Daily Archives: September 12, 2013
Hennessey Roars in with its 2013 Ford Velociraptor SUV
Well renowned for refurbishing various monster machines over the past two decades, Texas-based designer and tuner John Hennessey converted Ford’s F-150 Raptor SVT crew cab pick-up into a full-fledged Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with seating available for eight passengers watching the seamless popularity of the Ford pickup especially from SEMA show in 2012. Hennessey Performance garage had already been offering an overhauled version of F-150 Raptor with an upgraded engine pacifying the needs of buyers who wanted more from the van than 411 horsepower. HPE have, since past three years, produced over 400 Raptor beasts and are overwhelmed to offer Velociraptor trucks for sports enthusiasts.
As the F-150 SVT crew cab from Ford factory travels through a series of dealers and is reached at the Hennessey Performance garage, the trailer from the crew cab and the top of pickup bed is scythed off and new parts are welded for attachment of rear set of doors. Original shaded glass windows from the discontinued in 2005 Ford truck, Excursion are installed above the rear set of wheels after masking with new sheet-metal and painting. Following this is the process of addition of a melded three door tailgate, acquired from the Excursion as well, is mounted surgically in place of the raptor trailer tailgate without altering the taillights and rear bumper from the Raptor.
The recently added trailer bed is carpeted and padded, while the padded interior contour lines which cover the sidelines are adapted from the Excursion, too. Then the roof which is insulated with a thick insulation layer is covered with a dark character. Hennessey remarked this was to make the interiors appear, as company-like as possible. The wings of the van remain aboard while modern cues have been grafted onto the body. Chasmal interiors are exposed as the rear compartment is opened, largest in the sports utility market. It is a customer’s decision so as to what to do with the interiors – they could leave it hollow or place a second and even a third row for added seating up to eight riders. Additional mechanical upgrades like fancily wrapped aggressive tires, better Brembo brakes and armour option, alongside interior LED lighting, custom upholstery and entertainment add-ons are available.
Hennessey offers a stock 411 horsepower unit with a 6.2litre V-8 engine that fires from 0 to 97kmph in a span of 7.5 seconds while an alternative supercharged version, a 600 horsepower unit due to which Velociraptor 600 derives its identity, which despite of added 200 kg of weight reaches 97kmph mark in just 5.9 seconds. Moreover, Hennessey is developing another 800 horsepower behemoth for much more curious souls. Even after this beasty performance, on pushing the pedal right, the interior cabin remains silent, while for customers seeking roaring engine can opt for exhaust solutions. Apart from so many changes, the Velociraptor is essentially a Raptor ahead of the front door including stock dashboard and meters, and unchanged wheelbase and chassis.
The success of the beast is certainly enthralling even after rising concern for the fuel prices, but the edition vehicle is restricted to a limited audience because of its base pricing of $159,500 and thus Hennessey is determined to narrow production to only 30 units per year.
Ford Everest 2014 Concept Debut for Australia
Ford fanatics have been affected with the tentative news of Ford’s plans of ceasing production of the Territory and Falcon in Australia by 2016. A closure estimates that folks employed for production are meant to walk out, and look up for new jobs. But this termination has not been linked with termination of Ford’s tenure in Australia and is not designated to show that plans of crumbling to numbness any time soon, by unveiling Ranger-based Everest concept which is set to light up the markets by 2015.
Ford has been bracing its line-up for expansion in the market in 2017 by adding an assailant to the brigade when it launches eleven new products. Ford has flaunted its commitment to Australia by releasing a rough and tough seven-seater, not actually set to replace the senior Territory, a job either Flex or Edge shall accomplish. The Everest will be a true off-roader, and shares it blueprints from the Ranger pickup truck. Whilst the two previous production models of the Everest, dubbed Endeavour in India, were produced in Thailand since 2003, the newer member of the family is likely to be sold in Australia itself, too. It is conjectural that post production, the Everest will reach out to other undiscovered markets as indicated by Mark Fields, Ford’s COO. However, it is unlikely that the Everest sells in the home market, since similar sized SUV’s already reign the region.
Ford has recently released pictures of the hero in the market, which flaunts its design lifted slightly from the Ranger, and a Ford’s mundane trapezoid three-stroke grille which dragoons the front face of the Everest. Everest receives a revamped bonnet, placed above front quarter panels, and Ranger relayed A-pillars, with subtle tailoring. The rear end is entirely refreshed, adorning the Everest headline, big enough and chrome-lifted along with wider new tail lights. Thin and aggressive headlamps are set to lift the Everest to an equal peak.
Although no official notifications have been flagged yet, many patrons have speculated that the Everest might acquire one of the two engines featured already on the Ford Ranger UTE which is either 2.2-litre or 3.2-litre five cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, but considering the fancy for reduced carbon footprints the Everest might also route itself onto the EcoBoost way. The Ranger’s ladder frame chassis entice as a part of Ford’s new strategy at design for 2017 shoot-out.
Despite of the acts that might exhibit Ford’s steps to uproot itself from Australian premises, Bob Graziano, Ford Australia President and CEO, ensured that employees and customers that they are dedicated to them through a sequence of launches lined up in the recent present and cutting-edge leading technologies. Apart from being misunderstood as the Dodge Durando from a far off vision due to similar grille and headlight location, the Everest is set to share market with Toyota Forerunner, Mahindra SsangYong Reston, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport besides being shared in Ford’s refreshed line up for the 2017 scenario, where it shall share space with a refreshed Falcon from the Ford shed, as well.