One of the world’s most capable off-road pickups is about to become even more capable. Those are the latest reports about the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, which is expected to come with a more powerful engine on the offer. We are talking about a supercharged V8, which will put this pickup on par with the Ram TRX in terms of power. On the other hand, standard models will continue in the same way, with familiar design and features.
All in all, the new engine options will certainly bring benefits but we expect that the rest of the pickup will remain the same. We count on the same upgrades in terms of suspension and chassis, with all those off-road goodies. The Raptor is also known for unique styling elements, as well as for some pretty exclusive interior features.
We expect that the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor will arrive sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Gets New Engine
So far, the Raptor was offered with just one engine option. That’s a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which features a max output of 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. For a long time, that was enough for the leading position in the segment but things changed significantly after the arrival of Ram TRX, which features a monstrous 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 engine, with 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
The Blue Oval company has been preparing the answer for a while and it looks like it is finally ready. It will come in the form of a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, which already powers the high-performance Shelby GT500. The version in the legendary pony car features a max output of 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. Still, it looks like the Raptor version will be detuned. Some sources speculate about 650 horsepower, while there are even reports that suggest a max output of 525 horsepower, which would be a really modest upgrade over the V6-powered Raptor.
We expect that things will become clear in the next few months.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Design
Other than the engine, we don’t believe that the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor will bring any notable changes. The overall layout will certainly remain the same. Although based on the standard F-150, the Raptor comes with all kinds of upgrades. Of course, the mechanical ones come to mind first. More precisely, we are various off-road upgrades, starting from Fox shocks, larger internal-bypass dampers and a five-link rear coil-spring setup, heavy-duty skid plates, low-speed off-road cruise control, trail one-pedal driving, and trail turn assist. Standard models come with 35-inch tires and 12.0 inches of ground clearance, while you can also get a version with a set of 37-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, which increase the ground clearance to 13.1 inches.
Besides these significant mechanical upgrades, the Raptor also comes with some pretty unique styling details. You can easily notice that massive black grille with “Ford” lettering, while the rest of the body also comes with all kinds of blacked details. Combined with massive 35- or 37-inch tires, 17-inch black wheels also make a big impact on visual appeal.
Interior
When it comes to interior design, things aren’t significantly different compared to the rest of the lineup. It comes in a SuperCrew layout only and features a couple of exclusive details. For example, you can notice a lot of aluminum surfaces on the dashboard and center console. The pedals and paddle shifters are also made from this material. We also really like the Recaro bucket seats at the front. As we are talking about a SUperCrew cab style, the second row is also very generous with space. Behind the cabin, you may count on a 5.5-foot cargo bed.
As we are talking about one of the most expensive F-150 variants on the market, it’s no wonder that the list of standard equipment is very long. Things like a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster are standard, while the infotainment screen features same size. The truck is equipped with Ford’s latest SYNC4 infotainment system, which offers sharp graphics and fast response, and also comes with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Among upgrades, you can find an 18-speaker B&O sound system, as well as a 2.0-kW mobile generator that’s mounted in the cargo bed. The latter can run all kinds of power tools and similar stuff.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Release Date and Price
Despite the new powertrain, we don’t believe that the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor will arrive before the last quarter of the year. The current model starts at around 71.000 dollars, while we expect that the new V8-powered model will cost around $80.000.