Long Travel F150 is coming

See photos at http://www.sema.org/Main/ArticleDetail.aspx?contentID=59524

The truck known around the Internet as the Ford F-150 Raptor is unofficially official. Spy photographer Brenda Priddy tells us that sources attending Ford's recent 2008 dealer preview in Las Vegas viewed a video of a Raptor mule bombing across the desert at high speed. Ford execs are calling the Raptor the first and only Baja 1000 Trophy Truck available from a dealer.

Dealers also saw a photo of the production grille, the word "FORD" (not the Blue Oval badge) stamped prominently into its black mesh. The anticipated BOSS engine was quoted at 380 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, although writers who cover the off-road market expect it to be closer to 420 horsepower based on the anticipated engine's 6.2-liter displacement.

Ford officials also displayed one of the Raptor's long-travel shocks, built exclusively by Fox Racing for the Raptor program. They will reportedly offer four inches more travel—a 50% increase—than the eight inch shocks found on the Ford's FX-4 off-road trim package.