2017 Ford F-150 Raptor at Baja 1000. The VR camera is mounted on the hood.Ford’s virtual reality story on the grueling Baja 1000 starts at the Michigan plant where the F-150 Raptor is made and follows the stock-class racer to the infamously tough terrain on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.
The video was shot using a 360-degree camera, which was later mounted to the hood of the Raptor as it raced through Baja. To truly appreciate the high-tech video (shown below), your browser needs to be updated with the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. On mobile devices, use the latest version of the YouTube app.
“We are excited to debut this virtual reality story, a first for the all-new Raptor,” said Henry Ford III, Global Marketing Manager of Ford Performance. “’Born to Baja’ showcases the Built Ford Tough attitude that is at the heart of this performance monster. This grueling race proves once again that we have the most-capable, production off-road truck in the industry.”
Stopping only for minor adjustments, the fully street legal stock Raptor completed the 49th SCORE Baja 1000 back in November 2016 – the same truck that’s now available in Ford dealerships.
Narrated by Ford brand ambassador Denis Leary, the “Born to Baja” story takes users from assembly line to finish line and into the heart of the Baja peninsula where the all-new Raptor’s durability was put to the ultimate test during a grinding 36-hour race.
“The race’s exotic setting and exciting visual elements made it a perfect fit for our FordVR app,” said Darci Gurney, Digital Marketing Manager at Ford Motor Company. “Our virtual reality platform allows us to tell dramatic and impactful stories, showing the surprising side of the Ford brand. ‘Born to Baja’ does just that.”
