New 720 Horsepower V-8 Makes New F-150 Raptor R The Most Powerful Truck In The Lineup

Which Ford pickup would you use if you wanted to go “dashing through the snow?" There is a raft of trucks to choose from. Granted, they are wrapped in pretty much the body and trims, but if you wanted something different, something that would make your choice stand out, there are many bodacious engine choices available.

Available Powerplants Meet All Needs

For example, you can pick one of the standard Ford F150 powerplants, the 3.3-liter naturally aspirated V-6. There is plenty of snow-smashing power in this basic trim engine as it cranks out 290 horsepower and 265 pounds of torque.

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Or if that is a bit too tame, there are other engines. For example, there is the 2,7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6. Another choice might be the kahuna of the V-6 lineup, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6, which turns out 400 horsepower and about 415 pounds-feet of torque.

Depending on the model pickup, the engine choices go up to the legendary 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 that turns out 405 horsepower and 430 pounds-feet of torque.

This year, though, there's a new engine choice available that turns the ordinary F-150 pickup into the pavement-ripping 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R.

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According to the Blue Oval, the Raptor R is the most potent and capable high-performance off-road full-size truck to ever run in the sand, snow, and beyond, thanks to an updated 5.2-liter supercharged V8 cranking out 720 horsepower and 640 pounds-feet of torque. Engineering development managed to obtain a 20-horsepower power increase by using reduced air inlet losses and optimized calibration. This results in a broader torque curve.

F-150 Ford Raptor R History

The first F-150 Raptor debuted 14 years ago with 310 horsepower from a 5.4-liter V-8. Another version sported a 411 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8. Raptor’s high performance and durability legacy continues to set the bar in the high-performance, off-road segment. The F-150 Raptor R delivers on the vision. That vision is a powerful F-150 pickup that will bring customers closer to Baja desert racing-inspired trophy truck performance.

That’s quite a vehicle, and it is no wonder its audience is looking very closely at it. But some may want to take it a bit easier. The Ford Maverick is one of the most popular compact pickups on the market, and easily fills the bill. It has been greeted with rave reviews everywhere it has appeared. Folks are raving about the Maverick because it is right for most drivers.
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One of the most popular drivetrains for the Maverick is the four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine, which drives a 191-horsepower hybrid powerplant. And, while the four-cylinder hybrid powerplant could be the way to go, there is also the choice of a 2.3-liter four. This choice drives the AWD version of the Maverick.

And now we come to another pickup line one might prefer, the mid-sized Ranger line. It is large enough for you, your family, and all your luggage on a trip this holiday weekend.

Basic Ranger Powerplant

The Ranger is powered by a 2.3-liter aluminum inline-four in its standard trim. Yes, there are other engine choices available as well. For those who prefer more power for off-roading, there is the Ranger Raptor, powered by Ford’s EcoBoost turbocharged V-6 that cranks out 405 horsepower and 415 pounds-feet of torque.

Whatever your needs, you will find a Ford pickup ready to hammer snowdrifts, as you head to your family gatherings this holiday weekend.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.