The Ford Raptor R is the ultimate iteration of the automaker’s off-road superstar. For Hennessey, this is the starting point for the new VelociRaptoR 1000.
The stock truck is strong, packing a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 borrowed from the Shelby GT500. It doesn’t produce as much as the Mustang, producing 700 horsepower (522 kilowatts) and 640 pound-feet (867 Newton-meters) of torque in the Raptor. That wasn’t enough for Hennessey, however, who installed a bigger supercharger on the engine along with a few other upgrades. The tuner took what he learned with the Venom GT500 and applied it to the VelociRaptoR.
According to the company, the modifications will increase the truck’s output by more than 40 percent. As the VelociRaptoR 1000’s name indicates, the truck is expected to produce nearly 1,000 hp (745 kW) and over 850 lb-ft (1,152 Nm) of torque. The engine will receive a high-flow induction system, larger fuel injectors, new supercharger belts, improved fuel lines and a recalibrated computer.
One can only imagine what a 40 percent increase in power would do to a truck’s fuel economy. The EPA rates the Raptor R as only 10 miles per gallon in the city and 15 on the highway. Expect those numbers to drop with added strength from Hennessey.
“The VelociRaptoR 1000 raises the bar significantly in terms of power,” said CEO and company founder John Hennessey. “Add in the supercharger whine characteristics and signature exhaust from the unique cross-plane V8, and this package is second to none.”
The VelociRaptoR will come with visual enhancements to the exterior, including new front and rear bumpers. The truck will also receive a front LED light bar, 20-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch off-road tires and lots of badging.
The order book is open now for trucks. The VelociRaptoR 1000 will make its official debut in the first quarter of next year before production begins sometime in 2023. Hennessey didn’t provide pricing details, but aftermarket specialists will back the build with a two-year, 24,000-mile warranty. We hope to have all the details with full disclosure.
