Contact:
Jarrett Valenti
Director of Sales and Marketing
4 McLaren, Unit B
Irvine, CA 92618
Office: 949-212-7911
[email protected]
Raptor Performance Group | "The Bump Stops Here"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RAPTOR PERFORMANCE GROUP DEVELOPS STREET-LEGAL
FORD SVT RAPTOR LUXURY PRE-RUNNER
Custom-Built Truck is First of Its Kind by Raptor Performance Group
IRVINE, CA (27 September 2012) – Southern California-based Raptor Performance Group (RPG) is nearing completion the enviable assignment of transforming a standard Ford SVT Raptor into a class-leading luxury pre-runner that will set the standard against which all Ford Raptors will be measured. Forging partnerships with Roush Performance, BFGoodrich Tires and Fox Racing Shox, RPG has created the world’s very first stock-width Ford SVT Raptor that will achieve an eye-popping 19-inches of front end wheel travel while retaining the factory four-wheel-drive system.
RPG is building the special one-off Raptor for client Chris Ross and will display the vehicle in the Meguiar’s booth at the upcoming 2012 SEMA Show, October 30-November 2, in Las Vegas.
“Many have tried to take the Ford SVT Raptor to the next level, but everyone has missed the essence of what the market has been craving for,” noted RPG’s Jarrett Valenti. “Some have added multiple inches to the already extremely wide Raptor to achieve more wheel travel, resulting in a very unbalanced machine in both appearance and handling. Others have built one-off custom-tubed chassis style pre-runners that are as much Raptor as Kyle Busch’s Cup Car is a Toyota Camry.”
RPG stripped the truck down to its frame in order to achieve both the 20-inches of rear wheel travel, and 19-inches of front-end travel. The Ford SVT Raptor Luxury Pre-Runner’s rear frame section is “C”- notched for added bump travel with custom 1.75-inch chromoly tubing for the
rear cage, plus custom paneling to create a rear-end section that will rival the highest dollar
luxury pre-runners in the world, according to RPG. Fox Racing Shox will provide 3.5-inch five-tube external by-pass shocks, as well as 2.5-inch Air Bumps that will be custom-valved and -tuned by their very own ride development department, ensuring off-road race truck levels of handling. This damping power will control the Deaver Spring 9 leaf under sprung conversion specially designed for this project. Dual Optima Yellow Top batteries will be relocated to the rear with the ViAir System. A custom driveshaft, Trussed rear-end for added strength, 4.88 gearing, relocated Trans coolers and Stewart Race-Works Jack complete the package.
From the performance end, RPG has added a dirt-spinning custom-tuned 600hp Roush Supercharger, custom headers and dual UMP air intake system, plus Raptor Performance Group’s first-of-its-kind Long Travel System. The RPG Long Travel kit will consist of custom built, J-Arms, aluminum steering tie-rods, lengthened RCV Products halfshafts, RPG Lower Control Arm, RPG Steering Knuckle, custom subframe cross supports and Fox Racing Shox 3.0-inch coilovers with accompanying Fox custom-built 3.0-inch five-tube External By-Pass shocks. BFGoodrich supplied the off-road race dominant 39x17 13.5 Baja Project tires for ultimate off-road performance and grip.
“Raptor Performance Group is the first company to date that has been able to retain the factory wheel base, factory frame, factory four-wheel-drive and everything that makes the Raptor a Raptor, adding race-truck levels of wheel travel and performance in a street-legal daily driven truck that has no equal,” added Valenti.
Stated RJ de Vera of Meguiar's: “We love people who are Car Crazy. The passion that we have seen Chris Ross have for his Raptor is inspiring. We are very excited to be able to showcase his highly modified ride under the awning of the Meguiar’s trailer at the 2012 SEMA Show. As always, we strive to display and highlight vehicles from different genres of the car hobby, but more importantly we look to share the passion and pride of these owners and Chris is a prime example of that."
“ROUSH Performance is back in the truck market with our ROUSH Off-Road packages for the F150 and 5.0L and 6.2L Raptors, noted Tim Wheeler, vice president, sales and marketing, ROUSH Performance. “Today’s truck owners want increased performance from their vehicles, and ROUSH can help take them to the next level. The Chris Ross Raptor is a great example of a renowned off-road enthusiast relying on ROUSH Performance to deliver dependable power and torque. We are proud to be part of this special RPG project.”
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Raptor Performance Group is an industry leader in the manufacturing of high performance suspension, accessories and outfitting of the incredibly popular Ford SVT Raptor. All design is done via CAD modeling and utilizes the latest in CNC laser-cutting, tube-bending and fabrication processes. For more information, please visit
Raptor Performance Group | "The Bump Stops Here"