Speculation has surrounded the upcoming Ford F-150 Raptor R as to what’s in store under the hood. The Blue Oval brand has laid those rumors to rest, as it previewed the truck’s V8 power unit at the Ford Bronco Raptor event in Johnson Valley, Southern California.
Can't wait to share more details about F-150 Raptor R later this year. The V8 sounds amazing! #RaptorR pic.twitter.com/qTOxKvp1ll
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) June 14, 2022
Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley tweeted a brief aerial video clip of the event, depicting one of two F-150 Raptor Rs barreling across the sand and kicking up dust along the way. The distinctive V8 engine note served as the lone soundtrack, with the truck performing a donut before drifting then speeding off into the distance.
A leaked dealer sticker confirms that the F-150 Raptor R will be powered by the same supercharged 5.2-liter gasoline V8 engine, codenamed Predator, found in the Mustang Shelby GT500. Expected output is 760 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque, putting the F-150 Raptor R ahead of the Ram 1500 TRX that produces 702 horsepower from its own supercharged V8 lifted from the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.
Ford demonstrated the upcoming F-150 Raptor R's power by kicking up dust clouds
According to Farley, Twitter fans were part of the reason for the engine choice. “We listened, Twitter helps us sharpen our focus since we can listen to individual feedback,” he tweeted in reply to a comment thanking him for putting a V8 in the performance truck.
A 10-speed automatic transmission will work in tandem with a four-wheel drivetrain. The 9.75-inch rear axle will reportedly have an electronic locking differential with a 4:10:1 ratio. For suspension, electronically controlled Fox LiveValve dampers will buoy the truck over 17-inch forged alloy wheels wearing 37-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires.
It's the same engine powering the Mustang Shelby GT500
While Ford has yet to provide a closer look at the exterior and the interior, the F-150 Raptor R is expected to resemble the standard Raptor in terms of styling. Interior amenities could include dual-zone automatic climate control and an 18-piece Bang & Olufsen speaker system.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R is slated to make its debut within the third quarter of 2022, and is anticipated to cost significantly higher than the $71,700 (Php 3.82 million) price tag of the standard Raptor.
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