Photo: Ford
Even though the Mustang and F-150 received mid-cycle refreshes for the 2018 model year, the GT350 and Raptor will remain unchanged as far as appearance is concerned. The information was confirmed to Motor Authority by Ed Krenz, chief engineer of Ford Performance.
The question is, why didn’t the Blue Oval try to at least change the design of the front bumper? According to Krenz, such updates wouldn’t make the GT350 go faster. As for the Raptor, the head honcho said that Ford Performance would rather “invest in suspension.”
Without further beating around the bush, the go-faster division stays true to its mantra. The Shelby GT350, for example, features Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with an exclusive tread pattern and compound. The Gurney flap on the rear decklid aids aerodynamics, along with the redesigned blanks in the front grille of the vehicle.
Ford Performance also worked on the suspension and electronic nannies, all in the name of driver feedback. The F-150 Raptor introduces Fox 3.0 Bypass shock absorbers for the 2019 model year. The design of the wheels and engine cover has been revised as well, and customers can now specify Recaro seats. In a truck, for crying out loud!
Last, but certainly not least, the F-150 Raptor received Trail Control to make off-road driving that much easier than before. A quick summary of the system is cruise control for rugged terrain, automatically controlling the throttle and braking of each wheel while the driver remains focused on navigating and steering the full-size pickup.
The system works at speeds from one to 20 miles per hour, which sounds alright if you’re planning to traverse a rocky hill or two-track trail. The thing is, this kind of technology and off-road capability doesn’t come cheap.
Over in the United States, the F-150 Raptor starts at $52,855 excluding destination for the SuperCab body style. The 802A Package that adds the 4.10 front axle with the Torsen differential adds another $9,365 to the retail price. The Shelby GT350 kicks off at $59,140 while the GT350R costs $67,135 from the get-go.
Without further beating around the bush, the go-faster division stays true to its mantra. The Shelby GT350, for example, features Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with an exclusive tread pattern and compound. The Gurney flap on the rear decklid aids aerodynamics, along with the redesigned blanks in the front grille of the vehicle.
Ford Performance also worked on the suspension and electronic nannies, all in the name of driver feedback. The F-150 Raptor introduces Fox 3.0 Bypass shock absorbers for the 2019 model year. The design of the wheels and engine cover has been revised as well, and customers can now specify Recaro seats. In a truck, for crying out loud!
Last, but certainly not least, the F-150 Raptor received Trail Control to make off-road driving that much easier than before. A quick summary of the system is cruise control for rugged terrain, automatically controlling the throttle and braking of each wheel while the driver remains focused on navigating and steering the full-size pickup.
The system works at speeds from one to 20 miles per hour, which sounds alright if you’re planning to traverse a rocky hill or two-track trail. The thing is, this kind of technology and off-road capability doesn’t come cheap.
Over in the United States, the F-150 Raptor starts at $52,855 excluding destination for the SuperCab body style. The 802A Package that adds the 4.10 front axle with the Torsen differential adds another $9,365 to the retail price. The Shelby GT350 kicks off at $59,140 while the GT350R costs $67,135 from the get-go.
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