CARS OF THE WORLD

Ford F-150 Raptor R 2024.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R 2024 oil truck with a compressor V8 has become more powerful after an update.

For the 2024 model year, Ford has given its most powerful and fastest pickup truck, the F-150 Raptor R, a little extra juice.

The power of the 5.2-liter compressor V8, nicknamed Predator, has been increased from 710 to 730 hp, and there are other minor changes.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R debuted last summer as a belated answer to Stellantis’ Ram 1500 TRX muscle truck, but it’s better late than never, especially since the Ram 1500 TRX will end production this year.

The Ford F-150 Raptor R has several more years of happy life ahead on the market, and in the absence of direct competitors.

General Motors Corporation was never able to release a full-size muscle truck, and the Ram 1500 TRX with a compressor 6.2-liter V8 HEMI (712 hp, 881 Nm) was replaced by a noticeably less powerful Ram 1500 RHO with a 3.0- liter in-line petrol “biturbo-six” Hurricane (548 hp, 706 Nm).

When it debuted, the Ford F-150 Raptor R apparently had fewer horses under the hood than the Ram 1500 TRX.

Now the Raptor R is the most powerful stock gasoline pickup truck on the market and will most likely remain in history forever; there are no contenders to take this title from it and are not expected.

Ford says it has reduced the intake resistance of the Predator’s 5.2-liter V8 compressor and tinkered with the control program, resulting in maximum engine power increasing from 710 to 730 hp. with a constant maximum torque of 868 Nm.

But the “shelf” torque is now available in a wider rpm range (unfortunately, the exact numbers are not indicated in the press release).

The V8 Predator is paired with a 10-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission with a reinforced torque converter; all other hardware is the same as in last year’s Raptor R.

But the energy-intensive long-travel suspension now has more advanced Fox Live Valve adaptive shock absorbers with rebound and compression adjustments, and the same shock absorbers appeared on the regular Raptor without the letter “R”, which is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 biturbo petrol engine (456 hp ., 692 Nm).

Let us remind you that the entire Ford F-150 family underwent a restyling last fall. The Raptors therefore now sport a new front end design and a front bumper narrowed at the edges.

And in the cabin, a projection screen appeared on the windshield, complementing the standard digital instrument panel.

The decorative stickers on the body of the restyled Ford F-150 Raptor R are also new, but there is no way to examine them in detail — the press service of the “blue oval” has so far published only one photo of the muscle truck, we have placed it at the beginning of the article.

Pricing has not yet been announced, but last year’s Raptor R is still available for order, with a minimum price in the US of $109,990.