The Ford F-150 Raptor is about the hardest of hardcore off-roaders (that you can get from a mainstream manufacturer, anyway). But just when you thought Ford couldn't take it much further, that's what it's gone ahead and done. For the 2019 model year, Dearborn has added a series of new features to the dune-jumping pickup. Chief among them are new shocks: electronically controlled units with internal bypass valves.
Developed with Fox, the shocks automatically vary the compression rates and make the most of its 13 inches of travel up front, and 13.9 in the rear. Along with the new suspension hardware, Ford Performance has also added a new Trail Control system that helps it navigate the most rugged terrain at low speeds – between 1 and 20 mph. The system adjusts the throttle and braking at each wheel automatically, taking the guesswork out of the most challenging conditions. As if none of that – or what the Raptor already had – were enough, the Blue Oval automaker is also offering a new set of Recaro bucket seats.
They offer more robust bolstering to keep driver and passengers in place while they make the most of the truck's considerable capabilities, and come with blue Alcantara trim and top stitching for an extra splash of color. There's two new shades of blue and a new shade of black available for the bodywork as well, along with new tailgate graphics and beadlock-capable wheels. What hasn't changed is the impressive powertrain that propels the Raptor's legendary performance. The truck boasts a modestly sized 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 sending a rather immodest 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic transmission. The updated 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor goes on sale later this year.