Raptor Creators Share How It All Began

12_SVTRAPTOR II

The folks at Autoweek got the creators of the Ford SVT F-150 Raptor (Jamal Hameedi and Bruce Williams) together to talk about how it all began. There's nothing new here but it should be viewed as a great example for lower-level manufacturing engineers and designers, showing them that if you have a good idea, do everything you can to get it seen. 

For even more background on the beginnings of the Raptor, read our exclusive coverage from 2008 by clicking here

The key takeaway for us: If you have a golden goose (and for Ford it certainly is the F-150), do everything you can to move into the "white spaces" of design and engineering. The results could get you and your company huge profits and media attention. 

 

 

 

Comments

For some reason, a naturally aspirated 6.2L doesn't excite me for that kind of truck. How about putting in a 5.0 EcoBoost? Maybe a high-power diesel?

Screw that small displacement stuff. Go with a PLR 670ci racing motor. 1000+ HP. Go big or go home

With a 670ci, you won't be able to make it home! Not everyone needs compensation for anatomical deficiencies.

Very nice video!

A bigger engine perhaps as an option for the few. An ECO boost perhaps. I see several Raptors on the street around me and I'm sure those folks aren't looking 120 mph around town.

I'd think the hard core racer would drop their own engine.

What an awesome truck! Ford did the right thing here. I never understood the Lightning or 454ss. Who races a truck unless it's an old 40,50,60's hot rod pick up? The Raptor is what should have been all along. Trucks aren't for racing. They're for hauling things and going off road. And with a Ford, you're doing it in style. Now that Dodge has gone after Ford with the Ramrunner, where's Chevrolet??? I'd like to see what the Bowtie guys can do.

Ram is the new benchmark and compass pointing the direction all of the automakers will head towards.

Posted by: Lou | Apr 13, 2012 3:14:19 PM

@Powerwagonmaster...or HEMI V8,

I really automakers DO NOT FOLLOW the PW.

If automakers want to sink, then they can follow the PW.

http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/

I would like to have seen it come with the 4.4L Diesel similar to the Range Rover http://www.autoevolution.com/engine/land-rover-range-rover-2013-44l-v8-340-hp.html. Now I know the Raptor is a little bit heavier and maybe it doesn't work to have a heavy diesel engine in that nose but FE gains would be better. How about it for SEMA Ford?

where's Chevrolet??? I'd like to see what the Bowtie guys can do.

@FT1, To that I give a big Pfftt. For one you can't fit those Raptor size tires on any Chevy because of the wheel opening shapes without lifting the body to the sky making it look ridiculous. It also causes the 1500's frame to hang out bad like the 2500's do. For two the current gen Silverado's look horrible body lifted anyway. They look great stock height but anything more and the whole design is thrown off. And for three I own a Silverado and no way in hell would I take it offroad. For one, these new trucks just aren't sturdy enough to do that like the old ones were. For two and most importantly, the underside of the truck would go to pot. I've had my truck 2 years and it's rusting away underneath and bad. And I don't take it offroad at all. I baby the stupid thing and go through the wash including undercarriage all the time to keep it clean. I couldn't begin to imagine what my underside would look like if I actually took it through water, mud, sand etc. It would be completely destroyed. I'm just looking to dump it now before it gets worse. Chevy needs to get their act together before trying to go off road. I'm a loyal Chevy guy but their trucks have gone downhill.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f194348/0

What is the total sales last year??

@mjsracing77, I read through all that. Nothing new. They've been using shoddy metal on their trucks since the late 90's. We've crushed tons of 800's at work because the rust is so bad. I've seen em rust up to the near top of the bedrails. They're just not worth anything after we pull the motors and a few other accessories. We'll pull the front fenders first too. They're usually ok unless there was an accident. When a junkyard junks them, you know they're junk. We see the new ones all the time rusting away underneath after yanking the beds. But they don't have the rockers outside that make it so obvious. Metal is super thin on the new ones. Not worth keeping if you dent em. Just crush and recycle man. GM did a number to the Like a rock reputation Chevrolet used to have. Like the nhtsa is gonna do anything. GM is owned by the same system.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/119648-acorn-damage/


That's golden there. Same stuff we see every day.

@ MJSRacing77 I agree, I laugh every time I see a lifted Chevy 1500, and they need 7.5" of lift to "fit" 35's. My friends truck (09 Silverado 1500) has a 7.5" lift, with 35x12.5 tires. Even after trimming the wheel well plastic, he still rubs.
Let’s all be honest, you can fit 35’s on a Ford, Dodge, and Toyota with just a 3” leveling kit. And even 37’s on the heavy duty Fords and Dodges. And Chevy people wonder why when they lift their trucks the wheel well space is bigger than the tires they can run.

On the Raptor note, I would like to see a high output ecoboost on this truck. Even the current 3.5, just retuned like Ford did with the 6.7 powerstroke to get it to 400hp/800tq. I think the ecoboost with 420HP/460TQ would make this Raptor great, and get better MPG's compared to the dinosaur 6.2.

imo, i hope the 2015 F-150 gets an ecoboost 2.3L or whatever it is I4 to replace the 3.7L V6, keep the 3.5L and maybe retune it, keep the 5.0L as the bread and butter Hemi fighter but add direct fuel injection and replace the 6.2L with an ecoboost 5.0L. to be honest to all of you ford fans, i think the raptor is better off with a naturally aspirated motor for maximum quality and longivity given the fact it is for serious off roading. do you really want to clean all the mud off both of your turbos and piping, not to mention the intercooler in the middle of the front bumper. if someone gets an F-150 with an ecoboost into a situation like the powerwagon in the next article then that intercooler is gone. so imo, i recommend a retuned 5.0 with direct injection to replace the 6.2 in the 2015 F-150.

Those who think an Ecoboost or turbo charged motor for an off-road truck like a Raptor is a good idea, have no idea what they're talking about! Besides over-heating issues and poor performance because of the heat, the intercooler and turbos would be susceptible to the elements and cause all kinds of problems. I'll never own a turbo charged motor on a real truck as long as I'm alive. You sissys who use a truck for your daily commute every day to the office can have your turbos all day long. Those of us who use a truck for it's real purpose would never buy one. Period.

Chris, have you bought yourself a Raptor? If not, SHUT THE HELL UP!

An EcoBoost 5.0 V8 would have at least 50% more power and torque than the current dinosaur 6.2L. A 6.2 NA V8 might be fast in a Camaro, but it's not that quick in a truck.

@FordTrucks1
"Trucks aren't for racing. They're for hauling things and going off road"
Could not agree more.
http://www.off-road.com/images/content/3-4x4-Answerman-Off-Road-Truck-Suv-Advice-8-22-12.jpg

What a bunch of lame comments. Bulldozers, skidders, loaders, excavators, feller/bunchers, tractors, commercial trucks etc have had turbochargers and intercoolers for decades. Even when I was a kid I remember them on commercial vehicles.
If there was a Power Wagon with the 3.0 intercooled turbo diesel in it, the 3.5 EB naysayers would be wetting themselves in ecstasy.
The EB 3.5 would be a much better motor in the Raptor. It is lighter, has considerably more torque down low (where you need it), and gets better MPG.
I'd rather see the 6.2 saved for the SuperDuty trucks. A 5.0 with Raptor specific mods would be a much better choice as it weighs pretty much the same as the EB 3.5. A truck that is supposed to be a jumper should be light in the nose.

you know the 6.4 challengers could produce around 525 hp, but it would be all top end and most likely be a tad slower off the line 0-60 wise. manufacturers tend to go for the best all around performance and safest way out that doesn't hurt anyone and helps everyone. performance and quality wise. i mean it's not like we can buy rough edged 1969 Camaro Z28's anymore. it is all about "compromise for no compromise".

@MJSRacing77

Where's Chevy?

Stay tuned. There is an off-road vehicle coming from GM. I know it is late, but better late than never!

@Tyler - Chevy offroad vehicle? Most likely based on the new Colorado. Unless you are talking about a sticker kit for the Silverado/Sierra? (Kidding)

I'm sure you've all seen this - and who cares about MPG's when you're talking Raptor. But, I really hope Ford listens and sees what's already happening. Drop a 5.0L Eco in the 2015 redesigned Raptor, and I'll be standing in line with cash in hand. My 2011 3.5L Eco is one amazing truck, but I'll gladly trade up if they toss this amazing engine in a Raptor. God bless Ford, God bless AMURIKA.

http://jalopnik.com/5976027/save-thousands-on-gas-with-the-ecoboost-ford-raptor

I'm sure you've all seen this - and who cares about MPG's when you're talking Raptor. But, I really hope Ford listens and sees what's already happening. Drop a 5.0L Eco in the 2015 redesigned Raptor, and I'll be standing in line with cash in hand. My 2011 3.5L Eco is one amazing truck, but I'll gladly trade up if they toss this amazing engine in a Raptor. God bless Ford, God bless AMURIKA.



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