First hitting the scene in 2009, the Ford F-150 Raptor is essentially a big, bad, burly variant of the ever-popular F-150 pickup truck, offering off-road enthusiasts all the trimmings for tackling Mother Nature’s trickiest terrain. Upgrades include a more aggressive exterior, a taller ride height, and a monster motor under the hood, and now, Ford is improving the package even further with fresh high-tech suspension bits.

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Ask anyone who’s ever done a bit of rock crawling, and they’ll tell you - an off-roader’s suspension setup is key to its success in the rough stuff. Such is the case for the 2019 model year F-150 Raptor, and now, the popular pickup is getting some added high-tech reinforcements.

Kicking it off is a new electronically controlled suspension setup featuring fresh Fox 3.0 Internal Bypass shocks. Ford Performance worked directly with Fox to develop these new units, and they feature continually adjustable damping to make the most of the truck’s stout underpinnings. Paired with the Raptor’s all-new electronically controlled Live Valve technology and real-time terrain adaptation, the Raptor is able to “maximize handling, comfort, and bottom-out resistance.”

“By automatically varying compression rates, Raptor can now make the most of its suspension travel of 13 inches at the front and 13.9 inches at the rear,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director at Ford Performance vehicle programs. “The 2019 Raptor is not just more capable off-road. It’s smarter.”

The new suspension also comes with the Raptor’s Terrain Management System, which was designed to help it be both a high-speed off-roader and offer a somewhat comfortable on-road demeanor. What’s more, there’s a raft of onboard sensors to make it all work properly.

“Not many trucks need sensors to detect when you are mid-air,” Salenbauch said. “Raptor sets the dampers to full stiffness to help smooth shock performance as the truck lands.”

Further upgrades include a new Trail Control system, which acts like cruise control when traveling between 1 and 20 mph over rugged terrain by controlling the throttle and brakes at each individual wheel, allowing the driver to focus entirely on steering duties.

“The system makes everything easier - from driving on a simple two-track trail to traversing a rocky hill climb. Not only can Trail Control automatically draw significant engine torque to overcome steep obstacles, it can individually brake the wheels, so the truck comes down smoothly on the other side,” Ford explains.

Rounding it out is a set of new Recaro seats in the cabin. Offering a highly bolstered and supportive design, the seats also get blue Alcantara inserts and accent stitching, a color scheme inspired by the Light Speed-spec Ford GT’s interior.

Sales commence later this year.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford F-150.

Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor.

Read more Ford news.