Prior to the new Ford SVT Raptor F-150 being introduced back in January at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, it was unclear whether the new SVT pickup would be an off-road ready Raptor or an on-road Lightning. When the Raptor was introduced, that discussion was put to rest, but there are still plenty of Ford truck fans out there hoping for a new Lightning based on the 2015 F-150.
However, in looking at the basic nuts and bolts of the new SVT Raptor F-150, it seems that Ford and SVT could create a new Lightning using many of the drivetrain and body components of the Raptor – just with a different suspension, wheel and tire package and no four wheel drive.
With the new SVT tuned 3.5L EcoBoost V6 delivering 450 horsepower, the 10-speed automatic transmission and the lightweight construction of the new generation F-150, there is a good chance that a new Raptor will outrun an older F-150 Lightning, stock for stock. If you were to take the new Raptor, remove the four wheel drive setup, swap in some shocks and springs better suited for on-road handling (thus lowering the ride) and add a wheel/tire combo that offers better handling on paved surfaces, there is a good chance that it would beat the old Lightning, all without any real R&D efforts.
For our Question of the Week, do you think that a lower-riding, two wheel drive version of the new Raptor could be the new Lightning?
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
