For Those Who Demand MoRe

The factor about summiting a sand dune that appears roughly the scale of a 15-story constructing is – and excuse me for getting technical proper on the outset – you’ve obtained to maintain your foot down. The high quality white sand that composes the Silver Lake dunes on the japanese shore of Lake Michigan, causes even the knobbiest of tires, pushed by unspeakably highly effective engines, to lavatory down for those who elevate too early.

I do know this as a result of, properly, the man in entrance of me saved getting caught only a few toes from the highest. One factor that the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R gained’t do it appears – regardless of its many magnificent items of off-road-focused package and a triumphant 700-horsepower, supercharged V8 engine – is persuade its driver that the Earth doesn’t finish on the high of a steep hill.

Right here’s the attention-grabbing half: The help employees that rescued my fellow journalist on his final and deepest flub had been driving a plain-old EcoBoost Raptor. Regardless of being down 250 hp and 130 pound-feet of torque, that insanely succesful truck was simply in a position to climb the dune and tug out Mr. Carry in his caught Raptor R. It’s a good wager that one of many guys working round within the Bronco Raptor, and even a few of Ford’s “lesser” off-road prepared automobiles may’ve executed the work as properly. So why go R?

The reality is that no one wants the Raptor R. No non-Baja-racer wants 700 hp of their pickup truck. However to paraphrase McConaughey, it’s a complete lot cooler for those who do.

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These Go To Eleven

To state the plain: changing the usual Raptor’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is much and away the most important change made to earn that pink R badge. The ability unit is acquainted to anybody who’s checked out a Mustang Shelby GT500 spec sheet and makes 700 hp at 6,650 rpm and 640 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm on this F-150 tune.

The related efficiency is simply as spectacular as these output numbers on the street, although Ford hasn’t disclosed any official acceleration figures. With about 400 extra kilos (when corrected for trim and gear) , 2 extra horsepower and 10 extra torques, blood rival Ram TRX is claimed to hit 60 miles per hour in simply 4.5 seconds on dry pavement. Definitely, the Raptor R is more likely to be somewhat faster.

I did hand-time a number of 0-60 runs on an extended muddy stretch of deeply rutted sand out at Sliver Lake. Hardly scientific, however the Ford constantly hit bang-on 5 seconds in these less-than-ideal circumstances, to present you some concept of its accelerative profile. That’s to say: very very fast.

The “Predator” V8 is complemented by an distinctive exhaust system, as properly. Switched into the loudest and most fun Baja Mode, the ripping sound that accompanies a full boot of throttle is hard-edged, metallic, and satisfyingly raucous. Excellent for a day on the dunes or out within the sticks with like-minded fans.

To state the plain: changing the usual Raptor’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is much and away the most important change made to earn that pink R badge.

To be sincere, although, I used to be much more impressed with simply how silent the lively exhaust system may very well be within the aptly named Quiet Mode. When leaving the lodge in the dead of night of the morning, my truck was almost silent (not less than till I dug deeply into the throttle). For anybody residing in well mannered society and planning to each day drive their R, this will probably be a godsend.

Spot The Adjustments

Past the brand new engine (which additionally has a distinct supercharger pulley and tune vs. the GT500), there’s not a lot you get on the Raptor R that doesn’t already come – not less than optionally – on the plain-ol’ Raptor.

The most important visible cue is the ability dome coming out of the imposing hood – an unsubtle approach of reinforcing that this isn’t your common F-150. Sophomoric R-specific graphics enhance the rear flanks of the brand new Raptor, too, however fortunately they’re a zero-cost choice to delete. Alternatively, the Raptor R badge is a little bit of delicate menace with a jagged, pink “R” hanging off the “Raptor” badge. Past these, you’ll have to identify the usual 37-inch wheels (optionally available on the usual Raptor), or the blacked-out trim items inside and outside the brand new truck.

Ford has tuned the Raptor R’s long-travel Fox stay valve shocks to account for the additional weight and energy of the V8. The one different useful adjustments from the prevailing Raptor are supposed to hold the engine cool and respiratory freely. Raptor R will get an up to date engine oil cooler, a deeper oil pan, a wider air consumption, and a higher-flow air filter.

The Tame Beast

Knobby, 37-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tires and 13.1-inches of floor clearance would possibly sound like a recipe for poor freeway manners and floppy back-roads blasting, however that isn’t the case. Regardless of being closely optimized for desert working at triple-digit speeds, the Raptor R doesn’t really feel a lot harder to stay with than your commonplace F-150 (save for the automobile funds and gasoline payments).

The identical five-link rear suspension with extra-long trailing arms that permits the truck to maintain energy flowing to the weeks on undulating surfaces, appears to haven’t any deleterious results on general experience high quality. At 75 miles per hour on the freeway, these large tires do rumble away within the background (lower than I anticipated, actually), however in any other case the Raptor R feels totally surefooted and secure. And the brakes – 13.8-inch rotors with two-piston calipers up entrance and 13.2-inch, single-piston rears – shocked me with their power and precision pedal really feel, contemplating the almost three-ton curb weight and high-riding stance.

Off the freeway and on curving again roads, the Raptor R doesn’t really feel like a sports activities automobile however it additionally isn’t completely out of its depth. The muscle truck requires a little bit of planning (and bravado) to execute consecutive, tightly wound corners, however the lateral motion in these circumstances is much less pronounced than I anticipated.

With modal settings for drivetrain, dampers, steering, and exhaust, the mighty R is definitely actually versatile when it comes to driving fashion and depth. Mixed with a snug and spacious cabin, a superb 12-inch touchscreen working SYNC 4, and the power to stab the throttle and douse your mind circuits with adrenaline at any second, this actually is a truck for all seasons.

Head Vs. Coronary heart

The boiled-down story of the Raptor R is taking the already insane Raptor and giving it silly energy for an astronomical value (extra on that in a minute). That isn’t a components for a mass market, however it describes a automobile that ought to compete for the crown of Most Enjoyable Truck Ever straight away.

On pavement, even in Sport mode with energy being intelligently distributed to all 4 wheels, 700 hp is an excessive amount of to make use of. It’s hilarious to do a four-wheel burnout begin from a cease signal on a abandoned nation street, however not significantly efficient for something much less ludicrous. However on the sand – climbing dunes, leaping something, steering with the throttle, two palms on a snaking wheel, and a silent prayer in your dry lips – it’s precisely excellent.

The common Raptor – or a quad or a dune buggy – would possibly do every little thing simply in addition to the R, however the hilarity of the overabundance is what you’re paying for right here.

Even 700 horsepower doesn’t really feel like an excessive amount of on the dunes. And the common Raptor – or a quad or a dune buggy – would possibly do every little thing simply in addition to the R, however the hilarity of the overabundance is what you’re paying for right here. I don’t assume I’ve laughed a lot or so laborious, in 17 years of writing about vehicles, as I did on this Ford truck out on the lake.

The draw back is much less enjoyable to write down about however exceedingly actual: Ford desires $109,145 to place one in all these vehicles in your (hopefully massive) storage. That’s $76,775 for the Raptor, $30,575 for the R bundle, $1,795 for the vacation spot fees, and sure some juice on your pleasant native Ford supplier who isn’t liable to get greater than a handful of those restricted vehicles allotted.

All-Inclusive Or À La Carte?

The one apex predator that really competes with Raptor R is the equally highly effective Ram 1500 TRX. Ram’s pricing technique is basically the precise reverse of Ford’s for the R: the TRX begins at simply over $80k for a truck with a large engine, and only a few optionally available goodies, whereas Raptor R basically comes full-boat loaded.

To get a TRX geared up just like the Raptor R you’ll nonetheless spend loads much less – about $102,000 – however the value remains to be eye-watering. I’d say that many patrons, even these forking out on six-figure vehicles, care about an additional seven grand.

The trickiest bit, nevertheless, contemplating Ram’s buy-what-you-like technique, is which you can get a TRX that has all the ability and the issues that actually matter on the dunes or within the desert, for lots much less. For example, kitting a TRX up with beadlock-capable 18-inch wheels, and rock rails (the addition of which require the $3,795 Degree 1 Tools Group) web out to a truck just below $90k.

If paying much less to get much less consolation and comfort stuff in your off-road toy appeals to you, Ram provides much more worth. Should you’re more likely to tick each field anyway, the selection actually comes all the way down to a head-to-head driving expertise (that I’m dying to do, by the way in which).

General, the supercar value for the F-150 Raptor R isn’t shocking when you’ve skilled the jaw-dropping capacity of this monstrously spectacular truck. Climbing, crawling, leaping, or racing, the R is a supertruck for any setting and an ideal expression of Ford Efficiency’s huge functionality. Preserve your foot down and also you’ll see what I imply.