We here at C/D really like the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor—it’s huge, you can jump it, and it looks awesome—and courtesy of Ford’s consumer site, we now know that for 2012 it gets a few key upgrades designed to improve the Raptor’s abilities in its natural habitat (anywhere that isn’t paved). According to Ford’s website, the 2012 Raptor gets two big upgrades: a limited-slip front differential and a “frontview camera.” (There are also new body-side decals, available interior accents, and wheel designs, but who cares?)
The limited-slip diff seems like a good addition, as until now the Raptor has made do with an open front unit. (It did have an electronic locking rear.) The new Torsen differential should help the Raptor’s front wheels find more traction when four-wheel drive is engaged. With an open differential, when a wheel loses traction power will continue to be sent to it—like when the lightly loaded inside wheel of a front-drive car spins furiously as the car exits a turn under power.
To help drivers see what’s in front of them when crawling around at low speed off-road, there’s now an available camera front-mounted camera. It lives in the SVT’s front grille and displays a close-up of the road ahead on the navigation screen. Much like a back-up camera, the system overlays animated paths over the view of the ground that map out where the wheels will go. Rock crawling can be messy, so Ford thoughtfully gave the camera its very own washer jet that is controlled by a button on the wiper stalk.
Expect the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor to hit dealerships soon.
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