Hennessey has kicked off production of the wild Ford F-150 Raptor R-based VelociRaptoR 6×6 at its facility in Sealy, Texas, and as far as pickup trucks go, few are as crazy as this one.
The Ford F-150 Raptor R is a very expensive pickup in the U.S., starting at an eye-watering $109,000. However, Hennessey’s VelociRaptoR 6×6 makes the standard model seem affordable as buying one costs a staggering $499,999, although that does include the cost of the donor vehicle itself. Nevertheless, that means the tuner itself charges almost $400,000 for its upgrades. So, what do you get for your money?
For starters, Hennessey has extended the frame and added a second locking rear axle that it says improves grip by more than 50% compared to a standard F-150 Raptor R. The tuner has also fitted the 6×6 with Fox Live Valve dampers and increased the ride height by three inches. It also equips the truck with custom 20-inch alloy wheels clad in 37-inch off-road tires. The added length of the Ford also means that the bed has grown from 5.5 feet (1.67 meters) to 8 feet (2.4 meters), increasing cargo capacity by more than 45%.
Read: $500k Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6 Is A Ford F-150 Raptor R And A Half
A number of other aftermarket parts have also been installed. For example, there are distinctive front and rear bumpers, LED off-road lights, new badges, and plenty of Hennessey graphics to tell the world that this is no ordinary F-150.
Hennessey has not messed with the F-150 Raptor R’s powertrain, which is a little surprising. As such, its six-wheeled creation continues to rock the standard 5.2-liter supercharged V8 sourced from the Mustang Shelby GT500 and producing 700 hp and 640 lb-ft (868 Nm) of torque. The tuner hasn’t released performance specifications for the VelociRaptoR 6×6 but notes that it weighs around 6,500 lbs (2,948 kg), so it obviously won’t be quite as brisk as a regular four-wheeled F-150 Raptor R.
“The F-150 Raptor R is competent right from the factory, but our 6X6 upgrade improves it dramatically,” John Hennessey recently said of the wild pickup. “It gains significantly more traction thanks to 50 percent more driven wheels. The 8-foot bed adds gobs of increased utility, and the combination of three axles, a body lift, and a roaring V8 delivers unmatched stage presence!”
