This fall, the Ford Motor Company will open the order books for the most off-road capable full-size pickup truck in its history. The all-new F-150 Raptor doesn’t just talk the talk, but also walk the walk like a champ.
Following a short hiatus and a drop of the SVT prefix, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor wants to show us what it’s made of. I could go on and bore you to death by talking about the 450-some hp developed by the 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine, the 10-speed automatic transmission, and the nigh on 500 lbs (226.8 kg) weight loss over the SVT, but I won’t.
Today, instead, I want to talk about the six terrain modes that are made to the measure of the all-new Raptor. To change from one mode to another, all you need to do is press the Mode + or Mode - button on the right-hand side of the steering wheel to choose from Normal, Sport, Weather, Mud/Sand, Baja, or Rock Crawl. As expected, Baja and Rock Crawl are the most extreme modes for off-road junkies.
For everyday driving, Normal mode tailors the transfer case, stability control, and traction control to behave as civilized as possible. Sport, on the other hand, is intended for spirited on-road driving. In this mode, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor holds gears longer to keep the engine in the power band, the shifts are made quicker, and the throttle response a little bit sharper.
When driving conditions are not that great, Weather mode is inspiring confidence in slippery conditions by optimizing the traction control, throttle response, and the way the 10-speed tranny shifts. Next up is Mud/Sand. As the name implies, this mode was developed for tackling trails, sand dunes, and off-road treks in with mud on the menu. 4 High and the diff engage and optimized AdvanceTrac settings help the Raptor keep its footing. Steering is set to comfort, making it easier to navigate along trails and over obstacles.
Baja mode is where thing get really serious. According to Ford, this mode is where the Raptor eclipses its competition. Tailored for high-speed dune hunting, Baja places the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor in 4 High, the AdvanceTrac traction control is dialed to the least intrusive setting, and the throttle map is adjusted for the most linear power delivery the EcoBoost V6 has to offer.
As for Rock Crawl, this setting stands for exactly what it says. Engage this mode and the driver is prompted to put the F-150 Raptor in 4 Low. Then, the locking diff engages automatically, the traction control is optimized for rock-climbing, while throttle modulation and transmission response are calibrated to offer greater control. Lastly, the front camera allows the driver to see what’s in front of the truck.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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