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Chevrolet Lets The Ford F-150 Raptor Go Unchecked As Leaked Power Ratings Show Major Increases

For better or worse, Chevrolet and General Motors have let Ford reign over the high-power, full-size truck segment. The General has repeatedly stated it has no plans to offer up a challenger to Ford’s Raptor. And this news comes in the wake of leaked performance specs for the upcoming truck.

Ford Authority reports the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will arrive on the scene with a whopping 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque from its EcoBoost engine. Those figures handily out-displace the old 6.2-liter V8 engine, which made only 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque.

By letting Ford have at it, GM and Chevrolet have turned its focus on a midsize rock crawler, the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. We don’t expect too wild of powertrains configurations for the Colorado ZR2, but it should be more than capable to handle the toughest off-road excursions with heavy duty shocks, tires and tweaked exterior components.

Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Concept

Is it a smart move to let Ford take control and rule this segment? Or are you happy with simply the ZR2? We’d love to hear from you down below.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Both are fantastic trucks, but if I wanted one for its intended purposes only, it would have to be the Colorado. Just for these simple facts: smaller, lighter, cheaper.

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    1. I agree with you but a little more go would be nice also. Donk know if it would fit but the twin turbo from the Caddy V sport would be a nice option.

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      1. remember their six speed tranny is a piece of sh..t

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        1. or should i say 8 speed
          lol

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  2. That’s nice power and all from the EcoBoost, but when Ford even tells you the motor is only designed to last 150,000 miles and the turbo 75,000, the real winner is the ZR2. Also pretty sure the carbon fouling is still a problem with the EcoBoost, requiring a new cylinder head every 20,000 miles. I don’t care if the Raptor can pull a house down if it won’t last longer than a Yugo.

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    1. Where do you see Ford saying that?

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    2. How about some evidence for your claims Mr. Trump?

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    3. Every 20.000 Lmao your such a fan boy, we have ecoboost at work never replaced a turbo or cylinder head yet.

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      1. the new escape does

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  3. More of a challenge will be the non Raptor improved Ecoboost 3.5 with the 10 speed due in I believe 2017. The torque and horsepower ratings are I believe better than the 6.2 and will only be that much better with the ten speed.

    Believe GM is not paying enough attention to their bread and butter full-sized pickups.

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    1. Torque is, it’s down on power to the 6.2. Still will leave the 6.2 behind though, both empty and towing.

      No doubt GM has a strategy though, i’m sure we’ll see something in 2018

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      1. Come on GM make your bread n butter full sized pickups class best and quit constantly be playing catch up!

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    2. There is plenty more juice in the 6.2L motor and don’t forget it also will get the 10 speed trans soon.

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  4. GM Knows this and their product Strategists are dead wrong on many fronts when it comes to evaluating the Pick-Up Truck Markets. 1. Ford rules a market that is a money maker. 80 percent of truck buyers modify their trucks in some form after purchasing them. A lot of these truck buyers put lift kits, big tires, off road accessories like side steps, bull bars, off road lights etc. So yes GM is majorly failing here. A lot of these people modify the trucks for more power also.. 2. Another area GM is failing is Luxury trucks – Soon you will see Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW, Infinity with Trucks in the U.S. Market. They all know this is a untapped market and the next place too go to accent their lines further. GM needs to immediately offer a Luxury Cadillac Diesel Truck and a Regular v8 gas crew cab luxury truck under the Cadillac banner. By doing so they will reap the high dollar value of selling a luxury truck, but also Chevy and GMC will benefit by adding a third truck line.

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    1. Just stop. Every single one of your points is wrong and shows you don’t really know about the truck market.

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      1. Enlighten us.

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    2. to back up pdpaiste, have you ever been by a chevy lot recently? have you seen all the on the lot GM accessories? they have 5 pre installed off road versions that beat out the raptor right across from armory where I’m at. also, ford doesn’t outsell trucks than GM. They sell a few more f150s than chevy, but the ignore the fact that GMC existe. The sales of Silverados+Sierras murder the f150 in sales. Poo poo for ford. There have also been lots of people that have mentioned how the newer turbos are gutless pullers. That is why Gm has opted to stay with natural aspiration. The fact that a v8 can pure in its happy band compared to a turbo puffing like it has asthma. I talked to one guy who stated that his old Suburban 2500 out pulled his newer f250. Natural v-8 (8.1 litter) vs turbo desil. now the flipside was the suburban got less gas milage, but that 6.2, unless given that a newer engine like it is put in place will still be a good contender with a new ecoboost. There might be a new contender on the horizon given that the current 6.2 is maxed out in the corvettes, camaros, silvarados and countless cadillacs.

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      1. I actually want to add one more comment and that is that GM will want to avoid turbos for full aconomy reasons. The reason that ford has used turbos is that under less loads, a turbo downsizes the engine(like cylinder deactivation, but doesn’t have to fight unused cylinders) the turbos however are an inhabitance and consume gas under load. we have two tractors. one naturaly aspirated 4 liter (older) and a newer 3.5 turbo for their motors on our farm. the turbo is by far the bigger burner, and that is because physically, there is energy lost in the turbos. GM would be better served making a 7 litter premium truck engine and paring it with the ECO FLex for city driving. on the highway a 7 liter, if paried with that 10 speed on the camaro, would pure like a cat and get similar milage or better than todays 6.2

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      2. Sorry but you are incorrect on GMC/Chevy combination murdering the F-150! Through August sales the F-150 is approximately a 1000 units ahead

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        1. Incorrect. That’s F-Series vs. Silverado/Sierra, not F150.

          Historically, GM half-tons out sell Ford by about 100K units a year. HD trucks is where Ford catches up and outsells GM by big margin.

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          1. Apologies to Jake. Saw figures on good car bad car and assumed F150 when it clearly said F series. Never ever thought 250s on up would be included.

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  5. ZR2 could use the current diesel engine option with a few more high performance engine mods. Not everyone lives near a dessert to go high speed off-road, most will be used at offroad parks going slow crawl. The Diesel would dominate against the eco-boost

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  6. I’ve never understood why we have let Ford has this market — substantial volume at a high transaction price / high profit price.

    Same thoughts about the large volume Jeep market that we don’t really go after.

    But we have resources to do an ELR……

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  7. The Raptor sells well and makes Ford lots of money but more importantly it is a flagship vehicle for their truck line. Many buyers would aspire to one but end up with a F150. I think GM needs a flagship truck as well.

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  8. Fords not making the fastest cars right now, around the track or even in a straight line. But they over nice verity of performance right now. Kind of like GM had when they made a SS version of everything.

    Raptor, Mustang, Fiesta ST, Focus ST and RS, Fusion sport awd boosted 6, SHO lots to choose from.

    I think GM should come out with a Lightning type truck. Low and fast.

    The ZR2 is really nice tho.

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  9. my dealer can install a edelbrock supercharger on your new silverado before delivery if you want more power. they also do lift kits and all other truck mods and it all can be rolled into the financing.

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    1. this won’t fix the faulty TRANNY
      and it’s an ongoing thing since the start of that six speed

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      1. my 13 Silverado had been trouble free. my 88 Silverado also gave trouble free service for 200,000+ miles with just the normal maintenance. since I live in the snow belt rust was the big problem

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    2. Pretty cool story, lots of dealers of all brands offer this. What I’m saying is GM could sell the truck at a premium and make the profit them selves rather than the aftermarket.

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      1. they don’t want to give the warranty along

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  10. ME GUSTA LA CAMIONETA CUAL ES EL COSTO ME INTERESA COMPRARLA

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  11. Gutless and stupid!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. They’re all ugly and useless. Who cares. Go take ’em and run the Baja 1000.

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  13. Malibu with sport package which adds nothing really to make it sport Vs. Ford Fusion Sport 2.7 V6-tt 325/380 and AWD = Advantage Ford.

    Chevrolet Impala which shares the XTS platform that offers Vsport package with V6-tt 410/370 AWD. Adding those options to the Impala seem plausible but hasn’t happened Vs. Ford Taurus SHO V6-TT 365/350 = Advantage Ford.

    Chevrolet Cruze RS and soon to be hatch version offer virtually nothing in the way of performance Vs. Ford Focus ST 2.0 I4-t 252/270 and even better still Focus RS 2.3 I4-t 350/350= Advantage Ford.

    Chevrolet Sonic RS same as Cruze in offering virtually nothing Vs. Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 I4-t 197/202 = Advantage Ford

    Silverado/Colorado offer tacky add on packages such as Z71, Midnight, Sport, or Trail Boss, that really don’t enhance anything to what are already attractive, capable for daily duty, and mild off roading trucks. With any of the packages, why no more power or capability? Vs. Ford F150 Raptor offering a powerful 450/510 V6-tt off road ready vehicle that is still fairly capable of performing daily truck duties. Despite the hideous looks of the Raptor, it is something Chevy can’t compete with off the show room floor period. = Advantage Ford

    Come on Chevy, if you’re going to offer a Z71 off road, trail boss edition, or soon to be ZR2, at least make it be an actual “Trail Boss” and boss the Raptor around. Or at least offer a street version of the Silverado like the Silverado SS of yore or build a Colorado Extreme with the V6-tt, AWD, and handling package.

    Ford can’t compete with Camaro or Corvette. Mustang may have upper hand for the moment with the GT350R over the 1LE, but the 1LE isn’t even meant to compete with the GT350R. The ZL1 and Z/28 will put an end to that car. The Ford GT is not in the same category of vehicle as the C7 Corvette, but I’m sure the C7 will hang just fine with the GT. The Mid-engine Vette will handle the GT easily for way cheaper I’m sure.

    I am and have always been a fan of GM vehicles. I can’t stand to see Ford have a performance version of every vehicle that competes directly with Chevrolet and the Chevrolet fans be left waiting and disappointed. It can’t be CAFE because obviously Ford isn’t too worried about it by having a performance version in nearly every vehicle category. Why are you not competing GM? It was just recently said in the article for the Fusion Sport that they built it because the customer was demanding it. I don’t think Chevy fans have just given up on wanting a performance variant of a Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Colorado, Silverado. I know there is demand out there, I along with many others here are demanding it. The others who got sick of waiting went somewhere else. I know we have the SS sedan that is universally loved, but it is a strange place holder and may not be coming back after Holden stops making them. Now would be the time to answer with a Malibu RS/SS or Impala SS that can compete with Fusion Sport or Taurus SHO. Now would be the time to unveil a Cruze RS Hatch with at least 250hp and handling package to rival Focus ST. Now would be the time to nail the Fiesta ST with a Sonic RS with around 200hp. Now would be the time to make the ZR2 Colorado have the 3.6-tt with at least 420hp and a Silverado High Desert with a real off road package and the LT4 thrown in to compete with Raptor.

    There has to be an answer or at least the question be raised to get an answer from GM/Chevrolet on why they fail to compete with actual performance variants in the segments their most bitter rival offers to its customers. I personally won’t ever cross the street to a Ford dealer, but thousands if not hundreds of thousands of others will or already have left the General because they can’t get what they want.

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    1. Why are you comparing the SHO to the Impala? The SS is the SHO fighter

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      1. Because the Impala and Taurus are direct competitors. Ford just happens to throw AWD and a blow dryer into the Taurus to have a performance version SHO and a PPV. The SS is a direct competitor of the Charger and in even some cases a BMW 5 series.

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  14. I have seen 2 raptor owners in my small neighborhood trade them in for platinum f150s. Despite the allure, actual ownership of one is impractical. Gas munching, rough riding, and bulky to maneuver in the city. GM knows what its doing avoiding the R&D costs for something that has limited sales potential. Most truck owners want a bed with a high seat and a smooth comfortable ride…

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    1. So two raptor owners traded in their 70K truck for two more 70K truck while the new raptor wasn’t available? How is this a bad thing for Ford?

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  15. I have seen 2 raptor owners in my small neighborhood trade them in for platinum f150s. Despite the allure, actual ownership of one is impractical. Gas munching, rough riding, and bulky to maneuver in the city. GM knows what its doing avoiding the R&D costs for something that has limited sales potential. Most truck owners want a bed with a high seat and a smooth comfortable ride…

    Reply
    1. Limited sales potential? Are you nuts? The 2017 significant allocation is almost sold out. The Raptor has sold far beyond Ford’s expectations. It’s a fun toy not a work truck and Ford dealers are making a killing.

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      1. Of course there making a killing all they have to do is ask have you taken this Offroad? Service that’s how for makes its money. Why do you think they spend so much money on advertising there service department with Mike Rowe

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  16. Gm knows exactly what there doing when it comes to trucks, they have always waited to come out with something cooler than dodge reliable as a Toyota and inexpensive to buy as a ford, if you wanted to build the 6.2 and supercharge it a 6.2 could make 800 hp and still outlast the ford ecoboost. Chevrolet doesn’t compromise when it makes something like ford did with a raptor that bends in half, if there customers want a better suspension they will get it. However it would be cool to see gm team up with king shocks and come out with an accessory coil over set up.

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    1. Maybe some Raptors got frame damage because of abuse like this:




      And the Raptor has a reinforced frame compared to the F150. Which truck could survive the vid above?

      The Raptor is highly profitable. Why doesn’t GM build a competitor? They also never built a Lightning competitor.

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      1. I’m referring to the trip ford set up when the raptor first came out. It was a drive through Baja and half the trucks came back with bent frames and shops everywhere were adding two small pieces of metal to reinforce it. Nice job ford engineer. Actually Chevrolet is the reason the lightning exists. You obviously don’t know but the gmc cyclone and typhoon were turbo charged 6 cylinder awd versions of the of the s15 pick up and the s15 jimmy. The only reason they stopped making them is because they were faster than camaros and when they were in testing they had to limit back the power because the cyclone was faster than a zr1.

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    2. Maybe some Raptors got frame damage because of abuse like this:





      And the Raptor has a reinforced frame compared to the F150. Which truck could survive the vid above?
      The Raptor is highly profitable. Why doesn’t GM build a competitor? They also never built a Lightning competitor.

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  17. I love the Raptor and the fact Ford even built it. But the ZR2 seems like it would be more practical, especially in my next of the woods. Lighter, smaller, and I am sure it will cost less. With the V6, plenty of power and ability to add more power easily if you want it. I had my Camaro V6 pushing pretty close to 400 HP for not a ton of extra money, so I am sure a similar thing can be done here.

    So ZR2 is a good choice for GM to do, I bet they will sell a ton of them, especially after reading about the suspension.

    Reply

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