WHO Did you know super trucks would be such a thing? We are definitely in the golden age of horsepower with the proliferation of super fast cars. But not too long ago, if you wanted a truck with extreme horsepower, you had to go A niche tuner like Hennessey or Shelby for a build that fits your needs. Debuting more than a decade ago, the original Raptor started itching for more powerful trucks, but it didn’t deliver absolutely insane power numbers.
That all changed when the Ram TRX arrived on the scene. Its 702-hp Hellcat V8 blew the Raptors 450-hp V6 completely out of the water. TRX has gotten a lot of good press and there are a lot of fanboys who are TRX team right now. of course Ford he couldn’t stand it for long. After all, the brand has been at the top of the food chain truck for a long time, so it could not easily give up. This is how the Raptor R comes into play. It doesn’t mess with any small V6, but instead comes up with a supercharged V8. It may be two years late, but 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is here and wants his crown back.
Here’s everything we learned about the newest addition to Ford’s Raptor family.
New Ford F-150 Raptor R: Size Matters
A lot today internal combustion engines they move to smaller displacements. Ford even did this when transitioning from the first generation to the second generation Raptor. The V8 found in the first iteration gave way to a twin-turbocharged V6 for the second-generation Raptor, disappointing many enthusiasts. Now Ford has repented of their sins and realized that if they didn’t have the glorious V8 to top the Raptor lineup, they’d just be left in the dust.
So that’s exactly what Ford did. The brand was looking for the most suitable V8 candidate in its lineup, which is naturally the Predator V8 found under the hood of the Shelby GT500. Thankfully, he does a great job. In the Raptor R, this It produces 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. Aspects of this powertrain had to be tuned to make it more compatible with the Raptor R. It includes a new compressor wheel specialized to deliver more power off-road. This arrangement gives the Raptor more low- and mid-range torque delivery.
More power also means more air intake. Ford has included a new air intake system that allows the Raptor R to take in two-thirds more air than before. To make the Raptor R bigger and more “responsible”, Ford also included a prominent hood scoop.
The new Ford F-150 Raptor R still faces an uphill battle
The F-150 Raptor R is certainly a very attractive truck. But it still has a lot of proving to do to be crowned the ultimate truck. He has rivals from all sides. Of course, its closest competitor is the Ram TRX, and technically the TRX still has more power than the Raptor R. That adds up to two more horsepower and ten pound-feet of torque. Ram certainly didn’t let Ford forget that, as they were quick to take to Twitter after the Raptor R was announced. still has best-in-class V8 horsepower.
There is also a rapidly growing all-electric truck segment. like you have competitors GMC Hummer EV truck With 1000 horsepower and 0-60 mph. The Rivian R1T makes 835 horsepower and is priced close to what we believe the Raptor R might cost. Automakers in the truck market are competing to have the strongest offering out there. The question is where will the Raptor R fit?
Overall, the F-150 Raptor R looks like a very impressive truck. That gives us an inspiring V8 and the power that carries this truck to the big leagues. It takes everything that makes the standard Raptor amazing, and Ford has taken it up a notch. Going back to its roots, the Predator V8 gives Raptor fans something to get excited about again. Its work is already cut out by other very attractive trucks that are either out or on the horizon. But if Ford has proven anything, it’s that they know trucks. They have been in the performance truck business since the beginning. We have a good feeling the Raptor R can hold its own.
