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2020 Ford F-150 Raptor: A supercar among trucks

New suspension, seat and drivetrain updates add attitude and off-road prowess.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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Ford's F-150 Raptor is renowned for its jumping ability, and for 2019, it's even more capable whether its wheels are on the ground or not.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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I attended Ford Performance Racing School's Raptor Assault program.

Tuition for the single-day program is included in the purchase price of a new Raptor, you just have to get to Utah.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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For 2019, the Raptor's visuals remain unchanged, and I'm 100 percent OK with that.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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New Trail Control driveline smarts function like low-speed cruise control, modulating power and braking at each corner, whether you're climbing, descending or on the level.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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Like other F-150 models, the Raptor's cabin has fallen behind some of its domestic competition, but it's still not a bad place to be.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor Recaro seat
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New Recaro seats are available with contrasting blue trim. They're a noticeable improvement over the Raptor's old chairs.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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The Raptor's gauge cluster is a wealth of information and options, but it's also sometimes a little fiddly.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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The Raptor remains one of the fastest point-to-point vehicles on the market when the going gets rough.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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For 2019, the Raptor's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 remains rated at 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque.

It's a great engine with wall-to-wall power, but it could use a more visceral soundtrack.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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My, what big eyes you have.

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New fender graphics are available for 2019.

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Ford wisely started tucking the Raptor's exhaust up close to the rear bumper to improve the truck's departure angle. (The first-gen Raptor often left tough trails with its exhaust pipe crimped by errant rocks.)

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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Our instructors led the way in these decked-out Raptor Assault-wrapped and accessorized trucks.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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What brand truck is this? Go on, guess...

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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Fox's Live Valve electronically controlled shocks are tied to a network of sensors that keep tabs on everything from the chassis to steering angle and throttle position.

They even know when you're in mid-air, and firm up accordingly.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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Keep clicking or scrolling for more images of the 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
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