Ford Adds 6.2L V8, XT Race Trim to 2010 SVT Raptor

Generally speaking, I think the SEMA show is pretty much a pile of garbage. I mean, who really wants to pay a lot of money, travel to the middle of the desert, and walk around a warehouse filled with orange blinged-up Lexii with Lambo Doorz?  You can count me out on that one.

But one can't ignore that SEMA is getting bigger and bigger by the year, and at this point it's actually a launch-bed for some manufacturer debuts.  So while I combed through pages and pages of useless crap SEMA debuts today, I found something I actually liked.

Ford chose SEMA as the place to debut two new version of their F-150 Baja Racer Special, which they call the SVT Raptor.  We've covered Ford's badass desert-runner here before, and it's one seriously cool piece of kit.  The one thing it was lacking was some real cajones under the hood.  Problem solved!

Meet the SVT Raptor 6.2.  It's an optional engine-upgrade above the regular Raptor's underpowered 5.4L 3v V8, and if you're getting a Raptor, why wouldn't you drop the $3,000 for the big engine?  Ford's been promising this one for a while now, and judging by the numbers, it seems to deliver.  Power output on the bigger motor stands at 411bhp@5,500 rpm and 434lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm, a significant jump over the stock Raptor's 310bhp and 365lb-ft of torque.

With the bigger motor, Ford expects the SVT Raptor to take about 1.5 seconds less of your precious rock-bashing time to hit sixty mph, at around 7 seconds rather than 8.5.  Interestingly, average fuel economy (really?  WHO CARES?) remains the same at about 15mpg.  With the 6.2L V8, the Raptor starts at $41,995 including delivery charges.

In addition to the big new engine, Ford chose SEMA to launch the Raptor XT, which they describe as being as capable as the race-only Raptor R, but will all the comfort and convenience of the street-legal Raptor.  Which is pointless, as it's designated for off-road use only... but whatever.

Additional features of the XT over the regular Raptor include a tuned-up 6.2L V8 making approximately 500bhp, a 4.56:1 rear differential ratio, electronic locking front/rear diffs, increased suspension travel (15" front/18" rear... whoa) a full chromoly roll cage and additional skid plates, five-point racing harness, and bespoke bead-lock offroad wheels.  All this capability has a pretty massive pricetag; SVT wants $99,950 for the Raptor XT, which is quite a lot for an F-150.  But not a whole lot for a Baja racer.

I guess that's the point.  Hey, if I had the money, I'd certainly have one for myself.  The XT is limited to 50 units, so your chances of seeing one are pretty slim.  The 6.2L Raptor will be available for order starting December 1st, with deliveries some time in early 2010.