The Ford F-150 Raptor can be fitted with a V-8 under the hood again and it doesn’t need a third-party tuning shop.
On Monday, the Ford F-150 Raptor R 2023 was revealed with V-8 and 37-inch tires. It will cost $109,145 (including the $1,795 destination fee) when it arrives at dealerships later this year, but Ford has already started taking orders right away.
Supercharger capacity
The Raptor R is all about its engines: Mustang Shelby GT500’s The 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 has been tucked under the hood of the Raptor for the R mission. It makes 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque, which isn’t uncommon for a performance truck. yes. The elephant in the room must be dealt with: It less powerful than Ram 1500 TRX, 702 hp and 663 lb-ft. It’s also less powerful than the Shelby GT500, rated at 760 hp, though in that application it only makes 625 lb-ft.
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Why didn’t the Ford team tune the engine to make at least 703 horsepower to best match the Ford TRX?
Ford spokesman Dawn McKenzie said: “Horsepower isn’t everything. Engine Authority.
The V-8-powered Raptor is estimated to weigh 5,950 lb. TRX weighs 6,350 lb.
McKenzie said Ford doesn’t share the 0-60 mph time and the truck doesn’t have launch control like the TRX.
The same 2.65-liter water-cooled reverse turbocharger, which has a peak power boost of up to 12 psi from the Shelby GT500 sits atop the Raptor R’s V-8, but it’s been modified for local duty. high speed image. There’s a new pulley that Ford says increases low- and mid-range torque distribution. The exhaust manifolds are now cast in stainless steel and a new crankshaft damper has been installed to reduce NVH. There’s a new oil cooler and filter, and the oil pan has been deepened to ensure proper lubrication in steep grades. A new, wider air intake and high-flow cone air filter increase intake by 66% compared to the Shelby, according to Ford.
To handle the extra power, the Raptor’s 10-speed automatic transmission got a new tweak. The torque converter has a similar design to what’s found in the base Raptor, but it’s new to the V-8 model. It has a heavy-duty turbine damper and a rear four-gear output assembly to make sure things don’t boom.
The Raptor R-specific dual exhaust system with pass-through silencers and active valve timing will allow the supercharged V-8 to go from low to uncomfortably low with the push of a button or change the drive mode.
Fuel economy ratings haven’t been released, but rest assured it’ll swoop up premium fuel quickly. While payload is unchanged at 1,400 lb, the Raptor R can tow up to 8,700 lb, which is 500 lb more than the standard Raptor.
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Suspension upgrade
The Fox shocks with remote reservoirs are carried over from the standard Raptor, but for the R mission, the front spring speed was increased by about 5% to account for the 100 lb increase, McKenzie said. of the V-8 on the front axle, says McKenzie.
The front axle is reinforced with finned aluminum housing for better heat dissipation. A stiffer front axle bushing has been swapped out along with an internal travel limiter. The diameter of the aluminum drive shaft was increased by half an inch (now 5 inches) and a pinion was added.
Each Raptor R rides on 37-inch rubber (optional on the standard Raptor) and 13-inch front and 14.1-inch rear wheels in V-6 colorways. with those tires. In ours first drive of the third generation Raptor We found the truck with the standard 35-inch tires to feel lighter and swing around with less effort than the trucks fitted with the optional 37-inch rubber.
Almost a sleeping Raptor
It would be a good eye to spot the Raptor R from the standard Raptor. It’s all the little details that only enthusiasts can notice, like the 1.0-inch taller roof vents (a functional change that helps keep the engine cool), and Small R badges on the grille, hood and rear doors. R-specific fender graphics will be available.
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Inside, the Raptor’s cabin features a black interior with leather and suede Recaro seats along with carbon fiber trim. Cluster of 12.0-inch digital gauges and 12.0-inch touch screen carried on the Raptor.
Valuation point of view
A base Raptor costs $71,700, which puts the R at a premium of $37,445, but that’s not an even comparison. When equipped with the same options and features, the Raptor R costs $25,245 more for the turbocharged V-8. A base TRX costs about $30,000 less than the Raptor R, and an R-equivalent TRX still costs about $15,000 less than Rs.
