truth about domestics

According to a Ford press release, the SVT Raptor is selling even better than originally estimated, with over 5,300 orders being taken since the truck was revealed about a year ago.  This is good news for the automaker, as sales should only increase with the availability of the new 6.2L V8 and the rumor of a possible Crew Cab model.  As if this news wasn’t good enough, Ford announced that a whopping 79% of Raptor owners checked the options boxes for the luxury package, reverse-sensing camera and moonroof.  62% of buyers opted for navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link and 52% of owners decided Tuxedo Black was the color for their new off road monster.  My money was on Molten Orange to be the winning color but the fact that every media vehicle was seen wearing that color, maybe people got bored?  For more details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

Automobile magazine recently got the chance to sit down with Jost Capito from Ford to talk about their two different performance groups; SVT here in the States, and RS for over in Europe.  He was asked if one group or the other would be taking off the duties of creating high performance variants of Ford’s next round of automobiles.  His response was that neither SVT nor RS would be going away, and that the name for the next high performance Ford Focus was still up in the air.  This means that basically we could be seeing an SVT Focus or more likely a Focus ST and then higher-level Focus RS like they have in Europe.  Stay tuned for more, or for now head on over to Automobile magazine.

(Image source: Ford)

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is one of the most…actually THE most impressive off-road truck offered by any OEM.  The Raptor comes straight from the factory with Fox Racing shocks, a sport tuned suspension, and enough suspension hardware to tackle trails like the Baja 1000, all with a warranty.  The one thing many fans of this truck have been asking for is more power.  After initially only being available with a 5.4L V8, Ford announced a new 6.2L V8 that bumped output to over 400 horsepower.  While that did help, people still wanted more.  To answer their call, Hennessey announces the VelociRaptor.

Hennessey took the standard raptor and bumped up the output by adding a supercharger to the 5.4L Ford V8 for a total of 501 horsepower and 520 pound feet of torque.  The video above shows you just how much the 0-60 mph and quarter mile numbers have improved over the stock Raptor.

One of the biggest complaints about the Shelby Mustang GT500 is the weight: the car packs too much and a large portion of that is over the nose.  Well to rectify this issue, Ford’s Special Vehicle Team switched from an iron block to an aluminum one for 2011 and the result is a loss of over 120 pounds!  There are some other goodies added in like a Performance Package.  For all of the details and some great photos, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Ford)

News about the 2011 Mustang GT500 has begun to leak out from all corners of the internet and the news is sounding more and more sweet.  First came news that the ’11 GT500 would feature an aluminum block.  Then came word that a glass roof would be an option.  Now we have rumors spreading that the car will feature 10 more horsepower than the 2010 model, bringing the total up to 550.  There is also an SVT Performance Package available that offers up a 3.73 rear gear ratio, 19″ and 20″ front and rear wheels respectively, and special stripes.  For more details, as well as a teaser video, head on over to Autoblog.

I don’t have much news on this one, other than two gentlemen from Chile are running a mostly stock Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in the Dakar Rally.  They have successfully completed four stages of the rally.  For slightly more, head on over to Jalopnik.

(Image source: Jalopnik)

The video above shows some truly amazing footage of the new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor doin’ its thing on some country back roads.  It also shows the BMW X6 M that it is being pitted against.  What these two have in common is hard to say, so stay tuned for more details when their winter issue hits newsstands.

Another terrific piece of writing by the guys over at PickupTrucks.com has me wanting more.  Their comparison of these two mighty trucks is a truly amazing piece, not unlike the trucks themselves.  While their missions are different, the two trucks are both impressive in their own right.  For the 4 part story, as well as tons of great photos of the trucks, head on over to PickupTrucks.com.

(Image source: PickupTrucks.com)

Inside Line had the chance to take a 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor into the desert on their own and they liked the truck so much, they said, “Honestly, the Raptor’s chassis so far exceeds the abilities of any other vehicle sold today that it should be given an award.”  How interesting, seeing as the Raptor was just named Texas Truck of the Year!

Thankfully, the folks over at Edmunds InsideLine have taken the time to discuss all the fine points that make the SVT Raptor suspension so unique over that found on a more “traditional” F-150.  Feel free to head on over for the full discussion here.

(Image source: Ford)