American tuner and coachbuilder Hennessey has lifted the veil off of a full-size SUV called VelociRaptor.
Based on the Ford F-250 Lariat, the VelociRaptor picks up where the Excursion left off. It ditches the 250′s cargo box and adopts a closed SUV-like rear end with a three-way tailgate that bears more than a passing resemblance to the defunct Excursion. Buyers can further spruce it up by ordering more rugged bumpers on both ends, a Warn winch, alloy wheels and a LED light bar.
Interior pictures have not been published yet but Hennessey promises the VelociRaptor can seat up to seven passengers on three rows of seats. Alternatively, the second-row bench can be replaced by a pair of upscale captain’s chairs, a configuration that lowers the SUV’s seating capacity to seven.
Customers have several engine options to choose from. In base form, the VelociRaptor is powered by either a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 385 horsepower and 405 lb-ft. of torque or a 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 that makes 440 ponies and 860 lb-ft. of twist. Those looking for more power can order an evolution of the 6.2-liter V8 that uses a supercharger to make either 600 or 650 horsepower.
Four-wheel drive comes standard regardless of which mill is bolted under the hood.
While the Excursion was designed to fight head-to-head against the Chevrolet Suburban, the Hennessey VelociRaptor squares off against high-end supercars because it carries a base price of nearly $159,500. It’s on sale now, though the coachbuilder warns that transforming a F-250 into a VelociRaptor can take up to six months.
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