The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor was first revealed to the world over a year ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Since then, the Blue Oval has dribbled out details regarding the long-awaited off-road-ready Raptor, but actual sales don’t begin until the fall of this year. Although the 3.5-liter 450 horsepower EcoBoost V6 powering the Raptor is worth the wait for most of us, some speed enthusiasts are understandably impatient for a powerful F-150.
Which brings us to the 2016 Roush F-150 SC, which utilizes a tried-and-true formula at the Livonia-based company to crank the 5.0-liter V8 from 385 to 600 horsepower. That’s 150 horsepower more than the Raptor will make, though the Roush F-150 SC is still a very different truck.
With so much supercharger power on tap, the F-150 SC is more akin to the old Ford Lightning than the upcoming Raptor. A Roush TVS2300 supercharger has been paired with a Roush exhaust system to boost power 215 ponies to that nice even 600 rating, with torque climbing 170 lb-ft to 557. Roush also fitted their performance pickup with the Fox 2.0 Performance Series Suspension System that includes front coil-overs and rear shocks.
20-inch Roush wheels wearing 305/55-series Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ rubber round out the performance modifications, although the aftermarket specialists didn’t leave the aesthetics untouched. Chunky fender flares and integrated clearance lights join a custom Roush grille (also fitted with clearance lights, a front bumper cover, and Roush graphics for the hood, tailgate, rockers and windshield rough complete the exterior modifications.
Roush sells all of its vehicles with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, and pricing for the F-150 SC package starts at $22,600, in addition to the cost of the truck itself. Patience may be a virtue, yet instant gratification has its benefits too.