AUTOS

Ford to sell F-150 in China

The Associated Press Published Friday, April 22, 2016 2:44AM EDT

Ford F-150 earns high score on crash test

The 2016 Ford F-150 is the only full-size pickup truck to score the top rating in new front crash tests performed by the insurance industry. (Ford Motor Company)

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DETROIT - For the first time, Ford's F-150 pickup truck will be sold in China.

Ford Motor Co. is bringing the F-150 Raptor SuperCrew to China next year. The off-roading truck has been popular in China's grey market, where buyers were known to pay triple the list price. But it's never been officially sold there.

Ford introduced the Raptor in 2009 and discontinued it in 2014. A new version goes on sale later this year. It has a more powerful 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine, a new 10-speed transmission and a terrain management system for driving in sand, rocks or snow.

Ford didn't announce pricing, but it's expected to start around $50,000. The Raptor will be built in Michigan.

Ford made the announcement Friday ahead of next week's Beijing Motor Show.