Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn has introduced the new F-150 Raptor R — which it says is the fastest, most powerful, highest-performance off-road desert Raptor to date.
The Raptor R offers a new 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque to give it desert-running power. Ford Performance enlisted the most powerful engine in its lineup, optimizing it for off-road performance and durability. Ford says the result is the most torque dense supercharged V8 in a production pickup.
The Raptor R’s capability and durability comes from more than a decade of Ford expertise in engineering and torture testing high-performance trucks. Ford Performance upgraded the base truck’s transmission and driveline to help ensure Raptor R can smoothly handle what this V8 can throw at it.
“Raptor R is our ultimate Raptor,” says Carl Widmann, chief engineer of Ford. “When customers experience Raptor R in the desert and beyond, it will make the hairs on the back of their necks stand up — and they’ll love every second of it.”
Raptor R delivers a 10-speed SelectShift transmission with improved calibration. The truck features a new front axle with a more robust, higher-strength carrier casting, and an aluminum-ribbed structural cover to manage the powertrain’s added torque, as well as a unique larger-diameter aluminum driveshaft.
Drivers get even more control over how their Raptor R expresses its additional power, courtesy of a unique dual exhaust system with a true pass-through muffler and active valve system, with modes for Normal, Sport, Quiet and Baja.
These can be adjusted in the MyMode feature, allowing drivers to customize multiple settings – including drive, steering, suspension modes and others – and save one as a single mode easily accessed with the press of the “R” button on the steering wheel.
“We’ve heard our customers demanding the sound and power of a V8 back in Raptor,” says Widmann. “That’s not something we were going to rush. This supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is the ideal fusion of high-density power paired with the third generation Raptor’s all-new rear suspension and shocks to deliver a one-two punch that goes far beyond the sum of its parts.”
The style of the Raptor R has been upgraded, featuring a larger power dome on the hood that sits almost 1 inch taller than on the base Raptor. The truck will have Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange accents, including an “R” badge on the grille, power dome, and tailgate.
Standard Recaro seats sport a combination of black leather and Alcantara suede — placed for added grip when the terrain gets tough. Genuine carbon fiber adorns the doors, media bin door and upper parts of the instrument panel, featuring a unique tri-axial weave which Ford says is designed to convey Raptor R’s combination of performance, toughness, and durability.
