As if the Ford Raptor wasn’t mean enough, Shelby gave it some more attitude

By Stephen Edelstein Published September 14, 2017

The Ford F-150 Raptor is already one of the most capable off-road trucks around, boasting an uncanny ability to cover rough terrain at high speeds. But Shelby American has a history of taking Ford products and dialing up the power, so it couldn’t leave the Raptor alone.

The Shelby Raptor Baja is even more aggressive than the stock Raptor in both power and looks. Shelby tuned the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 to produce 525 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque, up 75 hp and 100 lb-ft from the stock version. Changes include a new cold-air intake, high-flow air filter, aluminum intercooler, and an ECU software tune.

Recommended Videos

The stock Raptor already comes standard with a fairly robust set of Fox Racing shock absorbers, but Shelby ditched them in favor of even more hardcore Fox items. The new 3.0-inch coilover shocks are manually adjustable; Shelby says this doesn’t require any special tools. The shocks improve both on-road ride comfort and off-road ability, the company says. The Shelby Raptor’s tires are the same 35-inch size as the stock Raptor’s but feature a more aggressive tread pattern.

Exterior styling is another area where the Raptor didn’t seem to need any improvements, but that didn’t stop Shelby. The Raptor Baja sports custom front and rear bumpers, a rack in the bed that can hold two spare tires, Shelby-specific wheels, and a functional hood scoop. The truck is also festooned with LED lighting, and features Shelby lettering and racing stripes.

Shelby didn’t go as crazy on the interior. Changes are limited to new leather upholstery for the seats, some carbon fiber trim, and some new floor mats. Plaques mounted on the engine and dashboard announce the truck’s specialness.

The Shelby Raptor Baja starts at $117,460, including the donor Raptor. Note that the cost of said Raptor can vary based on options and dealer pricing. Unlike many tuner specials, the Raptor Baja can be ordered directly from participating Ford dealers in the United States and Canada. Raptor owners can also have their trucks converted for $49,295, on top of whatever they paid for the vehicles. If off-roading isn’t your thing, Shelby also makes an F-150 Super Snake muscle truck.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Topics

Cars

Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV hits the roads at just over $24,000 while missing the US streets

The Ioniq 3 is bringing affordable EVs to Britain while America watches

Hyundai Ioniq 3 EV

Hyundai is bringing a new affordable electric car to UK roads, and the Ioniq 3 looks like the sort of EV the market could use more of. It is compact, practical, relatively affordable and, in its bigger-battery version, can travel up to 308 miles on a charge.

UK orders are now open, with prices starting at £18,495 after the government’s £3,750 Electric Car Grant. That works out to just over $24,000 at a rough exchange rate. There is, however, one slightly frustrating detail for American EV shoppers: Hyundai’s announcement is for the UK, and there is no US launch.

Cars

Mazda’s latest EV will shout at pedestrians and even cuss on your behalf

Road rage just found a loudspeaker in this Mazda EV

Mazda CX-6e E-SUV

Blaring your car's horn at distracted pedestrians crossing the road is a universal experience. Mazda, though, wants to make it a lot more direct. The new Mazda CX-6e comes with an External Announcement feature that uses a speaker mounted outside the vehicle to communicate with pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.

Drivers can select prewritten safety messages, type their own announcements on the enormous infotainment display, or broadcast their voice directly outside the car. If you don't already see the potential, let's just say you're better than most drivers out there. Still, electric cars, by nature, are pretty quiet at low speeds, and Mazda's system gives drivers a more descriptive alternative to simply leaning on the horn.

Cars

Nearly 20 EVs are disappearing from US showrooms this year, but the next generation could be better

America's EV shake-up is painful, but it could pave the way for better cars.

Hyundai Kona EV.

I have bad news first and slightly good news later. Nearly 20 EVs from different brands have either left or are leaving the US market this year. My first reaction to this was a groan. However, after looking at why each car got cut, the story became more interesting.

First, Business Insider counts nearly 20 US EVs canceled, paused, or delayed this year, with demand taking a major hit after the $7,500 federal tax credit ended in September 2025. However, the replacements for the outgoing models could be cheaper and might go farther on a single charge.