2022 Ford Raptor R Confirmed, with V8 Power

Ford had no sooner taken the wraps off of its redesigned 2021 F-150 Raptor when it confirmed that it would offer even more power and performance next year. And the 2022 Ford Raptor R will indeed have a V8 engine under its bulging hood.

Rumors about a V8-powered Ford Raptor are nothing new. Spy photographers have spotted the truck dressed in camouflage and emitting a rumble that no twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 could create. The question, of course, has been: “What engine does the new Raptor R have?”

In a tweet, Ford spokesperson Mike Levine confirmed that “a V8 Raptor is coming back!” So, there’s that. But displacement remains a mystery, as do Ford Raptor R horsepower, torque, and performance specifications.

One potential power source is the supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that Ford stuffs into the Mustang Shelby GT500. Burning 93-octane fuel, it makes 760 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 625 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm and pairs with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That could give the Raptor’s primary rival, the Ram 1500 TRX, something to worry about. Ram’s Baja blaster, priced from $70,095, has a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 cranking out 702 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque that delivers 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

Another candidate is the 7.3-liter V8 available in F-Series Super Duty models. That gasser generates 430 hp and 475 lb.-ft. of torque, but with forced induction, or even electric assist, much more could be on the menu.

No matter what Ford decides, one thing is for sure. The horsepower and performance wars have clearly moved from the tarmac to terrain.

Ford is the source of information for this article, along with speculation on the author’s part. It was accurate on February 3, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.