V8-powered Ford F-150 Raptor R to be revealed on July 18

UPDATE, July 13, 2022: 'Scary Fast' Ford F-150 Raptor R to be revealed on July 18

Ford has confirmed it will debut its F-150 Raptor R next week, bringing the V8 back to its flagship performance pick-up.

After rumours of an even more potent variant of its Raptor-line F-150 have circled for years, Ford is finally revealing the Raptor R, teasing the "Scary Fast" off-roader online.

Tipped to gain the 567kW 5.2-litre, supercharged 'Predator' V8 from Ford's Shelby GT500 Mustang, the Raptor R will boast a significant power increase compared to the relatively asthmatic 335kW 3.5-litre, twin-tubo 'EcoBoost' V6 found in the standard Raptor.

While the Raptor R is unlikely to come to Australia, Ford's local operations announced the F-150 will officially return next year, with remanufacturing taking place in Melbourne.

This could open the door for the Raptor variants of Ford's left-hand-drive models becoming available locally, including the flagship F-150 and Bronco grades, with Ford's vehicle program director Ali Jammoul stating: “Never say never."

The story to here

January 23, 2022: Ford F-150 Raptor R to gain V8 power

For years, Ford's F-150 Raptor has been the example of American excess, taking a practical pick-up truck and whacking a powerful donk under the bonnet – along with some trick suspension.

This trend is set to continue with the upcoming Raptor R, as the bigger and badder Raptor is going back to V8 power, ditching the EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 for bent-eight grunt.

According to autoevolution, Ford's Michigan HQ has confirmed the even higher-performance variant of its most popular vehicle will be a V8, although no official information has been released about which engine the Blue Oval would pick from its current catalogue.

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"Raptor R will feature a V8 engine. We look forward to sharing more information about Raptor R soon,” Ford told the publication.

While there's a large number of V8 engines churned out from Ford's production lines every day, it's tipped a low-volume, high-power engine from one of its Mustangs could be the pick over the common Coyote 5.0-litre.

Nicknamed the Predator, the most powerful engine in series production for Ford is currently found in the Mustang GT500, producing 567kW and 847Nm thanks to its 5.2-litre displacement and massive supercharger.

Despite the current Raptor pushing out a respectable 335kW and 691Nm, the Predator engine would turn things up to 11 and put the Raptor R ahead of Ram's 1500 TRX for the most powerful pick-up award – besting its competitor by around 40kW.