Who's The Predator This Time? We Take Our First Look At The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R.

Because Stellantis is obsessed with "Easter eggs," the designers of the Ram 1500 TRX included a graphic of a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing a comparatively tiny velociraptor in the center console. 

Under the hood, there is an even more graphic representation of a raptor being bitten by a T-Rex. Yes, it is undeniable that the Hellcat-powered desert destroyer took Ford completely by surprise. Ford is responsible for inventing the factory Baja-racer category with its F-150 Raptor.

But Ford is prepared to more than even the score when it introduces the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R this fall. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R will be driven by the appropriately dubbed "Predator" supercharged V-8 that was stolen from the Shelby GT500 and heavily upgraded.

Power and Torque of the Raptor R

Let's not put the cart before the horse here: The 5.2-liter Predator V-8 found in the F-150 Raptor R generates 700 horsepower at 6,650 rpm (compared to the GT500's 760 horsepower at 7,300 rpm) and 640 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm (up from 625 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm). The shift in goals from being a track star to competing for the Baja 1000 prize truck is reflected in this recalibration

They also enable this engine to pull a trailer weighing 8,700 pounds, carry a payload of 1,400 pounds, and pass Ford's stringent pickup-truck durability test cycles while spinning four enormous 37-inch tires (10 inches larger than a GT500 tire). And even though the seemingly underwhelming boost in peak torque might not seem like much, we have it on good authority that the overall torque has increased by an average of 25 percent across the board. (Skip the Googling; the TRX's pushrod engine generates 702 horsepower at 6,100 revolutions per minute and 650 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 revolutions per minute; the vehicle's payload and tow ratings, respectively, are 1,300 and 8,100 pounds.)

What Is The Raptor R's Top Speed?

The weight-to-power ratio drops from the 3.5-liter Raptor 37's 13.3 lb/hp to 8.6, so we are confident that the 0-60 mph time will drop from the 37's 5.6 seconds to perhaps 3.8 seconds or quicker. The Raptor 50 will have the same governed top speed of 120 mph as the Raptor 37. The Raptor 50 will weigh in at around 6,100 pounds. For those of you keeping track at home, the 6,760-pound Ram TRX with 9.6 pounds per horsepower requires 4.1 seconds. To achieve the same level of acceleration in a pickup truck, you will essentially require four electric motors. (The Rivian R1T has 8.6 lb/hp and can reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds.)

Dialing Up Torque Delivered by the Raptor R

Because nobody is going to be racing through a desert at 180 miles per hour, the emphasis on high-rpm power has been reduced. Because the redline was lowered from 7,500 to 7,000 pm, the diameter of the supercharger pulley was able to be reduced. As a result, the Eaton TVS R2650 blower is now able to spool up more quickly at lower rpm, which boosts low- and mid-range torque without the risk of over-revving at the top end. A brand innovative conical air filter that enhances airflow by 66 percent also makes breathing easier. 

On the exhaust side are new cast stainless-steel headers feeding a dual exhaust system that includes a true pass-through muffler where sound pulses from each bank can intermingle. These cast headers are not as free-flowing as the tubular headers on the GT500, but they are able to withstand multiple pulls at the Davis dam at their maximum towing capacity. The trombone loop that was present in the exhaust pipe of the V-6 Raptor has been removed, and the active noise valve feature has had its calibration adjusted for the R.

The engine's lubrication circuit has been significantly improved by the addition of a deeper, higher-capacity oil pan as well as a bar-plate oil-to-water cooling system that is integrated into the engine cooling circuit. This configuration is more suitable for towing than the track-optimized oil-to-air cooler that is featured on the GT500. In addition to that, there is a brand new crankshaft balancer made of viscous aluminum.

Reinforcements to the Drivetrain System

It is not possible to take out a 450-horsepower/510-pound-feet twin-turbo V-6 engine, swap it out for a 700-horsepower/640-pound-feet V-8 engine, and then still maintain the original manufacturer's warranty on the vehicle. The torque converter in the 10-speed automatic transmission has been strengthened with a robust four-pinion output assembly as well as a heavy-duty turbine damper. The shift programming has been fine-tuned to offer the quickest shifts possible from any 10-speed Ford transmission. After that, the torque is sent forward to a redesigned front axle that has a strengthened spider-gear carrier and a structurally reinforced front cover. Finally, the torque is transmitted rearward through an aluminum driveshaft with a wider diameter.

Chassis Modifications

Last year, Ford essentially launched the Raptor R's chassis, which was given the name Raptor 37 to indicate that it had the largest tires in its class. In addition to the already reinforced platform's reinforced jounce bumper mounts, stronger front Fox shocks, and a new cross member, trailer hitch, and winch mount for the underslung 37-inch spare tire, the R adds only a unique calibration of the Fox Live Valve shocks and front springs that are stiffened by 5 percent in order to accommodate the approximately 80 additional pounds of the V-8 powertrain.

Outside, the Raptor R is distinguished by Code Orange front tow hooks and an orange R on the grille, a 1-inch-taller power dome in the hood (for looks as if the engine requires no extra clearance), and unique graphics. Appliqués are added to the hood and rear flanks, creating the appearance of a cracked desert floor that is filled in with a multitude of small 8s, with a single "V" added to the rear driver's side. On the inside, there is a full black-out kit that includes gloss black dash panels, carbon-fiber highlights with a unique weave called "triaxial," and distinctive standard Recaro seat coverings. The black leather and Alcantara upholstery are accented with Code Orange stitching and the seatbacks are embroidered with a RAPTOR logo featuring an orange R at the end.

When, and how much, can you tell me?

The order banks are open now for dealer deliveries starting in fall 2022 at a somewhat eye-watering all-inclusive price of $109,145. The only choices available to purchasers will be a choice of eight colors, one of which is a unique shade called Avalanche Gray, and a panoramic sunroof, which will likely cost somewhere in the range of $1,495 like it does on other F-150 models. A similarly configured TRX rings in at around $102,000, so that's either a bold ask, it's factoring in considerable inflation, it aims to deprive dealers of their markup, or maybe it's Ford's subtler answer to Ram's T-Rex versus raptor Easter egg graphics.