SPY PICS: Ford F-150 Raptor R snapped

Spy photographers in the US have captured fresh shots of the upcoming Ford F-150 Raptor R, the supercharged V8-powered super pick-up that will go head to head with the RAM 1500 TRX.

For reference, the RAM 1500 TRX is the world’s fastest full-size production pick-up, courtesy of a 0-60mph (97km/h) sprint time of just 4.5 seconds and its ballistic 522kW/881Nm 6.2-litre supercharged Hellcat V8.

Earlier this year, Ford revealed its second-generation F-150 Raptor, a Baja racer-inspired pick-up that’s based on the latest 14th-generation F-150 and claimed to deliver even more off-road capability than before, particularly when it comes to ‘jumping’ and ‘landing’.

Now, in a clear shot back at the TRX, Ford is developing an even hotter R version of its biggest Raptor model, and the 2022 F-150 Raptor R is expected to deliver around 566kW of power and 847Nm of torque from its 5.2-litre supercharged V8.

Upping the ante significantly from the standard Raptor’s 340kW twin-turbo V6 powertrain, the Raptor R’s Mustang Shelby GT500-sourced blown V8 will make it the first full-size Ford Raptor to offer V8 power since 2014.

Although still officially unconfirmed by the Blue Oval brand, the 2022 F-150 Raptor R can be seen here wearing a slightly tougher look than F-150 Raptor on which it’s based.

Ford’s first Raptor R is expected to come with a unique grille, an exclusive wheel design and a heftier suspension set-up to bear the more potent engine and deliver even greater off-road capabilities.  

Judging by this most recent set of spy pics, the Raptor R doesn’t appear to differ from the Raptor V6 in many other ways, but we’ll have to wait for its full reveal later this year to know for sure.

Set to be assembled at Ford’s Truck Plant in Michigan, the F-150 Raptor is expected to be available in the US by mid-2021, while the wilder Raptor R derivative should debut before the year’s end before going on sale in 2022.

The F-150 Raptor will be offered in Australia via independent conversion companies, but won’t be available in local Ford showrooms.

The RAM 1500 TRX, meantime, will be available from both the official distributor and independent ‘remanufacturers’, at least one of which is already delivering the new DT-series RAM 1500 on which it’s based before RAM Trucks Australia’s official local launch.