2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
Posted on August 1, 2022
The truck war is an interesting one. It’s more about the numbers than about anything practical, yet delivers some seriously impressive vehicles. Ram has the TRX and Ford has the F-150 Raptor.
Now Ford has the F-150 Raptor R. With a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 engine producing 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque, the truck takes the fight to Ram in a big way.
“Raptor R is our ultimate Raptor,” said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer. “When customers experience Raptor R in the desert and beyond, it will make the hairs on the back of their necks stand up — and they’ll love every second of it.”
How practical it is to drive is anyone’s guess but if the standard Raptor is anything to go by, it should be enormous fun!
Raptor R
The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R takes a successful truck recipe from the Raptor and turns it up to 11.
Rather than a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 like we have in the standard Raptor, Ford has gone back to the V8. It’s the first time we have seen one of those in 8 years.
The 5.2-litre V8 unit in the Raptor R apparently comes from a Mustang Shelby GT500 and has been modified to handle off road.
Ford says they have given the engine much better cooling, a deeper oil pan, new exhaust manifolds, revised pulleys and numerous internal upgrades. This will all help it deliver extreme performance in extreme conditions.
“We’ve heard our customers demanding the sound and power of a V8 back in Raptor,” said Widmann. “That’s not something we were going to rush. This supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is the ideal fusion of high-density power paired with the third generation Raptor’s all-new rear suspension and shocks to deliver a one-two punch that goes far beyond the sum of its parts.”
More than a Raptor
Visually, the F-150 Raptor and Raptor R are very similar vehicles. They both have bold styling, large wheels, extended fenders and a beefiness that inspires confidence.
The Raptor R does seem to have larger intakes at the front and a slightly higher hood bulge to handle the engine.
The Raptor R looks to ride a little higher too, although we don’t know if that’s a thing or just how it looks.
Inside, there’s a 12 inch touchscreen with specific off road displays. That system is capable of OTA updates and will likely have the usual navigation and apps we look for now.
The rest of the cabin looks similar to a Raptor, except a couple of ‘R’ badges. That’s a good thing as we love the interior already!
The order books for the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R are open now. Register your interest at Northway Ford Lincoln, 388 King George Road Brantford ON N3S 3N2.