Ford’s SVT division is planning to offer a Raptor version of the 2009 F-150 intended for serious off-road use. It will start with the 310-hp 5.4-liter V8 and later get a high-performance engine option, but it is the long-travel high-performance suspension, wheels and tires that set it apart. The only factory pickups that are remotely near the high-speed off-road ability of the Raptor are Dodge’s Power Wagon and the Tundra Rock Warrior.

The option list has been simplified this year but still resembles tax code to the uninitiated; there are, for example, three codes for a sliding rear window and five for trailer towing mirrors. Most options are dependent on the model and other options, some standard on more expensive models, and listed below by price range. Packages like Decor and Luxury are not listed and, again, vary by model and range from $115 to $3420, with the SFE package up to about $1100.

Mechanical options include (but are not limited to) an upgrade to the 3-valve 4.6 engine for $895 or the 5.4-liter ($630-$1525), alternate axle ratios ($50), limited-slip differential ($300), larger tires and upgraded wheels ($195-$995), electric-shift 4WD ($160), skid plates ($160), towing mirrors ($140-$235), snow plow prep ($225), trailer brake controller ($230), 35-gallon long-bed fuel tank ($95), tailgate step ($350), heavy-duty payload package ($1200) and Ford Works systems like an in-dash computer ($1195). An engine block heater is available to fleet buyers and standard on Alaska and northern plain-state trucks.

Cosmetic and other upgrades include captain’s chairs bucket seats with center console ($300-$695, $895-$1250 in leather), power sliding rear window ($250), rear-view camera ($450), reverse parking sensors ($245), dual-coat or two-tone paint ($250), moonroof ($995), Sirius radio ($195), sound systems ($300-435), remote start ($345), and navigation ($2430). A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is conspicuous by its absence.

Safety features that come standard include antilock brakes, stability control (AdvanceTrac RSC) with trailer sway control, frontal airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. Safety-related options include an integrated trailer brake controller, rear-view camera, and reverse park sensors.

All prices are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) and can change at any time without notice.

In the world of pickups, styling boundaries are determined by a three-box layout: one for the engine, one for people, one for cargo. And the 2009 Ford F-150 shows the evolution of 70 years of function by massaging the look of the previous generation.

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