Out of the 70-plus trucks and crossovers at the 2016 Truck Rodeo put on by the Texas Auto Writers Association, the 2017 Ford Raptor got the most attention. This event, after all, was the first time any journalist had access beyond static displays at auto shows or press images and videos. Sadly, Ford wouldn’t let anyone behind the wheel other than its in-house hotshoe from Ford Performance. Nevertheless, I was among the first outside Ford to experience the second-generation Raptor’s off-road capabilities.
Ford had set up a high-speed course in a hay field along side the vehicle staging area at the Longhorn River Ranch, TAWA’s new location for its annual truck and SUV event. The grassy field provided plenty of rolling hills and sharp ridges over its sprawling acreage, perfect for the Ford driver to show off the Raptor’s handling abilities.
Upon startup, the high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost quietly rumbled to life with a distinct noise that could only come for a V-6. The driver, Ford’s Seth Goslawski, slid the 10-speed transmission into drive and keyed the Terrain Management System into Baja mode. The truck automatically put itself in 4WD high and cut back its ESP and traction nannies. Seth punched the throttle and the truck shot forward in a surprisingly non-dramatic fashion given the slick grass still wet with morning dew. Much that can be credited to the 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires.
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