It looks like SVT's off-road experiment is paying off. First we heard the border patrol was considering the trucks for desert duty. Now Ford says it has already received a good chunk of orders, a good portion of which were ordered in the same Molten Orange Metallic as the trucks in all the press photos.
Peep the official PR after the jump...
It survived the grueling Baja 1000 and earned a podium finish. It’s desert-tested and street-ready. And now the F-150 SVT Raptor is ready to go home with its customers.
More than 1,500 orders received for the 5.4-liter F-150 SVT Raptor exceeds expectations and shows the extraordinary level of anticipation for this high-performance truck. In fact, initial dealer orders have the Dearborn Truck Plant building Raptors at maximum capacity, reflecting the strong demand for the first-ever factory high-speed off-road truck.
Color popularity is decidedly in favor of Raptor-exclusive Molten Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, and Tuxedo Black, with each color representing 40 percent of orders. Customers also want their off-road truck complete with lots of options. Orders reflect consumers’ appetite for technology with:
* More than 80 percent ordered with Luxury Package, which includes heated seats, 10-speaker Sony® Audio system and dual zone temperature control
* 55 percent with Navigation, Sony Audio and SIRIUS Travel Link™
* 60 percent with Exterior Graphics Package
* 70 percent with power moonroof
Orders for Raptor have come from all across the United States, with 94 percent coming from males with a median age of 39. A survey of customers placing retail orders shows that:
* 16 percent purchased F-150 SVT Raptor as a collectible
* 31 percent purchased F-150 SVT Raptor for off-roading
* 19 percent purchased F-150 SVT Raptor for towing and hauling
The very first 5.4-liter F-150 SVT Raptor was sold last year at Barrett-Jackson for $130,000, and now trucks are arriving at dealerships. The first F-150 SVT Raptor retail sale was recorded as going to an off-road enthusiast in Sterling Heights, Mich. The owner of the new Raptor actually had to walk the last two miles to the Suburban Ford dealership to pick it up after getting a flat tire on his bike. And he isn’t wasting any time – the off-roader has already hit the sand dunes in northern Michigan with his new Raptor.
Fully loaded Web page lures in visitors
When customers want to learn more about F-150 SVT Raptor, they know where to go – http://www.fordvehicles.com/f150raptor – which focuses on everything Raptor. After launching in March, the Web page has tallied more than 300,000 visitors through June. Since the site first came to life, visitors haven’t stopped checking it out – on average, 75,000 potential customers continue to visit each month.
More than half of all visits last more than five minutes, with plenty of videos, images and information available to give potential customers the latest on F-150 SVT Raptor. In fact, the videos have been viewed nearly 400,000 times and the video completion rate is at or above that of other very successful vehicle launches.
Links are provided to other off-road sites and nearly 20,000 visitors have entered a contest to win a ride in an actual off-road desert race. Whether consumers are watching the F-150 SVT Raptor R race across the Baja Peninsula or listening to what Linsey Weenk, driver of Ford’s “Blue Thunder” monster truck, has to say about F-150 SVT Raptor, they can’t get enough. Unique applications on the Web page, like a 360-degree view of Raptor flying through the air, also give visitors a thorough perspective of the truck and allow them to get a closer look at the features that make it such a highly capable off-road vehicle. By clicking over Raptor components, such as the FOX Racing Shox internal bypass shocks, massive skid plates, unique design cues and wheels and tires, visitors can learn more about what gives this truck a competitive edge.
Another high-interest Web page element is the “Build a Raptor” feature, where visitors can select the color and options to create a truck with the content they desire. Almost half of all visitors have gone into the page, with 97 percent finishing it. Customers are encouraged to take the downloadable spec sheet to dealers to order their own truck. To get Raptors in the hands of off-road racing enthusiasts, Ford is prioritizing production scheduling of those orders.
A little something from the experts
Customers know that the F-150 has legendary Built Ford Tough durability and toughness, but some might not be familiar with proper off-roading techniques. Or they might not realize how and why the F-150 SVT Raptor does so well in all off-road environments, not just the desert. A series of videos will be added to the F-150 SVT Raptor Web page that will provide customers with everything they want to know about this one-of-a-kind truck.
Featuring NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, off-road racing legend Rob MacCachren and SVT Chief Nameplate Engineer Jamal Hameedi, the Webisodes will give consumers an even closer look inside the SVT performance truck so they’ll know all the ins-and-outs.
Building momentum
The all-new 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has been touring the country, giving enthusiasts a taste of what it’s like behind the wheel. Stops at auto shows, NASCAR races, Monster Truck events, Barrett-Jackson auctions and off-road races have exposed more than 10 million enthusiasts to Raptor. Some events include the unique opportunity for a high-speed ride in the Raptor with a professional driver, with more than 1,000 rides given.