Not to be outdone by the RAM TRX, Ford has just unveiled the 2023 F-150 Raptor R, the ultimate Blue Oval off-road vehicle. It’s a 700-horsepower version of the familiar 3rd-gen Raptor sports truck fitted with the same supercharged 5.2-liter engine as the Shelby GT500.
Well, actually, fans of the muscle car might have noticed something wrong with the power output, which is a little lower. The GT500 is rated at 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. However, the Predator supercharged V8 received different tuning that targets low-end torque, so a Raptor R only gets 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque. The upside is that peak power is available at only 4,250 rpm versus the 5,000rpm you’ll have to reach in the Mustang.
By the way, lower power is accomplished partly through the use of a smaller supercharger pulley. The problem is that a TRX makes 702 hp, and there have been plenty of people who’ve extracted Demon levels of output from this HEMI truck. However, we doubt that anybody is going to buy a Raptor R and feel disappointed.
Is the TRX more powerful than the Raptor R?
The official gap between the two is only 2 hp, and that probably doesn’t seem like a lot. However, Ford didn’t spent years developing the Predator just to be outdone by by Dodge. 700 hp is just the initial estimate, one which we expect to be revised soon. Remember that the Bronco Raptor had 400 hp at its reveal but is rated at 418 hp.
The F-150 Raptor R also gets extra oily bits compared to a GT500. Specifically, engineers have fitted a bigger oil cooler, a deeper oil pan, and revised the air intake all in the name of V8 reliability in off-road conditions. Just like we predicted, Ford couldn’t fit the Raptor R with the same twin-clutch gearbox as the performance Mustang; it just wouldn’t hold up.
Instead, this has the normal 10-speed automatic transmission, a 2-speed torque-on-demand 4×4 with mechanical lock and an electronically locking rear diff. Rumor has it that it’s only 100 lbs heavier than the regular V6 Raptor, and that’s shocking considering the 250 hp gap. Speaking of differences, the R model is made in Michigan rather than Cleaveland, Ohio.
The upgrades underneath
The F-150 Raptor is best known for its suspension, not its power. And this Raptor R model does have some serious Baja off-road kit. It receives long trailing arms, 24-inch coil springs and FOX Live Valve shocks optimized for its demands. Like with other Raptor models, the dampers use height sensors and are electronically controlled.
Don’t expect any dramatic revisions to the suspension. Likewise, the standard 37-inch tires would have just been optional on the EcoBoost V6.
And the price?
Other than horsepower, the one major thing people wanted to know about the Raptor R is its price. Ford today revealed that it will start from $109,145. That’s significantly more than a Ram TRX, which is about $80,000.
Of course, these are just MSRP numbers; we all know dealerships are going to charge significantly more. In addition, the TRX can be loaded with almost $20,000 in options. For example, you’ll need to pay extra to have 37s instead of 35s on the Ram.
Sadly, the Raptor R doesn’t look like the supercar of trucks, and that makes its six-figure price a hard pill to swallow. The badging is a little different, as are the decals. Mostly, you’ll use the power dome, which is 1 inch higher, to separate this from the V6.
