Off-Road Modified 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

WESTLAND, Mich.–– The 2016 Best in the Desert off-road racing series will see a beastly Raptor on its course this year. Starring in the new factory class stock in the series is the off-road modified 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor.

Ford Performance has a history with racing and is an automotive sponsor of off-road racing in the U.S. Ford's performance vehicles are familiar with competing. The Focus races in Rallycross, the Fiesta competes in the World Rally Championship, the Mustang CobraJet sprints in NHRA sportsman drag racing, the Shelby GT350R-C Mustang competes in IMSA, the Ford GT races in IMSA and the World Endurance Championship international sports cars, and the Fusion/Mustang/and F-Series that appear in NASCAR.

“The all-new Raptor has the DNA of a Baja race truck, with a purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension that enables it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl over rocky terrain,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer, Ford Performance. Being built with these features makes the Ford F-150 Raptor an amazing contender for the Best in the Desert prize. This race will also serve as a platform to highlight and showcase the true capability of this tough terrain king. 

The Ford F-150 Raptor will feature 3.5L EcoBoost, 10-speed transmission, torque-on-demand transfer case engine production platform. This engine produces more efficiency and is rated at 411-horsepower and 434-pound-foot of torque. The new transfer case will help the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels plus the on-demand all-wheel drive sends power to the wheels when it's needed the most.

This racing truck uses the same capability as production Raptors including the first-ever dual exhaust, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2 tires, and the Torsen front differential for elevating off-road performance and boosting grip for the front end, which will come in handy in the race. Straight off the production line, the Ford F-150 Raptor is ready to take on the challenge of rocky desert terrain

Even with the incredible capability the stock features offer, the off-road modified Ford F-150 Raptor has some racing specific features which include:

• A higher-strength steel fully boxed frame for a stronger backbone
• A custom fabricated roll cage
• Three-inch diameter external-bypass front and rear Fox Racing Shox 
• Front and rear springs that raise the ride height for more ground clearance and better compression handling for the extreme course
• MasterCraft seats with five-point harness safety belts
• Window nets
• Racing fuel cell
• LED light bars 
• Lowrance GPS
• RacePak digital dash and data logger

The stock Terrain Management System is a new feature that allows the driver to select modes including: normal for everyday driving, street mode for higher performance on-road driving, weather mode for rain/snow/ice, mud and sand mode for muddy/sandy terrain, baja mode for high-speed desert driving, and rock mode for low-speed rock crawling. 

You can catch this off-road modified 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor at racing events throughout this year. Dates include: Feb. 4-7 in Arizona at the Parker 425, March 10-14 in Las Vegas at the Mint 400, May 5 in Nevada at the Laughlin Desert Classic, Aug. 17-20 in Nevada at the Vegas to Reno, Sept 10-Oct.6 in Arizona for the Blue Water Challenge, and Dec. 1-4 in Nevada at the Pahrump Nugget 250. 

If lower to the ground, on-road racing interests you more, we recommend checking out the 2016 Mustang Models you'll want to know. Not to mention, North Brothers Ford is the place for the ultimate Roush experience. 

We know performance models aren't interesting to everyone, but the 2016 Ford lineup is something that cannot go unmentioned! The new 2016 Ford Fusion and 2016 Ford Focus both have some edgier looks and offer a more responsive and fun drive, with great gas mileage to boot. Come out for a test drive, we'd love to help you find the perfect car! Plus if eligible, you can get out of your Ford lease up to 3 months early with our early bird lease turn-in program. 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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