Our Yearlong Ram 1500 TRX's Huge Power Saves Us from Sinking

Stellantis' love of "Easter eggs" compelled designers of the Ram 1500 TRX to include a graphic of a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing a comparatively tiny velociraptor in the center console, with a more graphic image of a raptor being chomped by a T-Rex under the hood. Yes, that Hellcat-powered desert destroyer clearly caught Ford—which invented the factory Baja-racer category with its F-150 Raptor—flat-footed. But Ford is ready to more than even the score this fall with the introduction of the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R, powered by the aptly named "Predator" supercharged V-8 borrowed from the Shelby GT500 and significantly modified.Raptor R Power & TorqueLet's not bury the lede here: In an F-150 Raptor R, the 5.2-liter Predator V-8 makes 700 hp at 6,650 rpm (down from the GT500's 760 hp at 7,300 rpm) and 640 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm (up from 625 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm). This recalibration reflects the mission shift from track star to Baja 1000 trophy truck. They also allow this engine to haul 1,400 pounds of payload, lug an 8,700-pound trailer, and pass Ford's rigorous pickup-truck durability test cycles while spinning four gigantic 37-inch diameter tires (10 inches larger than a GT500 tire). And though that modest increase in peak torque may seem unimpressive, we're assured that torque increases by an average of 25 percent across the entire rev range. (Save your Googling—the TRX's pushrod engine makes 702 hp at 6,100 rpm and 650 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm, and its payload and tow ratings are 1,300 and 8,100 pounds.) How Fast Is the Raptor R?The same 120-mph governed top speed as the Raptor 37 will apply, but, weighing in at around 6,100 pounds, the weight-to-power ratio drops from the 3.5-liter Raptor 37's 13.3 lb/hp to 8.6, so we're confident the 0-60-mph time will drop from the 37's 5.6 seconds to perhaps 3.8 seconds or quicker. For those keeping score at home, the 6,760-pound (9.6 lb/hp) Ram TRX needs 4.1 seconds. You'll basically need four electric motors to go faster in a pickup truck. (The Rivian R1T: 8.6 lb/hp, 3.1 seconds to 60 mph).Dialing Up the Raptor R's TorqueNobody's bombing across a desert at 180 mph, so high-rpm power is deemphasized. Reducing the redline from 7,500 to 7,000 rpm allowed the supercharger pulley diameter to shrink, which means the Eaton TVS R2650 blower spools up more quickly at lower rpm (boosting low- and mid-range torque) without fear of over-revving at the top end. Breathing is also improved with a new conical air filter that improves airflow by 66 percent. On the exhaust side are new cast stainless-steel headers feeding a dual exhaust system that includes a true pass-through muffler where sound pulses from each bank can intermingle. These cast headers don't flow quite as freely as the GT500's tubular ones, but they can survive repeated Davis-dam, max-towing pulls. Gone is the V-6 Raptor's exhaust-pipe trombone loop, and the active noise valve feature is recalibrated for the R.The engine's lubrication circuit is significantly enhanced with a deeper, higher-capacity oil pan and a bar-plate oil-to-water cooling system that's integrated into the engine cooling circuit—a setup that works better for towing than the GT500's track-optimized oil-to-air cooler. There's also a new viscous aluminum crankshaft balancer. Drivetrain ReinforcementsYou can't simply yank out a 450-hp/510-lb-ft twin-turbo V-6, slap in a 700-hp/640-lb-ft V-8, and then send it off with a factory warranty. The 10-speed automatic's torque converter is fortified with a heavy-duty turbine damper and a beefy four-pinion output assembly. The shift programming is tuned to deliver the quickest shifts of any Ford 10-speed. The torque is then transmitted aft through a larger-diameter aluminum driveshaft, and forward to a new front axle featuring a strengthened spider-gear carrier and structurally reinforced front cover.Chassis ModsFord basically introduced the Raptor R's chassis last year, dubbed Raptor 37 to denote its class-largest tires. To that already reinforced platform's reinforced jounce bumper mounts, stronger front Fox shocks, and a new crossmember, trailer hitch, and winch mount for the underslung 37-inch spare, the R adds only unique calibration of the Fox Live Valve shocks and front springs that are stiffened by 5 percent to accommodate the roughly 80 additional pounds of the V-8 powertrain.Crazy 8s Outside, the Raptor R is distinguished by Code Orange front tow hooks and an orange R on the grille, a 1-inch-taller power dome in the hood (for looks as the engine requires no extra clearance), and unique graphics. The hood and rear flanks get appliqués that look like a cracked desert floor filled in with a zillion little 8s and one single "V" on the driver-side rear. Inside, there's a full black-out package with gloss black dash panels, carbon-fiber accents with a unique "triaxial" weave, and unique standard Recaro seat coverings. The black leather and Alcantara upholstery is accented with Code Orange stitching and the seatbacks are embroidered with a RAPTOR logo featuring an orange R at the end.How Soon and How Much?The order banks are open now for dealer deliveries starting in fall 2022 at a somewhat eye-watering all-inclusive price of $109,145. Buyers' only options will be the choice of eight colors (including an exclusive Avalanche Gray) and a panoramic sunroof likely to cost somewhere around $1,495 as it does on lesser F-150s. A similarly configured TRX rings in at around $102,000, so that's either a bold ask, it's factoring in considerable inflation, it aims to deprive dealers of their markup, or maybe it's Ford's subtler answer to Ram's T-Rex versus raptor Easter egg graphics. 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R Specifications 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Specifications BASE PRICE $109,145 $72,020 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door truck ENGINE 5.2L/700-hp/640-lb-ft port-injected supercharged DOHC 32-valve V-8 6.2L/702-hp/650-lb-ft port-injected supercharged OHV 16-valve V-8 TRANSMISSION 10-speed automatic 8-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 6,000 lb (57/43%, est) 6,760 lb (56/44%) WHEELBASE 145.4 in 145.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 232.6 x 86.6 x 80.7 in 232.6 x 87.0 x 80.6 in   0-60 MPH 3.8 sec (MT est) 4.1 sec EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON Not yet rated 10/14/12 mpg EPA RANGE 450 miles (est) 396 miles ON SALE Fall 2022 Now Show All

Whether we're talking features per dollar, calories burned per hour, or hours played per video game, enthusiasts of all kinds search for solutions that extract the most out of what we put in. That applies to EVs, too.Range is not the end-all be-all when it comes to EV bragging rights. Even an eight-ton abomination with the aerodynamics of a townhouse could reach 500 miles of range if it was fitted with an impractically heavy and expensive high-capacity battery. Instead, we want to praise the EVs that travel the farthest per gallon of gasoline equivalent (33.7 kWh).

We're not certain exactly who or what started the long-running Chevrolet C10 pickup craze (it very well could have been Truckin', or any one of MotorTrend's former truck-enthusiast magazines), but there's no arguing the fact that today these trucks, produced from 1960 to 1987, are timeless.The latest cool Chevy C10 being brokered at Mecum Auctions' Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, event (and there are several) is this model, slated to cross the block on Saturday, July 30, 2022. Actually, Lot #S123 is beyond being simply cool because, as a 1974, it's an early pioneer of the "Squarebody" era (1973 to 1987), examples of which are today the most coveted C10s of the entire run, in any condition (kind of like an old Mopar muscle car).What you're looking at in these photos is a true survivor; a Custom 10 that somehow has escaped the perils of dilapidation and destruction, as well as the clutches of "builders," customizers, hot-rodders, and modifiers (for now). This Chevy squarebody is 100-percent original, from its Grecian Bronze paint to the Uniroyal tires it was delivered on in 1974. The truck was purchased by a Minnesota farmer who reportedly owned it for a few years, only using it to attend church services on Sundays.Let's get to the images of this timeless classic, which certainly could sell for a king's ransom based on its perfectly preserved condition, highlighted by only 723 original miles. As classic Chevy C10s go, the big question is whether the winning bidder will keep this rig "as is" for a continued eternity, or if it is destined for full customization, and eventually possible resale at a future Mecum auction.Tune in to MotorTrend's exclusive coverage of Mecum's Harrisburg auction. Broadcasts start July 28 at 6:00 p.m on MotorTrend+ and MotorTrend TV.