Power Deficiency
The third-generation F-150 Raptor caught a lot of flak for not offering any sort of power upgrade over the outgoing second-generation, as both offer 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque from Ford's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. However, that doesn't mean there aren't a plethora of upgrades available to make the F-150 Raptor much quicker, as is the case with this one recently tested by the folks at The Fast Lane Truck.
Healthy Increase
This particular F-150 Raptor is a 2017 model that's been treated to bigger pipes, a larger intercooler and injectors, an exhaust cross pipe, and an E85 tune, though the turbos are still stock. Regardless, output comes in at somewhere between 600-650 horsepower at the crank, which is a healthy increase over stock.
Extra Weight
It will need all the power it can get when going up against the Ram TRX, however, which is equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 making 702 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, though this one is carrying a little extra weight around thanks to its rooftop tent.
The Others
The other two competitors here are just competing for fun, mostly - a 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and a 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. The Tacoma utilizes a 3.5-liter V6 making 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, while the all-new Hyundai Santa Cruz is equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 that makes 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque.
Muscle Trucks
None of these vehicles is what one might call an optimal drag racer, but the numbers some of them put up would have been impressive from muscle and sports cars produced mere years ago. The modified Raptor manages a quarter-mile run of 14.12 seconds at 96.4 mph but ultimately loses out to the mighty TRX and its best time of 13.51 seconds at 103 mph. The Raptor out 60 foots the TRX, but after that, it falls behind quickly.
Surprise Run
The real surprise of the show is the Santa Cruz, however, by far the cheapest vehicle here. It manages to complete the quarter-mile in 15.21 seconds at 97 mph, which is pretty impressive, while the Tacoma comes in dead last by a mile with a sluggish 17.83-second pass at 80.4 mph.
Ringer Coming
These are interesting results indeed, and further underscore the need for a more powerful F-150 Raptor. Luckily, the V8-powered Raptor R is on the way to fill that void, but it will likely be rather difficult to get one's hands-on, not to mention pretty darn expensive to boot.
>>Join the conversation about this drag race right here in the forum.
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