For those who love the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor but were on the fence about getting one, Ford is offering a few extra reasons to want one in 2011. Ford says it is “ensuring customers have even more power on demand for their off-road adventures by making the previously optional 6.2-liter V8 engine standard for 2011.” That means the 2011 Raptor will feature 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque, making the F-150 SVT Raptor the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market.

Arguably the most notable asset of the Raptor is its off-road capability due to its Fox shocks. Most off-road vehicles won’t come equipped with a factory warranty, but Ford pushed the envelope with its Raptor, and so far the truck has been a smashing success for its Special Vehicle Team (SVT).

For those who missed it, we had the chance to test the original Raptor truck first-hand with Ford at Borrego Springs, California, which is the site of Ford’s testing grounds for the Raptor. The team went to the same location to put the 6.2-liter V8 through its paces.

“We spent a lot of time developing our desert durability test so that it’s very close to replicating the Baja 1000,” said Kerry Baldori, global performance chief functional engineer. “Desert testing proved to be a very quick way to learn about the reliability of the truck, and it put another level of extreme loads on the engine that our normal durability testing doesn’t need to cover.”

The other important addition to the Raptor is its offering in a SuperCrew version. The original Raptor was only offered in an extra-cab version, so those looking for more space will be pleased with the 2011 model.

Source: Ford