As media professionals, we occasionally get access to some pretty cool things. Ford and Fox held a special sneak preview event in Santa Barbara, California, that we couldn't pass up. The new Ford Raptor SVT was going to make an appearance loaded up with an all-new Fox suspension system. Would this truck live up to all the hype on the Internet? Is it really going to be everything an off-road enthusiast wants? We headed to Santa Barbara to find out for ourselves.
Ride and Drive Experience
At first, we thought we would get to spend some time behind the wheel, but unfortunately Ford wouldn't give up the keys--which means our experience behind the wheel is actually from the passenger seat. Our driver did a great job punishing the truck for us giving us a good first impression of the truck. The engine had plenty to offer; full of torque and a good amount of top-end acceleration. Hitting the dirt in Off-Road Mode took us out of the realm of any other OEM truck. Shooting through turns like a drift car with little-to-no body roll was something new from inside a truck body. The ABS system performed almost as if it was off or numbed down not giving the driver any pedal skip or wobble (from what we watched). The 35-inch tires were welcome both through the whoops and landing off jumps. The Fox/SVT suspension will leave aftermarket long-travel fabricators worried. A foot of wheel travel that performs as reliably as most LT kits with a factory warranty? That's going to be tough to beat. So far the truck looks and rides great. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review when we get our hands on one.
 The first thing we noticed...  The first thing we noticed walking up to the truck was the much wider front end. The track width (front and rear) measures 73.6 inches with an overall width of 86.3 inches. The steel black Ford logo in the grille was a nice touch. Ford removed all of the chrome from the truck's exterior knowing the typical Raptor owner won't be a chrome lover. Undercarriage protection was upgraded with full aluminum skid plates covering the entire front end and transmission. |  Fiberglass fenders and hood...  Fiberglass fenders and hood cover the 315/70R17 BFGoodrich All Terrain KO tires perfectly. Having 35-inch tall tires in the dirt is a welcomed addition to any truck. If you ask us, Ford made a great decision by dumping the typical BFG Rugged Trail tires that many OEM trucks come with. |  |
 The set in taillights are...  The set in taillights are a nice touch but the Ford optional sticker kit may not be for some. Although this truck has dirt on the mind, Ford also wanted to be sure it could still haul a load. Towing numbers will be available soon, and Ford assured us it would still be able to transport your toys, trailer or lumber. |  If any company can fine tune...  If any company can fine tune a suspension system, it would be Fox. Its list of sponsored drivers and race wins is numerous. Fox developed a front coilover and rear shock specifically built for the Raptor. Pushing a nearly 6,000-pound truck in the dirt isn't an easy feat, which is why you see such oversized shocks on race trucks. Fox spent countless hours testing the new setup to achieve the perfect combination. We think Fox hit its goal. |  The interior is laid out well,...  The interior is laid out well, and yes: the truck will be available in other colors. Interior colors will have either orange or grey accents. |
 |  This truck has a lot more...  This truck has a lot more to offer than just better suspension. In order to make that suspension work, it needed to communicate properly with the rest of the truck. Located just above the shift handle is the "Off-Road Mode" button. When engaged the truck alters its shifting patterns, holding gears longer instead of automatically up-shifting at high RPMs. This allows for better dynamics in high-speed bends. It also changes throttle mapping, which increases the throttle's sensitivity to react faster. Off-Road Mode also changes ABS thresholds allowing the ABS system to work in a less-aggressive manner. This allows for sand and dirt to build up under the tires and reduce stopping distances off-road. On top of all that the truck's yaw is increased which reduces intervention from the electronic stability control, allowing the truck more slide angle in high-speed situations. |  The red center stripe was...  The red center stripe was a nice race touch mimicking several aftermarket race wheels such as Momo and Sparco. Now everyone can feel like a racecar driver on the street. |
 Our test truck came with a...  Our test truck came with a 5.4L 3V Triton V-8 that has a six-speed automatic transmission. A 6.2L V-8 (pictured here) will also be an available option for even more power. |  The Fox front coilover sh...  The Fox front coilover shock. |  The rear remote reservoir...  The rear remote reservoir shock found only on the new Raptor |