Shelby->ke81 is well known for tuning some of the fastest Mustangs on the planet, but the company founded by Mr. Carol himself also dabbles in trucks as well. Meet Shelby’s latest performance package for the 2011-2014 Ford F-150 Raptor.

Officially known as the Shelby Baja 700, the heavily modified Raptor will be extremely limited in number, with only 50 trucks->ke242 slated for construction. What’s more than just its limited supply, is its ridiculous horsepower output.

Shelby takes the Raptor’s 411-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 and bolts on a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger within the V, along with a few other goodies to produces a whopping 700+ horsepower.

“In the best Shelby tradition, we took our already high-performance 575-horsepower Shelby Raptor and made it even more capable,” said Shelby American Vice President of Operations Akos J. Feher.

Along with the horsepower upgrade, Shelby ups the ante with several other upgrades as well, so keep reading for the full run-down.

Continue reading to learn more about the new Shelby Baja 700.

2016 Shelby Baja 700

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Shelby Baja 700
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 700
  • Torque: 548
  • Transmission: six-speed automatic
Pros
Cons

Exterior

It’s easy to see this is no ordinary Raptor. The front bumper has been replaced with a tube frame unit with an opening for an LED lightbar. The corner sections feature mesh guards in front of two LED light pods protected behind. Around the sides, the wheels are upgraded to 18-inchers wrapped in BFGoodrich’s latest K02 All-Terrain tire with its redesigned tread pattern and upgraded internal structure.

Around back, the customization continues. The factory bumper makes way for this custom steel unit, complete with LED light pods and stainless steel rivets. A dual-tip chrome exhaust pipe peaks beneath the right quarter panel, giving a light indication as to what lies under the hood.

Beyond the bumpers, wheels, and tires, the Shelby gets a unique paint job complete with a base blue paint and twin, white racing stripes. The white stripes continue along the bottom of the doors, along with the Shelby name.

Interior

Shelby doesn’t leave the interior bare either. The leather seats are replaced with new hide featuring blue and black colors. The Shelby name is again seen here, embroidered into the seatback. The remainder of the interior is left the way Ford designed it. That still gives Raptor owners the use of Ford’s in-dash Sync infotainment system, a bank of auxiliary switches, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a red centerline marker.

Drivetrain

Like I mentioned before, Shelby took Ford’s already-capable, 411-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 and turned up the heat. The Whipple supercharger is combined with a larger throttle body, high-flow fuel injectors, a high-performance heat exchanger, and a free-flowing Borla exhaust system for an increase of 289 horsepower.

That means the truck now makes more than 700 horsepower. Though Shelby doesn’t say, I’d imagine the V-8 makes a bit more torque than its stock rating of 434 pound-feet. Even if increased by only 150 pound-feet, the Raptor would then kick out a stump-pulling 584 pound-feet of torque.

All that power is routed through a six-speed automatic transmission and two-speed transfer case. The T-case offers both 2WD and 4WD positions, along with 4WD low range for multiplied torque. Up front, a Torsen limited slip differential helps direct torque to both front wheels while an electronic locking differential out back equally yokes the rear tires together.

In addition, Shelby upgrades the suspension with stronger A-arms, steering linkage, and beefier remote-reservoir King shocks. When the optional tube-frame front bumper is ordered, a front skid plate is added that runs rearward past the transfer case.

Prices

Nobody would suspect throwing an extra 300 horsepower at a truck would be cheap, but since this is Shelby and since there are only 50 Shelby Baja 700s on the drawing board, the tuning company can charge what it wants. In this case, the price starts at $45,000 – not including the base Raptor! That means the truck’s price tag is nearly doubled. Ouch!

Conclusion

The Ford Raptor is an unstoppable force in the dirt. It’s Baja-ready suspension and race-proven powertrain offer a solid setup for any desert racer. However, adding nearly 300 horsepower to the mix certainly adds a new level of awesome. What’s more, the Shelby name and the Baja 700’s very low production numbers are sure to add exclusivity. It’s just hard to imagine someone pounding this truck through the desert with the risk of utter destruction a mere misstep away. Then again, that’s what the Raptor is made for.