Ford Racing Raptor Assault Program Offers Hands-On, High-Performance Off-Road Driving Over Varying Terrain

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 23, 2012 – Owners and fans of the ultimate high-performance off-road vehicle – the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – now have a unique opportunity to experience it at a state-of-the-art off-road course at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

 

Introduced in 2009, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is the only production-ready vehicle on the market that combines the best of on-road driving and Ford tough truck capability with high-performance off-road ability. Ford has sold more than 28,000 Raptors, making it the best-selling specialty truck ever from Ford.

 

To broaden the experience behind the wheel of the F-150 SVT Raptor, Ford – with Miller Motorsports Park – has created the Ford Racing Raptor Assault program.

 

This new program provides hands-on experience in high-performance off-road driving over a variety of terrain at Miller Motorsports Park outside Salt Lake City. The 2013 season offers numerous dates where those interested can sign up to participate in the fun.

 

“We’re very excited about the Ford Racing Raptor Assault program,” said Mickey Matus, Marketing Communication manager for Ford Racing. “The variety of terrain offered at Miller Motorsports Park is unique in North America, and perfectly suited to showcasing the high-performance off-road capabilities of the formidable F-150 SVT Raptor.”

 

Robust capability and sales
The 2013 F-150 SVT Raptor demonstrates Ford’s focus on raising the bar for off-road capabilities in a production truck, offering customers more of the tools they need to tackle everything off the beaten track.

 

Strong sales reflect the work Ford engineers have put into making Raptor a dynamic presence on- and off-road. In September, sales were up more than 40 percent from the year before – part of a more than 30 percent increase year-to-date over 2011.

 

Raptor’s newly available forged wheels combine the proven reliability of a conventional wheel with the capability to convert to a true beadlock wheel. These wheels secure the edges of a tire to the wheel between two surfaces, so the tire is unlikely to roll off the rim if it’s aired down to very low pressure, providing extra grip on the trail.

 

A Raptor development imperative has been to continually improve off-road prowess in every dimension, from rock-crawling to hammer-down desert-running. Last year, Ford began offering a grille-mounted camera to improve driver visibility when climbing over rocks and other obstacles that might be obscured by the front of the truck.

 

The 2012 model year saw Raptor add a Torsen^® limited-slip differential to the 4WD system enabling the truck to balance traction between both front wheels. If the left front wheel loses traction, the system forces torque to the right front wheel, and vice versa. The system is optimized to help minimize steering kickback when navigating challenging surfaces.

 

The SVT Raptor is available exclusively with a 6.2-liter V8 engine producing best-in-class 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode and SelectShift Automatic^® functionality. The 4WD system features electronic shift-on-the-fly capability for the transfer case.

 

Opportunities to drive and ride off-road
The Raptor Assault program allows drivers of all skill levels to get behind the wheel for their own extreme off-road adventure. A variety of terrain, including an eight-acre rock-crawling course, a 22-acre high-speed off-road short course, and a 900-acre desert racing course are available to demonstrate Raptor’s portfolio of off-road capabilities.

 

Three experiences are offered: a hot laps ride-along program; a three-hour Raptor Assault Experience that includes driving on the rock-crawling course and off-road short course, plus hot laps with a professional driver; and a one-day school that includes driving on all three off-road facilities in addition to hot laps with a professional driver. Special discounted pricing is available for Raptor owners.

 

The Ford Racing Raptor Assault is the latest addition to a portfolio of high-performance experiential opportunities -- supported by Ford Racing – designed to provide Ford performance enthusiasts with professional opportunities to take their skills to the next level and to experience exciting new Ford products in a controlled environment. The other programs include road course instruction, rallying, and drag racing.

 

More information and a full schedule are available at www.RaptorAssault.com.

 

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