Ford's F-150 SVT Raptor pickup get more power engine, more seats.

The new version of 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor pickup, featuring a larger standard engine and more seating capacity had now accepting Bookings.

2011 Ford Raptors comes with a standard 6.2-liter V-8, rated at 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2-liter engine was an option on the 2010 Raptor, while a 320-hp 5.4-liter V-8 was the base engine. The change gives the Raptor an additional 91 hp. Ford says the 2011 Raptor will tow up to 8,000 lbs., making it suited as a support and chase truck, as well as a race truck.

The iron block, aluminum head V-8 in the Raptor is a tuned-up version of the unit used in Ford's Super Duty pickups.

The other major tweak for the Raptor is the addition of a SuperCrew cab option. The SuperCrew cab adds 12 inches to the truck's wheelbase and overall length.

The Raptor is 7 inches wider than the standard F-150, due in part to triple-bypass shocks from Fox Racing.

The front suspension consists of a coil-on-shock, double wishbone independent setup with aluminum lower control arms and forged-steel uppers.

The rear gets a Hotchkiss-type live axle with leaf springs and outboard shock absorbers.

The pickup will roll on 35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires.

The Ford powertrain team did extensive durability tests on the SVT Raptor, including a 62-mile hot-weather loop in the desert that simulates the Baja 1000. Engineers also put the 6.2-liter V-8 through hundreds of additional tests that most Ford engines will never see.

Inside, the Raptor gets a 4.2-inch LCD screen added to the instrument cluster. The monitor, adopted from the Super Duty gauge cluster, shows everything from off-road and towing performance to steering wheel angle and drive mode. The menus are navigated with a five-way button on the steering wheel.

Pricing for the 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor hasn't been released yet, but the 2010 model had a sticker price starting at $41,995 so we expect the cost of the 2011 model to be similar.

The trucks will be available in dealerships late this year.

Source: Autonews