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Shelby boosts production of 575-hp Raptor on early demand

Shelby American unveiled its all-new Shelby Raptor at the New York Auto Show last month, saying that it would build just 100 examples of its off-road bad boy, a pickup priced at $17,995 over the cost of the donor Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. But the Las Vegas outfit apparently underestimated just how popular the supercharged 575-horsepower 4x4 would actually be.
Strong early demand reportedly has Shelby singing a whole new tune, as the company is now saying it will build upwards of 500 units annually. While the increased production will likely make for at least 400 more happy owners, those who were on the original short list - possibly speculating on future values - might not be grinning as much. Needless to say, the company has assured everyone that each and every one of the modified Raptors will still be listed in the official Shelby registry.
Keep in mind that Ford isn't sitting idle on its trophy-truck-for-the-street, either. The company will reveal its own 2014 F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition this month.

The tricky business of octane, power, and MPG

Given tepid green-car sales numbers this year, consumers in the US aren't making the transition away from internal combustion engines too quickly. Regulations are still mandating cleaner emissions, though. In addition to downsizing and turbocharging, there's growing consideration about moving to higher-octane fuel to improve overall efficiency. In a new report, engineers at FCA, Ford and General Motors Powertrain are showing that it could work, too. The major advantage to higher-octane fuel is that it supports higher compression ratios. That in turn can lead to more power from burning the same amount of gas. "Higher ethanol content is one available option for increasing the octane ratings of gasoline and would provide additional engine efficiency benefits for part and full load operation," the researchers write in the study's abstract. The authors even think it could be possible to update some modern vehicles' engine calibration to be optimized for the better gas. While the benefits are there, we still have a long way to go before higher-octane fuel becomes a national standard. According to Green Car Congress, 87 percent of the gas sold in the US is regular grade 87-octane. Meanwhile, premium 91-93 octane makes up just 10 percent. The various grades of fuel illuminate even more annoyances with the current system. For example, Ford generally recommends 93-octane for EcoBoost engines, and the power outputs that the company publishes are based on using it. However according to Green Car Reports, such premium gas is very difficult to find in some regions of the US, especially along the West Coast. The powertrains still run on lesser grades but with lower power output. The researchers' discussion of possibly increasing ethanol in gas also comes during a heated debate on the substance. The current administration is pushing for less of the corn-based fuel in the coming years. Although, several presidential hopefuls might be favor of reversing that course.

2021 Ford Raptor vs Ram TRX Specs Compared

Hopefully by now you've had a chance to read our thorough 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor review. If not, check it out, 'cause you'll find a lot more detail and expertise than normal (for Autoblog or anywhere) thanks to Dan Edmunds' vast engineering and off-roading background. If you want all the dirt on the Raptor, pun intended, that's where to turn. If you just want to gaze at the specs, however, and wonder how they compare to the old Raptor or to the Ram TRX, check out the chart below. There you will find dimensions, clearances, angles, weights, capacities, engine output and fuel economy for the 2021 Raptor with both 35-inch and 37-inch tires. As Dan explains in his first drive, there's actually more going on there than just tire sizes. You'll find the same specs for the outgoing second-generation Raptor plus the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX and the less extreme Ram Rebel trim level in the chart, too.  Other reviews and deep dives about the F-150 and TRX 2021 Ram 1500 TRX First Drive Review Our review of the Raptor's chief competitor, the mighty TRX. That just sounds like we're talking about Jurassic Park.    2021 Ram TRX Suspension Deep Dive and RTI ramp test Follow along with engineer Dan Edmunds as he takes you under the TRX and explains everything there is to know about its suspension -- and how it's able to do what it does.    2021 Ford F-150 Full-Line Review   2021 Ford F-150 Suspension Deep Dive It's a totally different F-150 flavor to be sure, but even the volume-selling XLT received a lot of work for 2021. Dan Edmunds takes you underneath the truck to show you what's different and what difference it makes.    Photo Galleries of Each Truck 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor View 16 Photos   2021 Ram 1500 TRX 2021 Ram 1500 TRX front 3/4 in motion View 53 Photos   Ram 1500 Rebel 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel View 42 Photos   Second-Generation Ford Raptor 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor View 37 Photos