The Supercharged V8 Raptor We’ve All Been Wanting

There’s absolutely no disguising the fact that ever since the departure of the v8 from the SVT Raptor, things haven’t really been the same. We think that the EcoBoost provides a platform with a lot of potential. With less displacement than the V8 that we’re used to associating with the Raptor, the EcoBoost application still holds its own. However, no matter how good this V6 used in the Raptor is, there’s always going to be some sort of yearning for the days of old. Therefore, folks are now turning to the aftermarket in order to get that V8 craving satisfied.

Luckily for those who want eight cylinders with their Raptor, there are options out there. One of those just so happens to be the Hennessey VelociRaptor. Under the hood, we find a 5.0L V8 Ford engine accompanied by 2.9L Whipple supercharger. At 7 psi of boost, we’re left to assume that this is a rather conservative application. When all is said and done, the original horsepower that was measured at 333 hp is just about doubled to 614 hp. Meanwhile, the truck picks up 73 lb-ft of torque as the rating is increased from 400 to 473.

It seems like this is really a matter of different strokes for different folks. There’s something about a supercharged V8 that can really get the adrenaline pumping. However, the efficiency of the EcoBoost also brings some major appeal to the table. This really leads one to wonder what the future holds. Will Ford ever bring back a V8 option for the Raptor? Rumors say that a GT500 powered Raptor is coming soon. Otherwise, it seems like companies like Hennessey are going to have a lot of work to do unless the demand for a large displacement application in a truck goes somewhere.

We don’t see that happening any time soon!