Ford’s F-150 Raptor R Reclaims Its V8 Throne

The Ford F-150 Raptor R has roared back into the scene, reasserting its V8 legacy and offering a not-so-subtle challenge to rivals like the Hellcat-powered Ram TRX. After a detour into EcoBoost territory, Ford has reincarnated the Raptor’s V8 engine, much to the delight of off-road enthusiasts and power purists. And this isn’t just any V8; it’s a 5.2-liter supercharged behemoth borrowed from the revered Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, retuned to belt out a remarkable 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.

While those performance numbers are slightly lower than those of the GT500, they align almost suspiciously well with the Ram TRX’s 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. This head-to-head matchup seems anything but accidental, marking the Raptor R as a calculated move in the escalating pickup wars.

But don’t mistake the Raptor R as a one-trick pony (or rather, one-trick Raptor). The return of the V8 isn’t the only upgrade in this revamped beast. Ford has recalibrated its 10-speed automatic transmission, promising optimized performance when mated to the 5.2-liter V8. Add to that a more robust front axle equipped with a structural aluminum cover and a heavy-duty torque converter, and you have a machine that is as well-rounded as it is powerful.

Not to be overlooked is the Raptor R’s exhaust system. Designed to offer an acoustic experience as invigorating as its driving capabilities, the Raptor features cast stainless-steel exhaust manifolds that feed into an active exhaust system with a pass-through muffler design. The result is a truck that doesn’t just move with authority—it sounds the part too.

Available for order now, the 2023 F-150 Raptor R marks Ford’s most potent pickup offering to date, a fitting evolution for a line that first captured imaginations and off-road hearts back in 2010. It stands as an assertive response to a market that increasingly leans toward smaller, turbocharged engines and electric alternatives. In a world where size and type of engine are often points of contention, the Raptor R stands as a triumphant assertion that there’s still a very enthusiastic market for raw, unadulterated power.