If we’re talking mid-size trucks for off-roading, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator in Rubicon specification is the one to go for. As for the full-size segment, Ford is the undisputed leader with the F-150 Raptor.
Tweaked for the 2019 model year with Trail Control and Live Valve technology for the Fox Racing shock absorbers, the off-road pickup still isn’t up to snuff in terms of aural pleasure. Hennessey Performance Engineering took one of these babies for a dyno run, and there’s no denying the Boss V8 of the previous generation is more enjoyable to the ears.
The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with twin-turbocharged technology is much obliged to churn out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet at the crankshaft. Due to both four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, along with 17-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch tires, maximum horsepower and pound-feet at the wheels stand at 353 and 397, respectively.
With the proper octane and in 50-degree weather, you might be looking at better numbers from the F-150 Raptor. But nevertheless, this example of the breed “is now ready to be upgraded to our VelociRaptor 600” according to the Texas-based tuner.
The secret to this upgrade is a high-flow induction system, complemented by a front-mounted intercooler, stainless-steel exhaust, and ECU re-flash. Of course, Hennessey offers three years or 36,000 miles of warranty on the modifications, whichever of the two comes first.
Customers who can’t get over the twin-turbo engine's droning can opt for a V8 upgrade, also courtesy of Hennessey. Including the donor vehicle, the $147,950 package starts with the Coyote V8 and a 2.9-liter supercharger that takes the VelociRaptor V8 to 758 horsepower.
Only 100 units will be manufactured for the 2019 model year, boasting a 6.0-inch lift kit, 20-inch alloy wheels, 37-inch tires, and all the goodies you’d expect from an off-road workhorse. A cat-back exhaust made from stainless steel ensures the eight-cylinder engine burbles away in anger even when idling.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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