford had to get creative to keep things in check so drivers don’t lose control in a hurry. It created an interesting combination of four-wheel and all-wheel drive, with an electronically-controlled torque-on-demand transfer case. The truck comes with a number of other improvements, including larger shock canisters that allow greater suspension travel, plus a custom internal bypass that prevents bottoming-out when owners hit really rough terrain.

According to Ford, you can expect to see the new F-150 Raptor in normal and supersized forms starting in the fall of 2016.