The Ford F-150 Raptor might be had with a V-8 beneath its hood once more, and it would not require a third-party tuning store.

On Monday, the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R was revealed with a blown V-8 and 37-inch tires. It can price $109,145 (together with a painful $1,795 vacation spot cost) when it arrives in sellers later this 12 months, however Ford start taking orders instantly.

Supercharged energy

The Raptor R is all about its engine: The Mustang Shelby GT500’s supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 has been shoved beneath the hood of the Raptor for R responsibility. It generates 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque, which doesn’t high this uncommon class of efficiency truck. The elephant within the room should be addressed: It is much less highly effective than the Ram 1500 TRX, which is rated at 702 hp and 663 lb-ft. It is also much less highly effective than the Shelby GT500, which is rated at 760 hp, although in that utility it makes solely 625 lb-ft.

Why did not the Ford crew tune the engine to supply not less than 703 hp to greatest the TRX Ford?

“Horsepower isn’t all the pieces. It’s extra in regards to the energy to weight ratio. 5 extra hp received’t play a job in functionality the place we wish to win – and that’s within the desert,” Ford spokesperson Daybreak McKenzie advised Motor Authority. 

The V-8-powered Raptor is estimated to weigh 5,950 lb. The TRX weighs 6,350 lb.

McKenzie stated Ford’s not sharing a 0-60 mph time and the truck would not have launch management just like the TRX does.

The identical 2.65-liter water-cooled inverted supercharger spinning as much as 12 psi of max increase from the Shelby GT500 sits atop the Raptor R’s V-8, but it surely’s been modified for high-speed off-road responsibility. There is a new pulley that Ford stated will increase low-end and mid-range torque supply. The exhaust manifolds are actually solid chrome steel, and a brand new crankshaft damper was put in to cut back NVH. There is a new oil cooler and filter, and the oil pan has been made deeper to make sure correct lubrication throughout steep grades. A brand new, wider air consumption and a high-flow conical air filter enhance consumption quantity by 66% over the Shelby, in line with Ford.

To deal with the additional energy, the Raptor’s 10-speed automated transmission has a brand new calibration. The torque converter incorporates a comparable design as what’s discovered within the base Raptor, but it surely’s new for the V-8 mannequin. It incorporates a heavy-duty turbine damper and a four-pinion rear output meeting to make sure issues do not go growth.

A Raptor R-specific twin exhaust system with a pass-through muffler and lively valve system will allow the supercharged V-8 to go from low burble to tick-off-the-neighbors with the push of button or change of a drive mode.

Gas financial system rankings have not been launched, however relaxation assured it will guzzle premium gasoline shortly. Whereas payload stays unchanged at 1,400 lb, the Raptor R can tow as much as 8,700 lb, which is 500 lb greater than the usual Raptor.

Suspension upgrades

The Fox shocks with distant reservoirs carry over from the usual Raptor, however for R responsibility the entrance spring charges have been elevated by roughly 5% to account for the V-8’s further 100 lb or so on the entrance axle, McKenzie stated.

The entrance axle was bolstered with a finned aluminum cowl for higher warmth dissipation. Stiffer entrance axle bushings had been swapped in together with an inner journey limiter. The aluminum drive shaft’s diameter grew half an inch (now 5 inches) and a pinion snubber was added.

Each Raptor R rolls on 37-inch rubber (which is optionally available on the usual Raptor) and wheel journey of 13 inches up entrance and 14.1 inches within the rear carries over from the V-6-powered mannequin with these tires. In our first drive of the third-generation Raptor we discovered the truck on the usual 35-inch tires felt lighter and rotated sideways with much less effort than vans outfitted with the optionally available 37-inch rubber.

Virtually a sleeper Raptor

It’s going to take a eager eye to identify the Raptor R from the usual Raptor. It is all of the small particulars that solely fans may discover, like a 1.0-inch taller hood vent (which is a practical change to assist maintain the engine cool), and small R badges on the grille, hood, and tailgate. R-specific fender graphics will probably be accessible.

Inside, the Raptor’s cabin incorporates a black inside with leather-based and suede Recaro seats together with carbon fiber trim. A 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.0-inch touchscreen carry over from the Raptor.

Pricing perspective

A base Raptor prices $71,700, which places the R at a $37,445 premium, however that is not an excellent comparability. When outfitted with the identical choices and options, a Raptor R places a $25,245 premium on the worth tag for the supercharged V-8 engine. A base TRX prices about $30,000 lower than a Raptor R, and a loaded TRX comparably outfitted to the R nonetheless prices about $15,000 lower than an R.