We’ve written about the relationship between Texans and our trucks before on this site and why this is such a big state for the truck and SUV market. The open country, the need to haul a trailer, and simply the internal needs for wanting to go big or go home all figure into the equation. When it comes to Ford’s new super-truck, the F-150 SVT Raptor, there has already been plenty said and written about it as it’s been out for a few years now. Border agents along the Texas border were even some of the first to put in an order for some. So as you read this, and if you live in Texas, the answer to your inevitable question is yes. Yes, if you have the means to buy one, buy it! Continue reading
Tag Archives: f-150
#10 the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
Being in Texas, how could we not include one of the most hard-core production trucks on the market? The F-150 Raptor jumped on the scene with big promises and big expectations. In 2008, it delivered on all those promises when it finished 3rd in class in one of the most grueling off road races there is, the Baja 1000. The SVT team wanted nothing more than to finish the race in this production truck; finishing 3rd was unexpected for everyone.
The Raptor is unique in many ways from the stock F-150. Not just including suspension work, but the truck is wider by 7 inches and the 5.5 foot box is unique to the Raptor as well. Powering this performance truck is either the 5.4 liter Triton V8 or the 6.2 liter V8 with 411 horsepower and 434 lbs-ft of torque. With 5300 confirmed orders, first year Raptor sales exceeded those of the 1999 Lightning F-150.
2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Today at the International Auto Show in Detroit they announced the North America Car and Truck of the year. Ford had a clean sweep with the Ford Fusion Hybrid winning car of the year and the Ford Transit Van winning truck of the year. We wont get into the Van winning Truck of the year, mostly because here in Texas we had the F150 win Texas Truck of the Year which is more suitable for us. Continue reading
The 2010 Texas Truck Rodeo
2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas
The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.
Texans and our Trucks
Yes! this was in Texas
The hardest hit market in the auto industry during this ongoing recession was the Truck market. Texas, being the largest Truck market in the world, was obviously hit the hardest by the dwindling sales. There is light at the end of the tunnel as Automotive News reports that dealers in Texas are reporting more fleet and retail traffic. In August the F-150 saw its first increase over prior year sales since 2006.
Autoblog goes as far as tying the entire economic recovery to truck sales in Texas, and they have a good point. Let’s all hope that this trend continues and our friends in the car market here in Texas begin to show some success again.
F-150 Raptor to a Border Near You:
Ford SVT F-150 Raptor
We haven’t yet had the privilege of taking a Raptor out in the Texas countryside but from everything we have seen and read about the Raptor we are excited to get the chance. This is one great truck the SVT program has come up with, so good in fact that the Border Patrol has been toying with the purchasing the Raptor F-150. And why not? This is what this truck is made for, high speed off road endurance driving.
The US Department of Homeland Security reportedly wants at least ten Raptors for their Customs and Border Protection divisions. No word on where these would be stationed, but you would have to assume that California and Texas would get a few. So if you see one of these patrolling through Brownville to El Paso snap a pic and give us a shout!
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