The Raptor has been one of the best ideas Ford has ever come up with. It’s an extremely fun truck to drive; with lots of power coming from the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 under the hood that cranks out 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, and channeled through a wonderful 10-speed transmission. Ford gave it plenty of suspension travel so that it can handle with the best off-road vehicles on the market. Include the added feature of a plush interior with the latest in technology and you have one helluva package in the Ford F-150 Raptor.
In fact, that’s what Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire thought, since he’s owned a Raptor himself, but that was until he drove the HYPER Offroad Raptor 575 HP Stage 2, that’s been breathed on by Hypercar Development of Charlotte, NC.
Their kit consists of an ECU reprogram, a Stage 2 tune, custom high-flowing intake, and a free-flowing, stainless steel 3-inch cat-back exhaust system with race mufflers. All of which gives it a boosted horsepower level of 575, and 632 lb-ft of torque. Other items from Hypercar include their carbon fiber hood vents, wheel flares, and fender vents. Not necessarily a performance upgrade, but it looks great!
On the drive, you can see the fun Matt is having with the Raptor. He really puts it to the test with the paddle shifters, electric power steering, and the engage on-the-fly 4WD system. The Raptor takes the bumps and dips with ease, as the stock suspension is more than up to the task. According to Matt, the extra boost in power is exactly what was needed for the Raptor to take things up just a notch.
The stock F-150 Raptor is a great truck, the HYPER Offroad Raptor 575 HP Stage 2 is an even GREATER truck—it’s like that dash of Jalepeno peppers on your nachos you never knew you missed!
Living in Richmond, Tx, PJ Rentie has been in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. This former Assistant Editor at Vette Magazine also spent time with companies like NOS, Edelbrock, Hillbank Motorsports, Classic Industries, and was an automotive instructor for Cypress College for ten years. In his spare time, PJ hopes to one day bring his Fox Body Mustang out of the back yard and back onto the street!
