10 Reasons Why We Love The 2023 Ford F

Dec 12, 2023

Ford's supercharged truck makes monstrous horsepower, and it's one of the most insane trucks to leave Detroit in the past few years.

The Ford Motor Company is one of the biggest auto manufacturers across the world, and their cars are pretty much synonymous with American automotive history. Perhaps no other vehicle is more American than pickup trucks, and Ford certainly knows a thing or two about those. After all, their flagship F-150 truck has been the highest-selling vehicle in North America for decades now, and for good reason. However, for those who always want more power, or want to ride on (or race on) the path less taken, there are always the Raptor models from Ford.

Ford's Raptor range of trucks has always been their most capable offerings, perfectly-crafted for high-speed desert running and off-roading. While we'd already been plenty excited about the entry of the new 2023 Ford Range Raptor into the lineup, there has been an even more exhilarating truck in the making. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is undeniably one of the most anticipated truck from Detroit these past few years. Now that it has finally rolled off the production line, it's safe to say that our excitement wasn't in vain. That said, here are 10 reasons to love the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R truck.

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The Raptor models have always been at the top of the F-150 lineup, making them the most powerful trucks in Ford's arsenal. Not only is the Ford F-150 Raptor R the most powerful 2023 model, but it is also the most powerful Ford Raptor to ever come off the assembly line.

With its big V8 engine under the hood and light weight, the Ford Raptor R makes some seriously impressive power figures, which cements it in Ford history as the fastest Raptor pickup truck with the Blue Oval on it.

The rumor mill around the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R had been in full swing over the past few months, and perhaps the most-talked about was the return of the supercharged V8 engine. Ford took the 5.2-liter V8 unit from the Shelby Mustang GT500 and put it in the Raptor R, with a few changes, of course.

The 5.2-liter V8 Predator powerplant is paired with a fantastic 2.65-liter Eaton supercharger, which actually gives this pickup truck some more torque than the Mustang! Thanks to the engine and the supercharger, the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R now makes a massive 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque.

The most powerful Raptor yet, the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R takes its supercharged capabilities and reflects them in its styling as well. Right out of the gate, what will grab your attention is the aggressive power-dome on the hood. Almost an inch taller than the one on the base Raptor, the power dome is also functional, as it extracts warm air from underneath.

The iconic 'FORD' grille adorns the front fascia, looking bossy and intimidating as ever. Even the bumpers and fender flares are painted black, giving the new Raptor R a menacing look. Tom Liu, the lead designer for the Raptor R, stated how the truck has been designed 'like a desert predator'.

The Raptor brand is synonymous with sheer off-road capability, and to maintain that image, Ford Performance worked on the 2023 F-150 Raptor R to make it their best work yet. They even took the original engine's exhaust manifolds and turned it into a cast stainless steel design.

Ford also gave the Raptor R a deeper oil pan, an oil cooler specifically crafted for the Raptor R, and a new air intake that brings in 66% more volume to the engine. This makes the Raptor absolutely perfect for high-speed desert running, while never worrying about what it might have to tackle.

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Among other changes, the 2023 Ford Raptor R also gets a new front axle. Along with the front axle, a stronger carrier casting and an aluminum-ribbed structure cover manage the added torque of the powertrain. The new Raptor R also gets a unique, larger-diameter driveshaft crafted in aluminum.

There's also a dedicated torque converter which Ford specifically tuned to the Raptor R, along with a heavy-duty turbine damper. The 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R transfers torque better than ever before, while the powertrain is now as smooth as ever both on the road and off it.

In the new 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, drivers get more control than ever over their driving experience. Ford has employed a unique dual exhaust system that comes with an active valve system. This system works in tandem with the variety of selectable drive modes available on the Raptor R.

Drivers can play around with the Quiet, Normal, Sport, or Baja mode on the Raptor R, customizing the drive, steering, suspension modes, as well as the intensity of the exhaust note. They can even change multiple settings and save it as their preferred mode.

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The new front on the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R also gives the truck a 5% increase in the front spring rate. While this certainly helps the truck maintain a comfortable ride quality regardless of the terrain it is riding on, it also gives the Raptor R the best ground clearance in its class.

At 13.1 inches above the ground, the Ford F-150 Raptor R boasts segment-leading ground clearance. Plus, the massive 37-inch tires that come as standard on the pickup are also class-exclusive, giving the Ford F-150 Raptor R quite a bunch of bragging rights.

The Ford F-150 Raptor's closest rival in the market has, for long, been the Ram TRX 1500. This year, the latter does have more power than the Raptor R, but where Ford's trucks shine is in the weight department. The regular V6 Raptor, even with the 37-inch tire package that comes on the Raptor R as standard, is quite a bit lighter than the TRX.

Ford then points out that the Raptor R is only about 100lbs heavier than the V6 Raptor, which is an insane figure. This gives the Raptor R a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio, making it a fantastic choice for high-speed desert running.

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The cabin of the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R is definitely built to show off the 700 horsepower under the hood. As far as pickup truck interiors go, even the standard F-150 cabin is decently impressive, but the Raptor R gets its own unique flourishes which set it distinctly apart from the rest of the F-150 lineup.

All Raptor R models come with Recaro seats as standard, wrapped in a great combination of leather and suede. Carbon fiber also adorns many panels and parts of the Raptor R's interiors, and Ford calls this 'tri-axial weave' of the carbon fiber a way to convey their new truck's performance, toughness, and durability.

Ford's Trail Control system has been making its way to most of their new trucks, and the new F-150 Raptor R is no exception. With its Trail Control system, the Raptor R will crawl along at a preset speed, letting the driver focus their entire attention on the obstacles in front of them.

Another feature, dubbed the Trail Turn Assist, allows drivers of the Ford F-150 Raptor R to shrink their turning radius on tight turns. This is incredibly helpful for when you want to go further off-road and make some pretty cramped turnarounds.

If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.