Before this article even begins we want to say something about the 2010 Ford->ke31 F150 SVT Raptor: This truck is absolutely pointless. Like the old F150 Lightening, there is just no reason for a vehicle of this size to have this much power. If you want to go fast, buy a sports car and, if you want to haul something, buy a normal F150. That being said, it is good fun.

Capable of going off-road and blowing the doors off of all other trucks, the new 2010 F150 SVT Raptor is something out of this world.

Launched in 2009, the Raptor was one of the most anticipated trucks ever created. The motor could have been a 5.4-liter V8 with 310 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, but that just wasn’t good enough. The 5.4-liter is great for a light sports car, but for something that weighs around 6,000 pounds, more power was needed. Enter the optional 6.2-liter V8. The new engine is the perfect match for this monster truck. With 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque, it provides a real jolt to the this super F150. The 6.2-liter is actually the same as the new Super Duty's motor, but a few tunes here and there has helped it outgun the Duty by 26 horsepower.

Hit the jump for the rest of the review.

Although the F150 Raptor was only a road and off-road truck and not allowed on the racetrack, it was still pretty fast. Even on the off-road course, the Raptor proved to be pretty good. That being said, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged was better in both categories. Whether you're powering up dirt covered hills or driving down a deserted country road, the 6.2-liter super truck is far more powerful than any other fast pickup on the market. As for fuel economy, don’t even ask.

After driving the Raptor it was easy to tell that this was a truck with truck suspension. It was bumpy and hard on all surfaces.

The dirt was a bit muddy from a rainstorm that had pounded Wisconsin the night before, so the off-road steering input was minimal. A longer off-road test is needed in order to determine how this thing feels on the bumpy stuff. We hope you’re reading this Ford.

On the road, the steering is far better than the old Lightening, which was a bit frightening at high speeds. Sure, it feels truck-like and takes bumps as hard as a wooden wheeled buggy, but that being said, it is easy to command when going quickly. The steering wheel feels connected to the tires and there is actually a little grip, but once again, this is still a truck and a tall one at that, so no hard cornering.

The tires that were on the Raptor were so good on the dirt and the road that it’s hard to imagine why anyone would buy anything else. Just don’t let it get muddy. Mud tires would have hampered the ride so the SVT team didn’t bother putting them on. If you like driving around in the dirty stuff, you might want to invest in a pair of mud tires.

We don’t have any exact on-road performance times, but the old 5.2-liter could hit 60 in 8.0 seconds, so this new truck should be able to do it in around 7.0. The noise it makes is great too, but with this big of an engine that’s no surprise. It sounds a bit like the Cadillac Escalade->ke245 6.2 V8, just not as poorly built.

Inside, the STV Raptor that we drove was decent enough. There is enough rear-legroom for kids, but not enough for adults. There are reverse opening doors to make entry and exit as easy as possible. Wind and road noise are hardly there, a real shocker considering this thing's tires and motor.

The SVT gets a few extras as well. The steering wheel is wrapped in meatier leather and there are SVT gauges and a set of heavily bolstered and adjustable leather-trimmed front seats. There are big meaty switches like those on a space craft too. The test Raptor was a bit to gaudy though, with orange plastic and fabric on the dash, doors, and seats. Thankfully, that trim is just an option and we wouldn’t advise getting it.

Build quality was like most Fords in this day and age; very good. There were no squeaks and rattles like we found on the Dodge Ram Power Wagon, which creaked and moaned like a wooden bridge in the wind as it was going down a dirt hill.

Power, power, and power is the story with this thing. The SVT team says that any more power would be dangerous, but who needs it anyway. The 6.2-liter is so out of place in this truck that it's just fun. As we said before, this truck is pointless and at $41,995, expensive too. A Range Rover would be a better value here, as it is comfortable, fast, and great on dirt. Yet, if you have money to blow, live in the country ,and want a good time, this massive beast is a good buy.