Ford has not only brought a dinosaur back to life, but it’s also found a way to control it with the push of a button.
The 2017 F-150 Raptor will feature six terrain modes, each one selectable from the steering wheel. Normal is perfect for everyday A-to-B drives.
For more engaging roads, there’s Sport mode, which makes the steering sharper, the throttle more responsive, and the 10-speed auto’s shifts quicker.
AdvanceTrac, 4 Auto, throttle response, and shift timing all work together for peak performance in less-than-peak conditions in the Weather setting.
When Mud/Sand mode is engaged, 4 High, the electronic locking differential, and AdvanceTrac allow the Raptor to easily traverse loose or soft ground. Even the steering makes things easier by going into its comfort setting.
Ford says, “Baja mode places the vehicle in 4 High, AdvanceTrac is programmed to the least intrusive settings, and the throttle map is adjusted for more linear power and improved engine response to give the hardcore off-road driver greater control. The transmission has quicker shifts and holds gears longer – keeping the vehicle in its power band.”
For hardcore off-road situations and low-speed boulder climbing, Rock Crawl tells the driver to put the Raptor into 4 Low, then the e-diff engages. AdvanceTrac backs away to its least active setting, and the throttle and transmission give the driver greater control. The front camera gives them a better idea of what lies ahead at speeds up to 15 mph.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
