What’s in a letter? For the new Ford F-150 Raptor R, apparently, it’s quite a bit.
For quite some time, we have known the F-150 Raptor to be Ford’s performance truck that is always ready to deliver thrills on and off the road with plenty of power and capability for a wide range of terrains, but now Ford has made the decision to up the ante. This has been done by introducing the new 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, a new truck that takes the Raptor philosophy to a new level, that level being 700 horsepower, 640 lb/ft of torque, and a hair-raising supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine.
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This engine is the most powerful engine Ford Performance has in its lineup, and we have seen it before, but in a much different car: the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. For the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, it’s been optimized for the truck to deliver off-road performance and durability by implementing a recalibrated supercharger, a new pulley, cast stainless steel exhaust manifolds, and an air intake with 66% more volume. The 10-speed transmission helps the Raptor R navigate all kinds of driving situations, and it works with a configurable exhaust system and various driving modes to make the behind-the-wheel experience of the Raptor R exactly what it needs to be, wherever you’re headed, and the suspension system uses electronically-controlled FOX Live Valve shocks to do the same.
One of the reasons for the new Ford F-150 Raptor R is the fact that customers have expressed the desire to see a V8 engine return to the Raptor, and it’s for good reason because the new Raptor R combines V8 power with the Raptor’s inherent ability to excel on any surface. The design of the Raptor R makes this very known, with Code Orange accents throughout proudly displaying the letter R on the grille, power dome, tailgate, and of course the interior. The Recaro seats feature black leather and Alcantara, and embroidered accents that feature an orange “R” at the end of “Raptor” remind the driver of the formidable machine they’re in. Carbon fiber done in a special tri-axial weave serve the same purpose. Orders for the truck open today, and production will start later this year in Dearborn.
Source: Ford