Among its many positive attributes, perhaps the most notable present in the S550-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was its supercharged 5.2L V8 Predator engine, which – at the time – was the most powerful ever fitted to a production pony car. Though the GT500 exited production after the 2022 model year and hasn’t been seen since, that powerplant lives on in a slightly different form via the Ford Carnivore engine present in the Ford F-150 Raptor R (and it’s available in crate form as well). There are some key differences between these engines worth noting, however.
While the Predator and Ford Carnivore engine are quite similar in many ways, they also feature some notable differences that result in different outputs, which is by design. Both utilize a dual overhead cam (DOHC) design with a supercharger mounted in a V configuration, but outputs vary – the Ford Carnivore engine churns out 720 horsepower at 6,650 rpm and 640 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm, while the Predator was factory-rated to produce 760 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 625 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
| Predator | Carnivore | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle: | S550 Mustang Shelby GT500 | F-150 Raptor R | - |
| Power (hp) @ RPM: | 760 @ 7,300 | 720 @ 6,650 | +40 Predator |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ RPM: | 625 @ 5,000 | 640 @ 4,250 | +25 Carnivore |
The reasoning for this difference is quite simple – since the Ford Carnivore engine is used to power a high-performance pickup, the automaker tuned it to produce more low-end torque, as well as achieve its peak horsepower rating at a lower rpm. It did this by utilizing a different supercharger pulley and calibration, which results in the Carnivore churning out 25 more pound-feet of torque than the Predator, but also, 40 fewer horsepower. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Carnivore is mated to the Ford 10-speed (10R80) automatic transmission – a beefier version of the 10R60 – while the Predator was backed up by the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Production of the supercharged 5.2L V8 powerplant is slated to continue at the Dearborn Engine plant at least through April 2028, as Ford Authority previously reported, meaning that it won’t be going away anytime soon – even as V8 engines, in general, have become more sparse in recent years. In fact, a forthcoming higher-performance Ford Mustang variant that could potentially wear the GT500 nameplate is expected to be powered by an updated version of the Predator, which is slated to be named “Legend.”
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The predator platform is such a potent one. Brett lasala has taken it to make over three thousand horsepower with a sleeved block and ported factory heads.
The predator now holds the drag and drive radial record 6.045 @ 236.8 mph and is the only original equipment engine platform to ever win overall Sick Week. FoMoCo is so much better, then the haters will ever admit.
Why not just put a blower on the 6.8/7.3 Godzilla? Way more compact, strong and heavy duty engine designed for hard abuse in a huge heavy truck with nearly limitless potential and simplicity. Not a hunk of garbage that isn't rebuild able.