The F-150 Raptor Has No Fear With its Six Terrain Modes

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

The details surrounding the newest version of the Ford F-150 Raptor are slowly making their way to the public. Today, Ford has announced a few details about this rugged off-roader’s ability to handle various terrains with ease, thanks to its terrain modes.

All said, the 2017 F-150 Raptor will feature six terrain modes that seem to cover just about every type of surface one would think of taking this rig. The modes include Normal, Sport, Weather, Mud/Sand, Baja, and Rock Crawl.

In Normal mode, there is a perfect balance of comfort and performance for daily driving. Pop it into Sport mode, however, and this off-road truck does its best sports car impersonation with improved throttle response and steering feel, and quicker gear shifts with gear holding to help keep the pickup in its powerband through a long turn. In Weather mode, the Raptor tackles slippery conditions by engaging 4 Auto while the throttle and steering are optimized for these conditions.

For you off-road junkies, the Mud/Sand mode engages “4 High” and the electronic differential, optimizes the Advance Trac settings, and sets the steering to Comfort for more confident navigating through loose soil. In Baja mode, the Raptor engages “4 High,” the Advance Trac system reduces nanny interference, the throttle map is set to allow more linear power and better response, and the transmission shifts more quickly and holds gears when needed. Finally, Rock Crawl mode first reminds the driver to pop it in “4 Low,” then it engages the electronic locking diff, Advance Trac reduces nanny intrusion, throttle modulation and the transmission are optimized for control, and the front camera turns on to let the driver see what’s ahead.

All of this combines with its rugged suspension that features 3-inch Fox Racing Shox and a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 to deliver one hell of an off-road experience. Stay tuned for additional updates as we get closer to the official debut of the 2017 F-150 Raptor.