The Blue Oval has just given Raptor lovers the answer to their prayers.
Ford has unveiled the specs of the 2023 F-150 Raptor R, the most powerful Raptor ever. The off-road beast features a new 5.2-liter supercharged V8 putting out 700 horsepower and 640 lb.-ft. of torque.
Built for the dunes and desert, Ford made further suspension upgrades over their “entry-level” Raptor: a five-link rear suspension with extra-long trailing arms, a Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs — all of which will give the driver a high-speed desert run experience. Also plussed-up are a set of FOX Live Valve shocks tuned for both on- and off-road comfort. Ford says these electronically controlled dampers use suspension height sensors to adjust hundreds of times a second. Whenever you get the Raptor R on those rock trails, Ford claims 13 inches of wheel travel in the front and 14.1 inches in the back.
But going back to that glorious V8, it’s, of course, the same engine that powered the Shelby GT500, albeit with some mods for off-roading, including upgraded exhaust manifolds, a unique oil cooler and filter and a deeper oil pan. Air intake was also a needed upgrade, and Ford says a 66% wider intake allows for higher flow.
“We’ve heard our customers demanding the sound and power of a V8 back in Raptor,” said Carl Widmann, Ford Performance chief engineer. “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.”
That massive powerplant is mated to a 10-speed SelectShift automatic, which will work with a special new torque converter with a heavy-duty turbine damper and four-pinion rear output assembly. In case you were wondering, the Raptor R as an active valve system giving the driver the choice between ‘Normal,’ ‘Sport,’ ‘Quiet’ and ‘Baja.’
On the outside, the Raptor R receives a number of more aggressive visual upgrades, like a larger power dome on the hood that sits about an inch taller than on the base Raptor and unique Raptor graphics. It’s all tied together with a bright red ‘R’ on the grille and tailgate.
The Raptor R will on sale in late 2022.
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