Autoblog article on Raptor sales and popularity

[Stingray23]

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor sales jumping to new heights - Autoblog

 

[MagicMtnDan]

September 12, 2013

Ford can't seem to build F-150 SVT Raptors fast enough. The off-road-ready trucks have been one of the Blue Oval's most reliable sellers, with record sales in eight of the last 10 months and a 14-percent jump in 2013. That's impressive enough, considering that the least expensive Raptor starts at $44,000. Factor in the modded F-150's fuel economy (it's rated at 11 miles per gallon in the city and 16 on the highway) and a national average gas price, as of this writing, of $3.55 per gallon, and its success is as unlikely as Ford's home team, the Detroit Lions, winning the Super Bowl this year (sorry, Lions fans, we're just quoting the experts in Vegas...).

Yet for some reason, Raptors spend an average of just 15 days on dealer lots before being snapped up, which is a quarter of the 60-day industry average. According to Ford's truck group marketing manager, Doug Scott, it's capability that keeps the Raptor selling strong. "What's helping drive Raptor sales is that Raptor delivers unmatched off-road performance to our customers. Raptor is also proof of our commitment to offer a truck for every customer and continuously improving them to meet our customers' evolving needs."

To address the strong demand for Raptors, Ford will bump production from three trucks per hour to five. Not much, we agree. But building an extra 48 trucks per day, at most, seems like a prudent way of addressing demand without oversaturating what is ultimately a niche market. Check out the press release below for more.

 

[Crikk]

When's read the comments people are ragging on that most of them will just be street queens. I have taken my truck off road, had it caked in mud,I might have gotten a tire or 2 off the ground, and had an amazing time in a foot of snow so I know the capabilities of it. But, mostly it is a Daily driver on the street. What most people don't understand is the off road capabilities translate into an amazing handling and driving truck on the road. I literally drive this truck like its a corvette, and the truck loves it!!! After having Chevys forever, when I got my 2010 fx4 I was amazed at how good that truck handled, brake, and drove. But the raptor is on another level! I know you guys know, but I just love this truck,,