Power to the ground
Raptor's heart is a 320 horsepower, 5.4 litre V8 teamed up with a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine lacks the bite to match the bark from its upgraded dual exhaust, and acceleration is far from breathtaking. Raptor isn’t a hot-rod by any means-- though that's not really the point. Shoppers after more sauce should note that an optional 6.2 litre V8 with about 400 horsepower is en route to the Raptor’s engine bay next year.

Raptor's heart is a 320 horsepower, 5.4 litre V8 teamed up with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Power connects with the wheels via a dial-selectable 4x4 system with low range. That's backed by a unique 4:10 final drive ratio and a driver-selectable, all-speed rear differential lock.

With plenty of ground clearance, tow hooks and beefy tires, traction and confidence are non-issues. Raptor is solid, rugged and predictable-to-drive in most any off-road situation—including dunes, mud, sand and even jumps if you’re so inclined. It would likely be a riot in heavy snow, too.

Ride by Fox Shocks
This is more a desert race-truck than a swamp-crossing mud-slinger, so the big story is the suspension. Hit the dirt, and Raptor's special internally-valved Fox Racing shock absorbers do a beautiful job of keeping body movements controlled.

The rear shocks soak up relatively large amounts of discomfort from beneath, and the high-travel setup lets the body lift quickly and lower back down in a smooth, gentle and controlled manner. This was especially appreciated over bumps and moguls, even at speed. Metal skid plates are fitted too, in case of impact to the Raptor's underside.

Incidentally, your correspondent didn't jump any sand dunes as seen in those YouTube videos-- even if the suspension was almost constantly asking for it.

Of course, most owners won't be regularly running their Raptors in Baja races, so the smooth highway manners are appreciable, too. Cruising at 110 km/h, there's scarcely any more noise or fuss than an average family sedan. The ride can get stiff and jiggly on rougher surfaces, though it's mainly stable, planted and smooth sailing.

Hit the dirt, and Raptor's special internally-valved Fox Racing shock absorbers do a beautiful job of keeping body movements controlled.