The only hint that Shelby was planning to do something wild with the SVT Raptor came a couple of weeks ago at the New York Auto Show. It was obvious to all in attendance that there was a Raptor under the sheets at the Shelby booth, though the performance company had given no hints for its plans. So most everyone was pleasantly surprised, to say the least.

We weren’t the only ones who were surprised apparently. Shelby American did not expect such an overwhelming and positive response to the Shelby Raptor. According to Motor Authority, the response encouraged Shelby to up annual production by a factor of 5.

The $17,995 Shelby Raptor package (not including the cost of the SVT Raptor itself) includes a supercharged 6.2 liter engine making 575 horsepower and a custom exhaust system. Suspension modifications, graphics, and an official Shelby plaque are also part of the package, and there are plenty of other options and upgrades for those who need more.

Shelby had initially planned to produce just 100 examples per year of the Shelby Raptor, but due to high demand, executives have upped production to 500 units per year. This makes sense as the Ford F-150 is one of the most commonly modified vehicles in America, and around 13,000 Raptors were sold in 2012 alone. Frankly, we’re surprised Shelby didn’t up annual production to 1,000 units; if you’ve got $45,000 to spend on a “lifestyle” truck like the Raptor, what’s another $17,995 to make it a supercharged Shelby?