What do you crave when the super-duper scorching rod Ford F-150 Raptor simply isn’t sufficient truck for you?
What will you do when the Raptor’s twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 and its 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque simply aren’t fairly sufficient to flip your pancakes anymore? You will go right down to the Ford seller and get the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, that’s what.
Overview
The new-for-2023 F-150 Raptor R is principally nonetheless the Raptor pickup. It’s obtainable solely as a crew cab with a brief mattress, it seems to be like a Trophy Truck able to tackle a Mexican desert race, it’s obtained tuned shocks by the racing suspension designers at Fox Shox and a full off-road racing suspension.
But as an alternative of the twin-turbo V-6, the madmen in Dearborn gave the Raptor R a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8. Because in fact they did. To paraphrase the immortal Nigel Tufnel, this truck goes to 11.
Exterior
As talked about, the Raptor R (and all Raptors) seem like competitors off-road racing vehicles. Of course, they aren’t actually. They’re tremendous succesful off-road and all, however they’re primarily road vehicles. Still, there are fats flared fenders, pink restoration hooks, a giant previous bulgy factor on the hood, and bead-lock rims holding 37-inch tires.
The operating boards aren’t only for present, both. The Raptor R sits excessive sufficient on its long-travel suspension that you just’ll want them to climb aboard. Also, there’s no chrome bling to be seen. The Raptor R is all blackout trim, appropriately.
Interior
I discussed that the Raptor R is usually a road truck, and that extends to the inside. It’s comfy — as you’ll count on from any high-trim F-150. Carbon fiber highlights and pink options just like the little loop of pink leather-based on the prime of the steering wheel. That’s to inform you when the wheels are straight forward, in the event you didn’t know. It’s an off-road factor.
Controls are many by the point you discover the trailer backup knob, 4WD selector, local weather and infotainment controls. This isn’t an ultra-modern factor with an enormous sheet of glass, it’s a truck. With a giant display screen, positive, however nonetheless a truck.
Powertrain
Ok, right here’s the place the Raptor R goes fully excessive: 5.2-liter V-8, blown with a supercharger for 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque. That’s paired with a 10-speed automated transmission. The totally fashionable four-wheel-drive system consists of an “Automatic” mode you can depart on on a regular basis, like all-wheel drive.
Plus you get the same old 4HI and 4LO and rear-drive choices, all obtainable on the push of a touch button. You can choose your completely different off-road or regular drive modes utilizing the identical controller.
The Raptor R also can tow and haul. In reality, it can tow as much as 8,700 kilos, and comes geared up with all of the tow goodies like a dash-mounted trailer brake controller and the nifty backup knob that permits you to again your boat down a ramp like a professional. Bed payload is a good 1,400 kilos.
Safety and Technology
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration charges the 2023 Ford F-150 crew cab with a five-star crash take a look at ranking, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety charges the F-150 as a “Top Safety Pick,” simply shy of its prime designation.
One factor to appreciate is that the Raptor isn’t meant to be a automobile with numerous driver help tech. The complete level of an off-road succesful truck is to drive it your self. Therefore, you get all the essential security and comfort stuff, plus a Rollover Stability Control (RSC) operate, and that’s about it. You do get terrain administration and path management, nonetheless, plus a complete 360-degree digicam system.
The off-road tech is simply as subtle as something going. Trail Turn Assist permits drivers to shrink their turning radius on tight turns, whereas Trail Control is like cruise management for off-roading. This lets drivers choose a gradual velocity and steer via difficult circumstances whereas the truck handles all of the throttle and braking duties. Trail 1-Pedal Drive permits prospects to regulate throttle and braking with only one pedal to make excessive off-roading like rock crawling potential.
On the sprint, you’ll take pleasure in a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen operating Ford’s Sync4. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto assist come normal together with a wi-fi charging pad. So you should have your tunes when you careen across the desert, and Sync4 consists of GPS navigation, too.
Driving Impressions
So, the very first thing you do with a truck like that is take it to some lonely spot with nobody round and ground it. When you do, the Raptor R won’t disappoint you in any method. The truck throws you again into the seat, roars like an outraged dragon, and takes off like a rocket, rising up on its suspension because it goes. Ok, factors to Ford for that.
In basic, driving the Raptor R is as simple as any fashionable four-wheel drive full-size truck. It’s massive and with the particular off-road lengthy journey suspension, fairly softly sprung. It’s obtained 24-inch coils that enable wheel journey of 13 inches in entrance and 14.1 inches in again. That’s what provides the Raptor R the power to traverse sand and rocks. However, you’ll discover numerous suspension movement and physique movement as you drive, however the Raptor by no means bounces or appears to lose contact with the highway. It simply soaks up no matter is underfoot.
In your neighborhood grocery retailer parking zone, the Raptor R reminds you that it’s a giant, broad truck. Head for the far corners and discover a parking house with an empty slot on either side. The plus aspect is, you’re going to get optimistic feedback from the opposite massive truck guys who’re parking out within the south 40.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R Specifications
Dimensions | L: 232.6 inches/W: 87 inches/H: 80.6 inches/Wheelbase: 145.4 inches |
Weight | 6,077 kilos |
Powertrain | 5.2-liter V-8 engine; 10-speed transmission and four-wheel drive |
Fuel Economy | 15 mpg metropolis/18 mpg freeway/16 mpg mixed |
Performance Specs | 700 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque |
Price | As examined: $109,245 together with $1,895 vacation spot cost. |
On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
The Raptor R is its personal trim stage, so there’s not a lot of a worth stroll to talk of. There are only a few possibility packages so it breaks down like this: the common Raptor begins at $76,775, and the Raptor R bundle provides a cool $30,575, plus a $1,895 vacation spot charge, so that you’re just about taking a look at $109,245 for the Raptor R at a minimal. We wouldn’t count on Ford sellers to be placing these on sale, both. If you need that blown V-8, that is your truck.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R — Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Ford Raptor R quicker than a Ram TRX?
The Raptor R rockets to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds whereas the TRX does the 0-60 run in 3.9 seconds.
Is the Ford Raptor R road authorized?
Yes, and it’s on sale now.
What is the distinction between the Ford Raptor and the Raptor R?
The Ford F-150 Raptor has a twin-turbo V-6 engine, whereas the Raptor R has a supercharged V-8.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com