Automotive

2017 Fiat 500 Arriving With Fun New Appearance Packages

2017 Fiat 500 Arriving With Fun New Appearance Packages

Soon to be even more cute, the Fiat 500 is getting a handful of new optional appearance packages. Sport Black Trim, Two-Tone, and Abarth Roof, Mirror Cap, and Body Stripe will give new 500 models a distinct flare, which Fiat says is all about individuality.
“With its iconic, timeless, head-turning Italian design, the Fiat 500 continues to offer the ultimate in individual expression,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT – FCA North America.
Living Big
Fiat continues to build on two cornerstones: passion and self-expression. The Fiat 500 or Cinquecento is sold in more than 100 countries but remains Italian at heart. With its longstanding heritage, the car is a simple, stylish, and functional machine with the right blend of performance and technology. The new appearance packages for the 500 will provide customers with more flavors for this little-bodied, big-at-heart cruiser.
“With new custom appearance packages and a full menu of options, customers can get exactly what they want while creating their own fun-to-drive personal statement,” Kuniskis said.
Jet Black
The Sport Black Trim Package, available on the 2017 Fiat 500 Pop, features a body-color sport fascia, fog lamps, and 16-inch Hyper Black aluminum wheels. Other blacked-out elements include the headlamps, roof, side sill ground effects, side-view mirror caps, spoiler, and tail lamps. Sport cloth bucket seats on the inside feature silver accent stitching which contrast nicely with the black instrument panel.
The MSRP for the Sport Black Trim Package is $1,295.
2017 Fiat 500 Pop with Two-Tone Appearance Package. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Two-Tone Styling
The Two-Tone Appearance Package, also available on the 2017 Fiat 500 Pop, features a Nero (black), Rosso (red) or Bianco (white) accent roof and matching mirror caps. MSRP for the package is a mere $295; the offset colors between the body and roof look pretty cool when contrasting against each other.
Abarth Treatments
The Abarth Roof, Mirror Cap, and Body Stripe Appearance Package provides the above roof color choices (Nero, Rosso, Bianco) but adds Rhino (gray) as an additional color. The same colors may be chosen to further accent the mirror caps, body-side stripe, roof, and spoiler from the rest of the car. MSRP for the Abarth Roof, Mirror Cap, and Body Stripe Appearance Package is $495.
2017 Fiat 500 Abarth with Roof, Mirror Cap, and Stripe Appearance Package. Photo: FCA US LLC.

500 Trims & Variants
The 2017 Fiat 500 has three trim levels: Pop, Lounge, and Abarth. Available options for all three include an automatic transmission ($995) and a sunroof ($795). Any Fiat 500 model may be ordered as a Cabrio for an additional $1,495. Fiat’s 500 variants include the 500c (Cabrio), the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio, the fully electric 500e, the five-passenger Fiat 500L, and the 500X crossover. The latter is avaialbe with all-wheel drive.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.

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Ford Attracting Younger, More Affluent Buyers With Sporty Cars

Ford Attracting Younger, More Affluent Buyers With Sporty Cars

Recently, Ford Motor Company shed some light on their SUV strategy, and highlighted their promising future sales projections in that segment. While American automakers have traditionally cornered the truck and SUV markets, it appears Ford now has a leg up on cars.
According to the New Vehicle Customer Study by MaritzCX, Ford’s sporty car customers are now younger and more affluent on average. Generally speaking, younger customers are drawn to Ford’s more athletic and sporty car variants.
Vehicle Metrics
The Ford Fiesta ST is a perfect example. The average Fiesta buyer is 45, but the average age of a Fiesta ST customer is about 35. A similar pattern emerges with the Ford Focus; 46 is the average age of a Focus buyer but the Focus RS and ST are 41 and 36, respectively. Even the larger Fusion follows the metrics with Fusion Sport buyers being an average of three years younger than a traditional Fusion buyer at 48.
Ford is concentrating on younger, repeat buyers here, citing a special interest in Millennials. The generational cohort accounted for a 45 percent increase during the first three months of 2017 in Ford’s more sport oriented car models.
“With repeat customers making up around half of industry sales, capturing younger buyers while they still have many vehicle purchases remaining in their lives is good for business,” said Corey Holter, Ford Car Group Marketing Manager.
2017 Ford Fiesta ST. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Purchasing Prowess
According to Ford’s metrics, Millennial customers have some buying power when it comes to this segment. The average Fiesta buyer has a household income of $59,000, but for the Fiesta ST, that figure jumps to $102,000. The average Focus buyer brings home $63,000, while Focus ST and Focus RS customers show much higher household incomes at $108,000 and $169,000, respectively.
Ford also credits their EcoBoost line of engines and the “hot hatchback” movement for the sales increase. Hatchbacks are generally thought to be more stylish and versatile, whereas EcoBoost engines are designed to deliver more power and greater fuel economy.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson Urging Change, Sustainability

Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson Urging Change, Sustainability

Volvo Cars addressed what they describe as a “changing world” today at the UN Global Compact Nordic Network in Gothenburg, Sweden. Over 190 delegates from 100 companies are meeting at Volvo’s headquarters over the next two days to discuss how businesses can support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The automaker is a founding member of the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
Volvo Cars President and Chief Executive Officer, Håkan Samuelsson is the host of the event.
“Our customers want safer, more sustainable and convenient cars,” he said during the opening remarks. “We can meet that demand, be a force for change, and grow our business at the same time.”
Business Critical
Volvo is advocating the entire automotive industry responsibly adapt to the unique demands of today’s customer. As car ownership evolves and buying preferences shift, Samuelsson believes companies committed to sustainability will be successful. Samuelsson is using the two day event to highlight Volvo’s commitment to sustainable business as an integral part of the company’s mission. The timing is excellent too – a 2015 Nielsen global online study found almost three-out-of-four Millennials are willing to pay extra for sustainable products.
“Brands that establish a reputation for environmental stewardship among today’s youngest consumers have an opportunity to not only grow market share but build loyalty among the power-spending Millennials of tomorrow,” said Grace Farraj, Nielsen Senior Vice President, Public Development & Sustainability, at the time of the study.
Samuelsson echoed similar sentiments.
“Sustainability is no longer a simple box-ticking exercise, but business-critical as well as a significant business opportunity for those companies that get it right,” he said.
Volvo Cars’ T8 Twin Engine Range. Photo: Volvo Car Group.

Necessary Strides
Volvo is linking their electrification and autonomous initiatives to their sustainability efforts. Currently, Volvo has committed to 1 million electrified vehicles by 2025 with climate-neutral manufacturing operations arriving by that time. Many of the automaker’s active safety technologies are arguably precursors for full on autonomous driving. Volvo acknowledges their ambitious plans here, but insist such plans are necessary when considering future environmental and safety impacts.
“We recognize the limitations of the internal combustion engine and the appetite for change in society,” Samuelsson said. “I am confident that our next generation of fully autonomous, electrified, and connected vehicles will help make the cities of the future cleaner, safer, and smarter.”
Visionary Commitments
Volvo’s progress so far includes a 70 percent reduction in C02 emissions from their European manufacturing plants between 2004 and 2016. The automaker’s work with the Belgian government resulted in a 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions at their Ghent manufacturing facility. Volvo has six plug-in hybrids and plans to offer an electric variant for each vehicle in the lineup. They believe strides like this in sustainability will foster profitability.
Within Volvo’s sustainability vision comes their longstanding safety commitment, both in the vehicle and on the job. Vision 2020 states no person should be seriously injured or killed in a Volvo by that time. Internally, the automaker is working to ensure there are no fatalities or serious injuries to any of their employees or contractors. They are going so far as to offer better filters and materials in the workplace, while developing a more diverse corporate culture.
This year’s annual meeting of the UN Global Compact Nordic Network is taking place at the Volvohallen conference center, part of Volvo Cars’ global headquarters in Sweden, on May 8th and 9th.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Volvo Car Group.

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Cadillac To Expand Super Cruise & Other Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications Systems

Cadillac To Expand Super Cruise & Other Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications Systems Cadillac is planning to make Super Cruise available on all models beginning in 2020, with other GM brands to follow after that time. Cadillac’s Super Cruise feature can automatically steer, brake, and keep the vehicle positioned on the highway in certain, optimal conditions. The automaker is also planning to offer V2X communications in a high-volume crossover by 2023, and eventually expand that technology across the product range.
Market Position
With the broader implementation of these technologies, GM believes they can better serve consumers in the future.
“The expansion of Super Cruise and V2X communications technology demonstrates Cadillac’s commitment to innovation, and to making customers’ lives better,” explained Mark Reuss, GM Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “GM is just as committed to ushering in a new era of personal transportation, and technologies like these will enable it.”
“Cadillac is proud to be the leader for the company’s innovation,” added Steve Carlisle, Cadillac President.
Photo: Cadillac.
Super Cruise Features
Super Cruise uses high precision LiDAR map and GPS data, an advanced driver attention system, and a network of camera and radar sensors. Cadillac says customers can drive hands-free on more than 130,000 miles of limited-access freeways in the United States and Canada, provided they have an active OnStar plan with emergency services.
“The driver attention system helps to keep drivers engaged and detects when drivers need to pay more attention to the road,” reads a statement from the automaker. “Even while using Super Cruise, drivers must always pay attention and not use a handheld device.”
Expanding Technology
Cadillac introduced vehicle-to-vehicle communications on the CTS sedan last year, which uses Dedicated Short-Range Communications technology. With a range of nearly 1,000 feet, drivers can be alerted to possible threats in time to avoid a collision. V2X compatible vehicles can decipher hazardous road conditions, traffic light statuses, and upcoming work zones among other things.
V2X technology can also be expanded to help protect roadway users including cyclists and pedestrians.
“Groundbreaking technologies like these continue to provide unparalleled comfort and convenience for our customers,” Carlisle said.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: Cadillac.

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2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback: Sporty, Convenient, Affordable

2018 Toyota Yaris Hatchback: Sporty, Convenient, Affordable

The Yaris still plugs along as Toyota’s North American entry level/sometimes sporty hatchback. It is aimed directly at recent graduates (both college and high school) or the rest of those newly out on their own. It is small, cheap to buy, cheap to run, and since it’s a Toyota, reliable as an anvil.
The 2018 Yaris hatchback will soon be here, and Toyota just announced retail prices and features for the entry level car. Let’s get the bottom line out of the way first, and then we can talk about the comfort and convenience features along with all the other techno-goodies.
Basically, the Yaris comes in three-door and five-door body styles in two grades, L and LE, and there is also the five-door SE, which is said to be more “sporty.” Manual boxes are only available on the three-door L and the five-door SE.
Affordable Ranges
Cost wise, the 2018 Toyota Yaris hatchback starts with the L grade and will run you from $15,635 for the three-door with a manual transmission, up to $16,760 for the five-door with an automatic. In the middle there’s the LE grade Yaris, starting at $17,285 for the three-door with the slush-box transmission and $17,660 for the five-door version thereof. And at the top of the range is the “sporty” (Toyota’s words, not mine) Yaris SE. The SE starts at $18,260 for the five-door with a manual transmission and rises up to $19,060 for the five-door automatic.
So the whole Yaris model range fits between a 15-and-a-half to 20k bandwidth that should ensure Toyota can sell these things as fast as they can make them. And although the Yaris is touted as “a great value for buyers on a budget” it is not a stripper devoid of things like heaters and glove boxes. The Yaris actually has pretty close to a full suite of techno and safety goodies that all buyers have come to expect these days.
Safety & Security
The 2018 Yaris features Toyota Safety Sense, which is a triple shot of driver assist gizmos including Toyota’s Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams. Yes, to me these are all poor excuses for having your former Drill Sergeant dad yell “PAY ATTENTION!!!” at you in your formative driving years, but that’s a conversation better left between me and my team of court appointed therapists.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Hipster Tech
Since Toyota barely veils that the Yaris is aimed at Millennials, and since any guy in the marketing department with a handful of brylcreem in his hair and a Pall Mall dangling from his lip can tell you the kids these days “dig” their music, the 2018 Yaris is crammed with lots of music tech.
Both the L and LE now come standard with the same Entune Audio system available on other Toyota models. For those of you not “with it” or “hip,” Entune consists of a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, CD player, MP3/WMA playback capability, an auxiliary audio jack input, and a USB 2.0 port with iPod connectivity and control. There is also advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, music streaming via Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free. All this gets blasted into your ears from six speakers mounted throughout the cabin.
The range topping SE model heaps on even more tubes and wires and ones and zeros and Mr. Spock tech. Naturally the SE comes standard with Entune Audio Plus with the Connected Navigation App. It’s pretty much like the Entune package in the L and LE models, but on this go-round, you get a 7.0-inch high resolution touchscreen display along with all the other alphabet soup yadda-yadda of AM/FM, MP3/WMA, USB, iPod, and all that. Added to the package for the SEs is SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month complimentary SiriusXM All Access Trial and Gracenote album cover art (“KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD!!!”), HD Radio, and traffic and weather updates in major metro areas, which sounds nice. All this gets pumped out through the same six speakers, however, so that might be a bit of a hitch.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Interior Touches
On the inside, the 2018 Yaris receives a standard tilt, three-spoke steering wheel with audio controls, and both the L and LE models get the same sport analog instrumentation currently found in the SE. The “sporty” instrument cluster includes a speedo, tach, fuel gauge LCD display with odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temp, current/average fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed, and shift position. There is also an ECO-driving indicator and warning messages for automatic transmission Yarises (Yari?).
Exterior Finishes
Colors? You want colors? The Yaris comes in eight exterior colors including two new shades: Blue Eclipse and two-tone Blue Eclipse with a Black Sand Pearl Roof, which sounds both attractive and fancy-schmancy all at the same time. Other colors are Super White, Classic Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, and the two-tone Ruby Flare Pearl with Black Sand Pearl Roof. On the inside buyers get fabric choices of combined Black and Gray on L and LE models, and all-Black on the SE.
Did you know the Yaris is designed and assembled in France? I didn’t, but it does explain why it sort of looks like a cross between some weird little French heap and a 300 horsepower rally car. The 2018 Yaris will be in Toyota dealerships this summer.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Toyota Land Cruiser Seizes World’s Fastest SUV Title

Toyota Land Cruiser Seizes World’s Fastest SUV Title

The Land Cruiser has been one of Toyota’s signature SUVs for over 60 years. The trusted machine is well equipped to handle the rigors of harsh climate, rugged terrain, and the family’s baseball practice, swim meet, “hurry we’re going to be late” type of schedule.
For the latter, Toyota’s Land Speed Cruiser might be the ticket. The 2,000 horsepower beast recently clocked in at over 230 mph with former Toyota NASCAR driver Carl Edwards at the wheel. The feat was enough to earn the Land Speed Cruiser the “World’s Fastest SUV” title.
Record Breaker
The Land Speed Cruiser, which debuted at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, was originally a factory Land Cruise – that is until a team of ambitious engineers at Toyota’s Motorsports Technical Center (MTC) got their hands on it. Toyota was looking to break the previous record of 211 mph and did so handily; a GPS-verified and video-documented 230.02 mph registered before the vehicle ran out of pavement.
What’s scary is had there been more cement, the Land Speed Cruiser would have gone faster. According to MTC Manager, Chuck Wade, Toyota’s principal was to simply make an ultra-powerful Land Cruiser and see how fast they could make it go.
“This was an aspirational goal that inspired us all,” added Steve Appelbaum, National Engagement Marketing Manager, Toyota Motor Sales.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Power & Performance
The Land Cruiser’s production 5.7-liter 3UR-FE V8 engine provided an excellent baseline for the MTC team. Volley-ball sized Garrett turbochargers were added, generating up to 55 PSI of boost. To handle the additional force, a more robust piston and rod setup was employed, along with a specifically fabricated intake manifold. A custom racing transmission relayed the 2,000 horses to the ground.
Toyota says building the engine was the easy part, whereas the aerodynamics and overall stability were the challenges. To handle such high speeds, MTC lowered the Land Speed Cruiser to mitigate turbulent air under the vehicle. The frame was reworked to better accommodate the suspension geometry, and was narrowed by three inches to fit the wider Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
Toyota’s Arizona Proving Ground (TAPG) provided the team an optimal place to develop the high-speed SUV. In order to break the record – both effectively and safely – everything needed to be perfect for Edwards.
“I wanted the Land Speed Cruiser to provide the confidence you need, as a driver, to keep pushing even when the world around you becomes a high speed blur,” said Craig Stanton, Toyota Test Driver.
Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Ignition & Lift Off
Edwards met the MTC team at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. The locale features a two-and-a-half-mile runway, ideally suited for something of this magnitude. On the first run, Stanton had the go and hit 198 mph, an impressive number in its own right. Edwards jumped in and cracked 200, but found himself short on pavement stopping the beast.
“We made some setup adjustments, and it not only accelerates and shifts more smoothly, but it also enhanced stability,” Stanton said.
Edwards then pulled out all the stops (literally) and pushed the Land Speed Cruiser to its 230 mph record.
“At 225 mph, the thing was wandering a little bit,” he recalled. “All I could think was that Craig said, ‘No matter what, just keep your foot in it,’ and we got 230 mph.”
Daily Inspiration
It’s not likely this muscled-up Land Cruiser will appear at the local Toyota dealership – and if it does, I will see you down there as I am buying one. Still, impressive machines like this derive much of their uniqueness from the everyday vehicles we drive. The “normal” Toyota Land Cruiser provided the essential foundation for this super powerful one – and if you have a Land Cruiser, that’s a pretty cool thought. It would make me smile knowing that as I drove the kids to the mall, picked my wife up from her hair appointment, and loaded the groceries.
“We achieved success by employing the kind of innovative solutions and unyielding determination that have long represented the core of Toyota’s soul,” Appelbaum said.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
NASCAR Driver Carl Edwards. Photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Photos & Source: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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2019 Audi Q8: A Brief Walk Around

2019 Audi Q8: A Brief Walk Around The 2019 Audi Q8 recently made its debut at the Audi Brand Summit in Shenzhen, China. The automaker says the five-passenger SUV will offer advanced connectivity, infotainment and driver assistance systems, and solid on-road capability. The Q8 will serve as the flagship SUV for Audi, who delivered nearly two million vehicles globally last year.
Technology & Connectivity
The MMI operating system utilizes haptic and acoustic feedback that should be fairly easy to acclimate to. Similar to a smartphone, drivers will hear and feel a “click” when they activate a particular function. The MMI system can be personalized with configurable and movable “favorites” buttons.
A natural-language feature means drivers can speak various requests: “I’m hungry,” for example, will prompt the Q8 to search for and suggest nearby eateries.
Those commuting on a daily basis will appreciate the 2019 Audi Q8’s wireless phone charging and Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Styling & Design
The 2019 Audi Q8 represents a new direction for the automaker with regard to SUV design. Exterior highlights include the Singleframe, octagon grille, contoured air inlets, sloping roofline, and “gently inclined” D-pillars.
On the inside, Audi promises plenty of cargo and passenger room as the Q8 is wider and lower than the Q7.
Photo: Audi of America, Inc.
Driving Dynamics
Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive technology (no surprise) will be a mainstay of the new Q8. With a mechanical center differential, the Q8 runs a normal power split of 40:60, but when necessary, can divert a substantial amount of power to the axle with the most traction.
An adaptive damping suspension is standard but an air suspension with different drive modes is available.
A range of engines is likely but Audi did not confirm anything specific in their press materials.
Pricing & Availability
Some reports say the 2019 Audi Q8 will be available in Europe toward the end of this year, with the United States market to follow early next year. Other reports say the vehicle will arrive in the U.S. as soon as this fall.
Audi did not officially disclose the release dates or pricing on the 2019 Audi Q8.
They did, however, provide us with this short and informative video on what inspired the new Q8’s design.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

2019 Audi Q8 Gallery

Photos, Video & Source: Audi of America, Inc.

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This LEGO McLaren 720S Is Just Plain Cool!

This LEGO McLaren 720S Is Just Plain Cool! A full-size LEGO McLaren 720S is now on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. The 1:1 scale model was completed this past Saturday (June 2nd) when the final orange bricks were attached thanks to the help of museum volunteers.
The full-scale model will be displayed through August 19th as part of an interactive exhibit where attendees can customize their own LEGO McLaren via an iPad app. The customization app includes racing stripes, flames, checkered flags, license plates, and other backgrounds.
Attendees can also add their name and print a custom sticker of the car they designed.
Photo: McLaren Automotive.
Attention To Detail
McLaren Automotive worked with the only certified group of professional LEGO builders in the United Kingdom for the project. The group provided in-depth engineering and vehicle CAD data in order to bring the LEGO model to life. Complete with a steel frame, the LEGO McLaren 720S consists of more than 280,000 pieces, tipping the scales at 3,200 lbs.
By comparison, the road-going 720S’s dry weight is 2,828 lbs.
It took a team of six working for over 2,000 hours to complete the project by hand. Builders even included the new Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and corresponding graphics found on the road-going version.
In Person
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles, California, 90036. General admission prices are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and students, and $8 for children ages three to 12. Active military, personal care attendants, and children under three are admitted for free.
The Petersen’s Discovery Center will also host daily access to race ramps and build tables for museum attendees who want to build their own LEGO race cars.
The McLaren 720S has a starting MSRP of $284,745. The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren 720S miniature set will be available in the Petersen Store for slightly less than that.
The Automoblog Staff contributed to this report and can be reached anytime.
Photos & Source: McLaren Automotive.

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2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: Ground Control

You know the Ford F-150 Raptor, right? It’s sort of like what would happen if an F-150 and a Mustang had a baby, and then the baby took tons of steroids. Yeah, that truck. And look, I’m not a truck guy. To me, trucks are what you use to haul your car to the track for a race weekend, but in the case of the Raptor, I might make an exception.
The Raptor is a big brute of a guy, and shortly after it arrived, it featured a big honkin’ brute of an engine. But, fuel economy standards and all that made Ford yank that mill out, and replace it with – please sit down – a 3.5 liter turbocharged V6.
But fear not, red-blooded Americans! The new Raptor is still frighteningly fast, even (especially) off-road, but with the new engine, you spend less money on gas.
Power Transfer
Along with the new engine specs for this go-round, Ford also upgraded pretty much every detail they could get their hands on, and today we’re going to look into this electro-mechanical gizmo Ford calls the “Terrain Management System.” It’s a cutting-edge transfer case, according to Ford, that combines all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive capabilities so the Raptor can handle practically any situation. Spirited off-roading, foul weather driving, its got you covered thanks to four preset traction control modes: sport, weather, four-high desert, and four-low locked off-road driving.
This is all controlled either automatically through the Terrain Management System, or manually via the 4×4 switch. The transfer case has an electronically controlled clutch that reacts on-demand to deliver outstanding performance and confidence whether on road or off. This specifically fabricated transfer case employs an electronic shift-on-the-fly system with mechanical locks to attack “all types of terrain for serious off-road performance.”
And no, Ford is not kidding. They raced the new fore/aft box through nearly 2,500 miles of off-road competition testing.
“Raptor’s transfer case provides the best of both worlds, with the natural benefits from all-wheel drive, such as increased traction in rain and snow, as well as extreme off-road capability that comes with a mechanically locked system,” said Tony Greco, Ford F-150 Raptor Program Manager. Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Combined Performance
Characteristically, truck four-wheel drive systems come in two varieties. There are on-demand systems that use a clutch to send the torque to the front driveline, which is sort of how all-wheel drive setups work, or they use electronic shift-on-the-fly systems with mechanical locks to couple the front and rear driveshafts.
Ford pursued enhancements to the daily driving experience of the Raptor while keeping the truck’s off-road performance in play. With the clutch-based attributes of the transfer case, you can travel on-road with the 4×4 auto setting, which delivers the benefits of four-wheel drive without damaging components or binding the driveline.
The dual-mode transfer case manages the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels, obviously, but the key is the clutch-based, on-demand all-wheel drive capability for everyday driving. This includes an all-weather mode, along with a mechanically locked, durable four-wheel drive system for poise and control in severe off-road driving environments. With the non-sequential 10-speed transmission and that high-output EcoBoost engine, the new Raptor can deliver its 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft. of torque way more efficiently, either on road, or way out in the boonies.
The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor in the 49th running of the SCORE Baja 1000. Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Validation Testing
Did I mention Ford didn’t just cook up this new idea, but they cooked it up and actually raced it? Oh, yes I did, but dig the specifics: The Terrain Management System was put through 2,500 miles of competition testing in the 2016 Best in the Desert series. The darn beast completed the 850-mile SCORE Baja 1000 with nary a hitch, and, this is the cool part: Greg Foutz Motorsports team members drove the truck back to their headquarters in Arizona another 400 miles. How’s that for reliability under stressful conditions?
The concise version here is that although the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, delicious as it is, changed engines, it gave up absolutely nothing in performance – shoot, it actually got better. The video below from Ford Performance explains more.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.

Photos, Video & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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