Perhaps Ford was figuring that it would win the North American Truck of the Year — which it did. Perhaps they were trying to show doubters that the all-aluminum body was as tough as they claimed. Perhaps it was about the fact that it was still as capable with more than 500 lbs. taken out while featuring more high strength steel than its predecessor. Whatever their thinking, this was a gutsy move.
An all-new terrain management system will enable easier selection from six different modes — normal for everyday driving, street mode for higher performance on-road, weather mode for rain, snow or ice, mud and sand mode, BAJA mode for high-speed desert running and rock mode for rock crawling. (I can hardly wait to check it out myself.)
There are also calibration changes to the powertrain, drive line, traction control ABS and AdvanceTrac stability control. An available Torsen front differential increases off-road capability and the Raptor will come standard with new FOX Racing Shox designed to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain while helping to prevent bottoming out.
It is interesting to note that, while we certainly were not treated to all of the details, including technology and interior info, Ford provided more than some other truck makers did for their new 2016 models. That says to me that this truck has been in the works for a while and may even have been developed in tandem with the 2015 F-150.
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