The Ford F-150 Raptor R is a feat of modern pickup design. Built with high-speed off-road antics in mind, the full-size truck comes packed with a full suite of heavy-duty gear that allows drivers to overcome rocks, mud, sand, and whatever else the trail might throw at them. While the pickup’s 37-inches tires, Fox Dual Live Valve shocks, five-link rear coil-spring suspension, and 13 inches of ground clearance all play an important role, the real star of the show is the Raptor R’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8. Ported over from the Shelby GT500, this massive V8 is good for some 700 hp, not to mention 640 lb-ft of torque. That setup allows the Raptor R to speed from zero to 60 mph in as little as 3.6 seconds, but there is one catch: the price tag. Starting at $110,255, the F-150 Raptor R earns the supertruck name in terms of both performance and cost.
That six-figure sticker price puts the Raptor R well outside of the average driver’s budget, but those seeking a supercharged Ford F-150 for sale now have a new option thanks to the automaker’s FP700 Package. Available for $12,350, this bolt-on kit from Ford Performance allows drivers to experience all the excitement of a supercharged V8 F-150 without having to take out a second mortgage. The FP700 package puts the power of forced induction at your fingertips, allowing the F-150 to achieve 700 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque with ease. Aside from the Raptor R and some other modern-day supertrucks, the industry hasn’t seen those sorts of stats since the 1990s heyday of the sport truck when models like the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, Ram 1500 SRT-10, and GMC Syclone stalked the pavement. Is it really possible to achieve supertruck performance with such a modest investment? Read along as we answer that question and see what else the FP700 package has to offer.
The Goods
When it comes to the FP700 package, the supercharger is the main attraction. While the rest of the package’s appearance and suspension components certainly help set an FP700 F-150 apart from the crowd, it’s the supercharger that’s responsible for the monumental performance boost. Ford has pulled out all the stops when it comes to its chosen form of forced induction, gracing the F-150 with a 3.0-liter Gen 5x Whipple supercharger that increases the 5.0-liter V8’s output from 400 hp to a rubber-burning 700 horses. The same goes for torque, with the supercharger providing a 44-percent increase from 410 lb-ft to 590 lb-ft.
The Whipple supercharger employs an exclusive inverted twin-screw design that allows the unit to efficiently shovel as much air into the engine as possible. An included dual-pass intercooler reduces the temperature of this incoming air, making it as dense as possible for optimal combustion. The supercharger also comes with a Ford Performance calibration and is California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified––an important credential that makes the supercharged F-150 street legal in all 50 states.
The Whipple supercharger might be the highlight of the FP700 package, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Drivers who spring for the full package will also be treated to a rear lowering kit and a host of alluring appearance upgrades, including new 22-inch by 9.5-inch machined wheels, Ford Performance bedside graphics, fender vents, front floor mats, a sporty gloss black front grille, and black lugs nuts.
Those looking for a little more customization have two FP700 offerings to choose from: the Black Edition and the Bronze Edition. While these packages are identical in terms of performance, they differ in color. The Black Edition features black machined wheels, black tailgate lettering, and black and gray bedside graphics, while the Bronze Edition offers a metallic alternative with bronze machined wheels, bronze tailgate lettering, and black and bronze bedside graphics.
Before you spring for the FP700 package, it’s important to read the small print. In order to access all the benefits of the Whipple setup, drivers have to reach for the premium-grade fuel when they stop by the pump, but that extra cost per gallon is a small price to pay if you’re trying to unlock the pickup’s true performance potential. The F-150 is also speed-limited to around 105 mph, and while there are a few creative ways to work around the governor, doing so would almost certainly void the kit’s warranty and is unsafe on most available truck tires.
What Models Are Compatible?
The FP700 package might be the easiest way to up your F-150’s performance credentials, but it’s not right for every truck. The kit was developed with certain F-150 models (2021 to present) in mind, so before making the investment, it’s important to go through a quick checklist of qualifying pickups. First, and most obviously, the F-150 must be equipped with the 5.0-liter V8. While the F-150 can be optioned with everything from a 3.3-liter naturally-aspirated V6 to a 430 hp turbocharged hybrid setup, the FP700 package was designed specifically for the V8.
As far as the drivetrain is concerned, it really doesn’t make any difference if you’re rolling with a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive model. The same goes for the cabin, with Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew Cab models all qualifying for the upgrade. That might not sound like a big deal, but it marks a departure from the sport trucks of the 1990s, which, by and large, were only available as two-door models. The ability to upgrade a four-door pickup with a 700 hp engine makes the FP700 a more practical choice for those who ask their pickup to pull double duty as a family vehicle and should go a long way toward improving its appeal.
The FP700 package can be equipped on F-150s with the 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed, but those sporting the larger eight-foot bed will be out of luck. The last spec to consider is the available Pro Power Onboard system. This innovative system, which essentially allows the full-size pickup to operate as a mobile generator, isn’t compatible with the FP700 package. However, Ford Performance does sell a stand-alone supercharger kit for $9,500 that is compatible with Pro Power Onboard. You’ll just have to handle the rest of the performance mods on your own.
While any F-150 that meets the aforementioned qualifications can accommodate the FP700 package, there are a few auxiliary components that carry their own prerequisites. The Ford Performance soft tonneau cover, for example, is only designed to fit F-150s equipped with a 5.5-foot bed. Similarly, the Ford Performance sill plate kit, which identifies the truck as a unique FP700 model, is limited to models with the SuperCrew cab.
Installation and Tips
Before you cruise over to the Ford Performance website to snag an FP700 kit of your own, there are a few details to keep in mind. While the package comes with a generous three-year or 36,000-mile warranty, it must be installed by either an approved Ford dealer or an ASE-certified technician. This labor will tack a few extra bucks onto the kit’s $12,350 bill, but that’s a relatively small price to pay when you consider the 75-percent increase in horsepower. If you’re an ambitious DIY enthusiast, you always have the option of following along with the 46-page instruction book and doing the job yourself, but you’ll be missing out on the warranty unless you happen to have your own ASE certification.
If we were building our own supercharged F-150, we’d probably opt to go as light and little as possible in order to maximize the truck’s overall power-to-weight ratio. That means going with a rear-wheel drive model paired with the Regular Cab and the 5.5-foot bed. The XL and XLT trims both pair well with the FP700 package and are quite the bargain to boot. The final product is quite reminiscent of the sport trucks of the 1990s, just far more powerful.
Supertruck Performance on a Budget
Pickups might have originally been designed as no-frills work vehicles with a focus on towing and hauling, but the segment has come a long way in the last century. From off-road models and sport trucks to no-holds-barred supertrucks like the F-150 Raptor and Raptor R, today’s pickups are more versatile than ever. That said, they’re also more expensive than ever, with luxury features, off-road equipment, and heavy-duty suspensions inflating prices beyond the reach of the average driver. With the FP700 package, Ford seems to be addressing this inequity, allowing drivers to get a taste of true supertruck performance without breaking the bank. The kit’s $12,350 price tag might represent a sizable investment, but when you factor in the F-150 reputation for reliability and the ample three-year or 36,000-mile factory warranty, the FP700 package is a tempting upgrade indeed.
