Two years ago, Ford’s Special Vehicles Team, known for their work on the F-150 lightning and the Mustang Cobra, started work on an off-road version of the 2009 model F-150.  This new truck was to be an awesome desert racer right out of the box.

When released in the Summer of 2009, the Raptor will come standard with the current 5.4L V-8 making 310 horsepower, a custom-built suspension from Fox Racing, and unique body styling setting it apart from the regular F-150. 

It will also come with 35 inch BFGoodrich All Terrain tires mounted on 17 inch rims.  A locking rear differential along with a button for “off road mode” that disables most electronic safety nets and insures that the Raptor is always moving forward.  Hill descent control is also offered, a first for any Ford vehicle.

A few months into production, an all-new 6.2L V-8 will be introduced.  Early estimates are guessing it will make around 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. 

Built like a trophy truck for the Baja 1000, the Raptor can traverse ruts and gullies at 100 mph; its 11 inches of suspension-travel in the front and 13 inches in the rear soak up the massive impacts.

However advanced Ford designed this truck to be, the slumping economy might prove to be one obstacle the Raptor will have a hard time getting over.

With the world’s economy skulking and gas prices on a steady upward trend, why is Ford Motor Company still sinking huge amounts of cash into large, V-8 - powered trucks?

Without doubt, the Raptor is an awesome truck, but we are left wondering how Ford plans to sell this thing.  Mark Williams from MotorTrend Magazine estimates pricing will top out around $45,000; a price that’s very reasonable considering the serious modifications done to the truck.  But will the public be willing to buy such a non-economical vehicle targeted at such a niche market?

Other manufacturers like General Motors and Chrysler are betting big on the small-niche markets too.  GM is rolling out the Corvette ZR1 and Chrysler their Challenger SRT-8 – both vehicles have large-displacement V-8s and over-bearing price tags.  

With pricing for the ZR1 starting at $104,000, GM is banking on selling a low volume at a high-profit.  Chrysler’s pricing is a little more modest at a measly $42,000 for the top-line muscle car.

Only time will tell whether Ford and the others are making the right choices by releasing vehicles that do way more than point-A to point-B transport.  

Understandably, the design and development process take time and cannot always foresee troubles ahead.  This may mean that in another two years, we will be buying Smart Car-sized gas-sippers that get 50 mpg.