- The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R arrives with a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 that makes 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque.
- Along with a restored roar, every Raptor R has 37-inch tires and subtle visual cues that differentiate it from the V-6 version.
- The 2023 F-150 Raptor R starts at $109,145, with orders open now and production starting this fall.
As Jeff Goldblum’s character says in the original Jurassic Park, “If there’s one thing that evolution has taught us, it’s that life will not be contained . . . life finds a way.” Well, Ford finally found a way to fit the F-150 Raptor with a proper V-8 again. And it’s not just any V-8—it’s the supercharged 5.2-liter from the Shelby GT500, also known as the Predator. The epic engine upgrade is the justification for the new 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R. It also rings the bell signaling the start of the heavy-weight title fight that truck nuts have been waiting for: Raptor versus TRX.
A Predator in a Pickup Truck
As had been rumored and later confirmed, the Raptor R is powered by Ford’s Predator V-8. However, there are some significant differences between the pickup-truck version and the one under the Shelby GT500’s hood. In the mightiest Mustang, the blown motor makes 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. In the Raptor R, the supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 makes 700 horses and 640 pound-feet. For further comparison, the regular-strength Raptor’s twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 makes 450 horses and 510 pound-feet.
The new power figures are a result of Ford’s tailoring the truck’s engine for optimal performance in conditions that it’ll actually be driven in. Think pounding across the desert or crawling over obstacles rather than racing around a track or operating at triple-digit speeds. The Raptor’s new engine still pairs with a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. However, the transmission has a new calibration and an upgraded torque converter. The…