Ford Performance engineers have spent some time in Northern Michigan this summer trail testing prototypes of the all-new F-150 Raptor.
DETROIT, MI - Ford Performance engineers have spent some time in Northern Michigan this summer trail testing prototypes of the all-new F-150 Raptor.
In the video below, an early engineering prototype that has parts from a 2017 Raptor and from a 2015 F-150 can be seen climbing through some of the Pleasant Peninsula's muddy two-tracks.
The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor was first unveiled in Detroit last January.
The offroad performance truck will be built at Ford's Dearborn Truck plant. It's set to arrive at dealerships in fall 2016.
Like the new-for-2015 Ford F-150, the Raptor is being made with a steel frame and military-strength aluminum alloy body that Ford says saves about 500 lbs of weight.
The F-150 Raptor will have a 3.5L EcoBoost V8 engine under its hood, producing 411 horsepower and 436 lb. ft. of torque, and will come equipped with a 10-speed transmission with manual paddle shifters. It's six inches wider than the standard F-150.
The new Raptor also comes standard with 3.0-inch FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology. The shock absorption tech both dampens and stiffens suspension over rugged terrain.
The truck also features with an all-new, four-wheel-drive torque-on-demand transfer case.
Pricing for the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor has not yet been released.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com, follow him on Twitter or find him on Facebook.