After a few delays to validate the quality of their latest build, Ford’s Special Vehicles Team has delivered the new F150 Raptor. Zerin Dube from SpeedSportLife.com borrowed the truck from Ford’s Press Fleet and drove it directly to Hennessey Performance to see how it compares to the previous bird of prey. John wasted no time in establishing a baseline for future tuning. The first video was a test of the powertrain on HPE’s chassis dyno. A pair of EcoBoost turbos on the 3.5-liter V6 produce 365 hp and 422 lb-ft of torque. The latter appears gradually and peaks at a usable 3,700 rpm. It’s easy to see that boost is carefully controlled by the computer to save fuel and wear on the 10-speed automatic transmission. Developed in a partnership with General Motors, they both have a lot riding on the new gearbox.
For video 2.0, it was time for a quarter mile test. At Hennessey’s adjacent Lonestar Motorsports Park, the Raptor was outfitted with telemetry and cameras to record the runs. BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires are not exactly designed for drags, but the tall sidewalls have enough flex for grip out of the hole. With a unique exhaust soundtrack, 60 mph arrives in 5.3 seconds and it goes across the finish line quicker than you might have guessed. Undoubtedly his team is already at work dissecting the data and developing a new tune. More boost and more fuel are the basic ingredients, but we hope to see bigger cams and maybe some Nitrous Oxide for the brave. As soon as pricing is released on the HPE Raptor you will see it here first. To learn what Hennessey Performance can do for you, please click on the link below.
