2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R doubles down on supercharged V8 power after Ram TRX axing

The 2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R supercharged V8 pick-up has been given a power boost as its arch-rival, the Ram 1500 TRX, prepares to depart showrooms.

The 15kW (20 horsepower) boost – from 522kW (700hp) to 537kW (720hp) – steals the title of the world's most powerful production V8 pick-up from the 523kW (702hp) Ram 1500 TRX.

And production of the Ram ending in 2023, it will have no chance to return fire against the Ford and take back the title.

The Raptor R is the even hotter version of the Ford F-150 Raptor – the bigger sibling to the Australian-developed Ford Ranger Raptor – and uses the ‘Predator’ 5.2-litre supercharged V8 found under the bonnet of the Mustang Shelby GT500 sports car.

Yet the original iteration of the hero Raptor R trailed the Ram 1500 TRX in power and torque bragging rights, with the Ram’s 6.2-litre supercharged V8 making 523kW (702hp) to outmuscle the Ford by two horsepower – or 1.49kW.

For 2024, the Raptor R’s 15kW/20hp power boost stamps its authority on the battle and spells game over for Ram, with the Ford’s 537kW eclipsing its arch-rival convincingly.

Yet the argument will continue between owners as the F-150 Raptor R’s torque figure remains unchanged at 868Nm to trail the 1500 TRX’s 882Nm.

Ford says the additional power comes from calibration changes as well as a revised air intake and delivers improved drivability with a wider torque curve.

The numerical victory gives Ford eternal bragging rights after confirmation the 1500 TRX will not continue into the 2024 model year – with its indirect successor, the RHO, to use a much less powerful turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.

The Ford F-150 Raptor first appeared in 2009 as an SVT Raptor – SVT short for 'Special Vehicle Team’, its high-performance road-car division of the time – with a 306kW 5.4-litre V8.

A cheaper F-150 Raptor remains available in the US, with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 developing about 330kW.

While theF-150 sold by Ford Australia in XLT and Lariat trim levels – both using a detuned version of the US Raptor's 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 – the car maker has no official plans to introduce the regular F-150 Raptor V6 or Raptor R V8 to Australian showrooms.