2013 Ford SVT Raptor to offer more off-road options

Ford will offer some unique upgrades for its off-road terror, the F-150 SVT Raptor, in the 2013 model year.

According to Ford, the truck will offer an industry-first—beadlock wheels direct from the factory. Beadlocks allow the driver to secure the edges of the tire to the wheel by clamping the tire between the wheel and a beadlock ring kit from Ford Racing. Once the wheels are locked to the tires, the driver is free to lower tire pressure for increased traction in certain conditions.

Also available will be HID headlamps and a new earth-tone, desert-camouflage-inspired exterior color called “Terrain.” No pricing on the options has been announced.

A 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor starts at $43,970 including the $995 destination fee. Sales of the 6.2-liter, 411-hp V8 truck increased 20 percent from January to May this year.

The full press release follows:

Ford Raptor Redefines Factory Off-Road Truck with Exclusive New Beadlock Wheels, High Technology, Camo-Inspired Color

DEARBORN, Mich., June 26, 2012 – Ford is delivering higher levels of capability in the new 2013 F-150 SVT Raptor, answering the call from off-road enthusiasts for even more performance.

The latest Raptor features available industry-first, direct-from-the-factory forged-aluminum conventional wheels that can be upgraded after purchase to extra-capable beadlocks, plus other functional improvements. These include available high-intensity discharge HID headlamps that are brighter and whiter than standard lamps, significantly expanded connectivity features and Terrain, a new earth-toned exterior color.

“Ford F-150 SVT Raptor's popularity continues to grow based on its proven reputation,” said Ford SVT Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi. “It's the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup, so it's critical that we continue to push the boundaries of off-road capability. New available beadlock wheels help to improve Raptor's performance in soft sand and other challenging conditions, enabling our customers to go further.”

SVT Raptor sales are up 20 percent in 2012, breaking last year's record in the January to May period.

Off-road high performance

Raptor's newly available forged wheel combines the proven reliability of a conventional wheel with the capability to convert to a true beadlock wheel.

Beadlock wheels secure the edges of a tire to the wheel between two surfaces so the tire is unlikely to roll off the rim if it's aired down to very low pressure, providing extra grip on the trail.

Raptor's wheels are unique because converting from conventional rim to beadlock only requires that customers unbolt the standard outer decorative ring, dismount the tire from its regular position and then remount the tire in the lock-enabled position with the available beadlock ring kit from Ford Racing.

This marks the first application of a wheel that has both conventional and beadlock-mounting abilities – a solution so innovative that Ford has filed for a patent on the system.

“Raptor's exclusive beadlock wheels give the customer the best of both on- and off-road worlds,” said Adam Wirth, SVT chassis engineer. “Tire inflation can be dropped to a very low threshold for maximum traction under extreme conditions, yet holds tight – and stays tight – when returning to the road.”

SVT Raptor connectivity

SVT Raptor features Ford's acclaimed SYNC

By David Arnouts