15 Years of Ford F-150 Raptor: The Truck that Transformed Off-Roading

It has officially been 15 years since Ford introduced the world to one of the wildest trucks the company has ever built, the F-150 Raptor. From the first moment everyone laid eyes on it they were in love, but not just because it looked the part. What made the F-150 Raptor so cool was that Ford engineers for the Special Vehicles Team (SVT)—now known as Ford Performance—were testing the truck via the Baja 1000.  

An Off-Road Truck for the Road 

In the first outing in 2010, the team took third place in its class with what the team called the Raptor R, cementing the Raptor as quite possibly the coolest truck ever made. Never before had a skunkworks team built an off-road behemoth that could be driven to the ragged edge during 631 miles of desert terrain and then drive back home. The SVT team worked closely with FOX to produce the right shocks for both on- and off-road, something that allowed the Raptor to drive like an F-150 and a race truck at the same time.  

First-Generation Raptor Engines 

The first-gen Raptor was first powered by a 5.4-liter V8 that produced 310 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, but later in the initial year Ford slid the 6.2-liter V8 borrowed from the F-Series Super Duty trucks under the hood, putting out a much more respectable 411 horsepower and 434 lb-ft of torque—more than what the engine had in the Super Duty because of special cams and a tune.  

FOX Shocks and Ford Performance, a Match Made in Heaven 

FOX and Ford brought a whole new meaning to an off-road capable pickup truck that you could buy at a dealership with 2.5-inch internal bypass dampers. These were necessary so that the Raptor could travel at high speeds with ease over rough terrain while still being durable and comfortable. The second-gen Raptor saw the FOX shocks increase to 3.0-inch Live Valve suspension controls to make the truck even more stable and controllable over rough surfaces. In 2024, Ford and FOX gave the third-generation Raptor 3.1-inch dual Live Valve dampers (Raptor 37 and R). This allows the truck’s suspension to react in real-time depending on the terrain and the driver’s input. Ford said that these new shocks actively make the Raptor ride better by adapting to the environment with immediacy.  

Made for the Street, Proven at Baja and Dakar 

All along the way, Ford was still putting each and every new Raptor model through its paces at Baja and the Dakar Rally, with the latest offering taking a podium finish in the new Raptor T1+. Now the Bronco and Ranger each get their own Raptor treatments, which is to say there are no other vehicle offerings like the Ford Raptor range.  

Power for the Latest-Gen Raptor 

The second- and third-gen Raptor models have been powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 that produces 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. The current third-gen also gets the Raptor R treatment, which sees a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 stuffed under the hood that currently puts out 720 horses and 645 lb-ft. There truly is no substitute for what Ford offers customers.  

Celebrating All That Is Raptor for Years to Come 

There has never been a more capable truck than the F-150 Raptor, and now the Ranger Raptor and Bronco Raptor give customers the same type of rugged off-roadability with great on-road manners. Here’s to celebrating another 15 years of all things Raptor. 

Why Choose Dick Smith Ford of Columbia 

At Dick Smith Ford of Columbia, we value our customers and offer some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.