Ford F150 Raptor: $145 Million Investment

Most people have heard the phrase, "go big or go home," but Ford is taking it to a whole new level. In 2017, Ford will release an upgraded F150 Ecoboost Raptor in West Valley, Utah and across the nation. However, first the company is going to give its Cleveland, Ohio manufacturing plant a $145 million makeover. 

Why Upgrade the Plant?

While $145 million might seem like a lot of money, it is part of a larger Ford initiative. The company has committed $9 billion to invest in its United States operations. It estimates that by investing in the F150 Raptor plant, and others around the country, it will either save or create 8,500 jobs.

Those employees working at the Cleveland plant will be helping to produce the 3.5L Ecoboost engine. The Ecoboost engine made its first appearance in 2011, and since then it has been extremely popular. Not only does it reduce emissions, but has also been able to increase power in many vehicles. It can be found in everything from the F150 Raptor to the Taurus and even several Lincoln model vehicles. 

 The 2017 Raptor

Ford's Baja truck has been around for a while, but this is the first major upgrade to the truck. It includes an exceptionally light body that is made from military-quality material and a strong steel chassis. It will also have several drive modes to assist the driver with a variety of road and off-road conditions. 

While the actual F150 Raptor won't be made at the newly upgraded Cleveland plant, that will take place in the company’s Dearborn Truck Plant — the engines produced there will be installed in the trucks that go on sale in mid 2016. With the $145 million investment in jobs and 2017 Raptor production, Ford is showing why it is, was and will be America’s favorite truck dealer for the foreseeable future. 

Ryan Muir is an automative writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Henry Day Ford. Follow on Twitter.