2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R First Look | The V8 Raptor Is Here and Ready to Dominate | Release & More

Alistair Weaver here for Edmunds with news of another sequel to Jurassic Park. Well, sort of. There's a new Ford F-150 Raptor. And this time, it adds an R. And it's needed because the current Raptor is a heavyweight lacking a punch. In today's world, 450 horsepower just doesn't really cut it in a high-performance truck. In our off-roading drag race, it was even humbled by its sober brother, the F-150 Hybrid. Rubbish. But the R should be different. It pinches its supercharged V8 from the Mustang Shelby GT500, which puts it into direct competition with that other dinosaur, the Ram TRX, or T-Rex, if you prefer. Across 10 categories from power to price, we're going to assess how their specs compare, setting the scene for the struggle to come. It's a classic confrontation. But there's also an interloper from the future. For the same money, you can have another truck from a pesky startup that might just bite harder. At the end of this film, we'll discuss how the electrically-powered Rivian R1T tackles both. And now, without further ado, let's get on with it. We own a version of the Raptor R's motor in our very own GT500 with just top 20,000 miles in it. And you can read all about it on the link below. In short, we're big fans of the 5.2-liter supercharged V8, which have been tweaked for the truck. The supercharger has been recalibrated. And there's a new pulley to help provide more lower and mid-range torque for high-performance off-roading. The TRX also pinches its engine from a muscle car, in this case, the Dodge Hellcat. Also supercharged, this V8 is 6.2 liters, so a full liter bigger than the Ford. Winner, TRX. In this market, bigger is always better. Ford is claiming at least 700 horsepower for the Raptor R. But don't be surprised when they reveal the final figure exceeds the RAM's 702 horsepower. That's also 250 more than the V6 Raptor. The TRX does counter with more chat, though. 650 pounds-feet of torque, 10 more than the Ford. Winner, tie. R likely has more power, but less torque. No one outside of Ford has driven the Raptor R yet. But we have tested the TRX and the V6 Raptor. At our test track, the TRX hit 60 miles an hour from rest in just 4.2 seconds, running the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 106.5 miles an hour. The Raptor took 5.8 seconds to hit 60, and 14.3 seconds for the quarter at 92 miles an hour. That's a clear mismatch and the reason Ford built the R. The rerun should be much, much closer. Winner, TBD. There's really no messing around here. The Raptor R has 24-inch springs and electronically controlled Fox dampers in a bid to blend off-road capability with on-road comfort. The TRX counters with Bilstein Blackhawk electronic shocks. Both offer at least 13 inches of wheel travel all round, but the Ford has more ground clearance, 13.1 inches versus 11.8. Winner, on paper at least, the Ford edges it with more ground clearance. Now before we go on to torque tires, if you like what you're seeing and want to see more, subscribe to our channel. And if you're trying to sell your car, head to edmunds.com slash sellmycar for a superb cash offer. This is a proper game of one-upmanship. The TRX has giant 35-inch tires, but is still outdone by the Ford's 37-inch boots. Winner, Ford. Both these trucks are colossal. At almost 233 inches, they're pretty much identical in length. Subtle, it ain't. Winner, Ty. That width can be a hassle in town. If you're a fan of elegant, understated sophistication, look away now. Both trucks make a huge statement in every sense. The R gets a slightly bigger power dome on the hood versus the standard Raptor, orange R badging, and a new graphics package that's supposed to mirror cracked desert earth. Inside, there are Recaro chairs plus real carbon fiber, because every ounce counts in a vehicle weighing over 6,000 pounds. The TRX is more familiar, but no more subtle. It's party piece, amber LEDs built into the power bulge. Winner, Ty. Purely subjective. Let's be honest about it. If you're worried about the price of gas or environmental salvation, you're not buying a Raptor R or a TRX. On our conservatively driven test loop, the TRX achieved 12 miles per gallon, and even the laughably named EcoBoost Raptor scarcely topped 15 miles per gallon. Judging by the alcoholic tendencies of our GT500, we don't expect the R to fare better. Drive enthusiastically in any of these trucks, and you'll be in single figures. Winner, neither. Both are utterly abysmal. None of these trucks are cheap. The TRX costs almost 81 grand. The V6 Raptor starts at almost 72, so reckon on about 80,000 for the R. We'll be mighty surprised if the price doesn't match up to the TRX. Winner, Ty. Price matching, innit? The Raptor has Ford's Trail Turn Assist system that also features in the Bronco. By breaking the inside wheel, it reduces the turning circle off-road and makes you laugh. The TRX has an awesome Easter egg of its own. Under the airbox cover is a picture of a T-Rex eating a Raptor. Tremendous corporate trash talk. Winner, Ford. Trail Turn Assist is the thinking person's handbrake turn. So what of the Rivian? Here at Edmunds, we bought one with our own hard-earned cash and are living with it day to day. It's not as big, it's not as loud in any sense, and it's not really set up for racing across dunes. But it's bloody fast, and it costs within 100 bucks at the TRX. Do we think people will cross-shop them? No. But the comparison is still interesting, and it points the way to an F-150 Lightning Raptor in the future. In the R1T, four motors, one for each wheel, combine to deliver 835 horsepower and 908 pounds feet of torque. In our hands, it hits 0 to 60 miles an hour in just 3.5 seconds, and did the quarter in 11.9 seconds at 109.9 miles an hour. That's almost a second quicker than the TRX. Being electric, it doesn't have a taste for high-octane gasoline. But before the keyboard warriors get all puritanical, that doesn't mean it's big on efficiency. At 7,148 pounds, it's over 400 pounds heavier than the TRX, and is the least efficient EV we've ever tested. For context, it consumes juice at twice the rate of a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. And that means unless you're at a super-fast charger, recharging takes forever. So in our less-than-scientific competition, we have the Ford ahead. But that's before we subject them to the full rigors of an Edmunds test. And it could be the fall before we finally get our hands on them together. That will be a great day. It's hard to imagine Ford or Ram building another Colossus with a supercharged V8. So this might be the final throw for comedy trucks like these, which will prove a victor against the watch and in the dirt. Can't wait to find out. That's it for now. Thanks for watching.