2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, roaring 700 hp for $109,145

The Ford F-150 Raptor could have a V-8 under its hood again, and it won't need a third-party tuning shop.

On Monday, the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R was unveiled with a V-8 and 37-inch tires. It will cost $109,145 (including a $1,795 destination charge) when it arrives at dealers later this year, but Ford will begin taking orders immediately. [A supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 from the Mustang Shelby GT500 has been shoved under the hood of the Raptor for R duty, producing 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque that won't top this rare class of performance truck. We have to deal with the elephant in the room: less power than the 702 hp, 663 lb-ft Ram 1500TRX. It is also less powerful than the Shelby GT500 (rated at 760 hp), but only 625 lb-ft in that application.

Why didn't the Ford team tune the engine to produce at least 703 hp to outperform the TRX Ford?

"Horsepower is not everything. It's more about the power-to-weight ratio. Where we want to win, it's the desert," Ford spokeswoman Dawn McKenzie told Motor Authority.

The Raptor, with its V-8 engine, is estimated to weigh 5,950 pounds, while the TRX is estimated to weigh 6,350 pounds.

McKenzie said Ford does not share the 0-60 mph time and the truck does not have launch control like the TRX.

The same 2.65-liter liquid-cooled inverted supercharger from the Shelby GT500 revs up to 12 psi of boost, but the Raptor R's V-8 has been modified for high-speed off-road use. New pulleys have been installed to improve low- and mid-range torque transfer, Ford says. The exhaust manifolds are now made of cast stainless steel, and a new crankshaft damper has been installed to reduce NVH. A new oil cooler and filter were fitted, and the oil pan was deeper to ensure proper lubrication on steep grades. A new, wider air intake and high-flow conical air filter increased intake airflow by 66% compared to the Shelby, according to Ford.

To accommodate the increased power, the calibration of the Raptor's 10-speed automatic transmission was modified. The torque converter uses a similar design to that used in the base Raptor, but is new to the V-8 models. Heavy-duty turbine dampers and a four-pinion rear output assembly are used to prevent boom.

The Raptor R's exclusive dual exhaust system with pass-through muffler and active valve system allows the supercharged V-8 to produce sounds ranging from low burble to kicking the neighbors with the push of a button or a change in drive mode.

Fuel economy is not disclosed, but rest assured that premium fuel is quickly consumed. The payload remains the same at 1,400 pounds, but the Raptor R can tow up to 8,700 pounds, 500 pounds more than the standard Raptor.

Suspension Upgrades

Fox shocks with remote reservoirs are carried over from the standard Raptor, but front spring rates have been increased by about 5% for R duties, taking into account that the V-8 has about 100 extra pounds on the front axle Mackenzie stated.

The front axle was reinforced with a finned aluminum cover to improve heat dissipation. Stiffer front axle bushings were replaced along with internal travel limiters. The aluminum driveshaft diameter was increased by half an inch (now 5 inches) and a pinion snubber was added.

All Raptor Rs rolled on 37-inch rubber (optional on standard Raptors), and 13-inch front and 14.1-inch rear wheel travel was carried over from the V-6 models with these tires. On our first drive of the third-generation Raptor, we found that the truck with the standard 35-inch tires felt lighter and turned sideways with less effort than the truck with the optional 37-inch rubber.

Almost a sleeper Raptor

It takes a keen eye to tell a Raptor R from a standard Raptor. The R's exclusive fender graphics are also available.

Inside, the R features a black interior with leather and suede Recaro seats with carbon-fiber trim, a 12.0-inch digital meter cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen carried over from the Raptor, a 12.0-inch touchscreen with a 12.0-inch display, and a 12.0-inch touchscreen with a 12.0-inch display.

Price Perspective

The base Raptor is priced at $71,700 and the R comes with a $37,445 premium, but this is not an even comparison. Equipped with the same options and features, the Raptor R, with its supercharged V-8 engine, carries a $25,245 premium. The base TRX costs about $30,000 less than the Raptor R, and even the TRX, loaded with the same equipment as the R, costs about $15,000 less than the R