The upcoming 2023 Ford F-150 offers a bevy of upgrades and new items to ensure this truck can not only keep up with the rest but stay ahead of them.
The F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for more than 40 years, and its also been the best-selling vehicle in the country for the past few years as well. With all of the new gadgetry, increased power, and additions to the Ford lineup, it could be easy to get lost in the sauce. Thankfully, there are a few items that you’ll want to know to give you the updates you’re looking for in this amazing truck.
The First Item Has to be the Upcoming Raptor R
Instead of going lighter with the powertrain of the upcoming Raptor R, Ford is going bigger. Instead of giving it a hybrid or electric powertrain, it’s getting a supercharged V8 engine. Not just any V8 will do for this monster that’s going out hunting down the Ram TRX, its an amazing engine we’ve seen in some of the Shelby versions of the Mustang.
The incredible power plant of the new Raptor R is a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that’s capable of churning out 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. This power level certainly puts this truck in line with its prey. The Ram TRX makes 702 horsepower, but you can bet the off-road prowess that Ford has for this F-150 will be enough to push it beyond what the Ram offers. Once this truck is ready, there’s no doubt it will be the hottest thing in the market. Even the starting price of $77,570 won’t keep enthusiasts away from this top-shelf monster.
The Tremor Goes Old School
If the Raptor R is going to be a throwback kind of truck, why not allow the Tremor to do the same. For the 2023 Ford F-150 lineup, the Tremor model will include an optional 5.0-liter V8 engine. Previously, this truck was only offered with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. Those looking for some naturally aspirated power from the Tremor will find it in this new model. The Coyote 5.0-liter engine gives this truck the raw power that we deserve in an off-road-focused truck.
There’s another reason this unassisted V8 will make sense for the off-road crowd. The loss of the intercooler required for the turbocharged V6 means there’s more room behind the front bumper for a winch. This could be a huge benefit for those looking to take this truck out for some fun on the trails.
No More Super Cab for the Lariat; Bummer
With something gained, we often also see something lost. The Lariat trim has been the top model for the Super Cab in the past, but that’s not happening any longer. Only the XL and XLT trims will offer all three cab options for the F-150. The three cabs are Regular, Super Cab, and SuperCrew. This means from the Lariat trim on up, the only way you’ll have this Ford truck is in a SuperCrew configuration. While we aren’t sure what caused Ford to make this change, there has to be a reason. It’s possible the other two cabs weren’t popular once consumers reached the Lariat trim, which means they aren’t necessary as a choice for most trims.
It’s the Color Shuffle that We Get Every Year
It does seem like we’re always talking about new colors being added and some being deleted from the mix. While the right shade of white might need a special name, some of the color changes for the 2023 Ford F-150 take on shades used in other Ford models. The Bronco and Maverick give their big brother the Area 51 Blue color, the Ranger special edition contributes the Avalanche color, while Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat and Hot Red Pepper Metallic Tinted Clearcoat are new to the entire Ford lineup.
Along with the additional colors, we see a couple of shades no longer offered. These colors include Smoked Quartz Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Space White Metallic.
Do You Remember the Rattler and Heritage Names with the Ford F-150?
The Rattler and Heritage names are back or the 2023 Ford F-150, giving us a couple of names that offer some throwback feelings and the packaging we want to enjoy.
The Rattler package is an off-road group for the base, XL trim. The features in this package include black tip dual exhaust ports, 18-inch dark wheels, all-terrain tires, Rattler logo, halogen fog lights, black interior elements with bronze color accents, Hill Descent Control, off-road-tuned shocks, Rock Craw mode, and skid plates.
Looking at the new Heritage Package, we see this group is meant for the XLT trim. This package doesn’t bring as many items as the Rattler grouping, but it does offer a special two-tone exterior look, a black honeycomb grille, and body-colored grille surround.
The New Base Model isn’t as Base as Before
If you’re looking for a basic truck in the 2023 Ford F-150, you won’t find it. Long gone are the days of the lowest trim lacking desired features. Some of the optional groups offered for the lower trims of the F-150 are now simply bundled into the trims, giving us a truck that’s much less basic than before. Most likely, Ford didn’t sell a lot of trucks without some of these feature groups included in them, which means it makes sense to simply include them in the basic trim level.
Will You Buy a New F-150 This Year?
Do you have your eye on a 2023 Ford F-150? If so, are you considering the insane power and performance of the Raptor R, or do you think a new XL model with the added features will be what you want? Could you add the Rattler group to the XL and have a great off-roading truck, or will the Heritage package become part of your XLT Ford with its unique style? Maybe you’re looking at some of those added colors or the V8 engine for the Tremor model.
No matter which F-150 you choose, you’ll have a version of the most popular truck in America to drive and enjoy every day.
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