8 'Murican Trucks Packing Engines From High Performance Cars

These high powered trucks do more than just haul. Platform sharing is often derided as character-destroying badge engineering, but sometimes it works out in the best of ways. Each of these ‘Murican tanks shares a super-powered engine with a performance car in its manufacturer’s range. Next time you’re browsing for trucks, keep your eye out for these beasts…

1. Chevy Trailblazer SS (2006-2009), $19,000

The Chevy Trailblazer is the second best-selling SUV in the US, and when the SS came along it was the first time a production SUV had worn the Super Sport badge. This Trailblazer came with the same LS2 6.0-litre V8 that featured in the C6 Corvette, Pontiac GTO, and Cadillac CTS-V. The LS2 in the Trailblazer SS produces 390hp and 400lb ft of torque. All this power means it can do 0-60mph in just 5.7 seconds.

2. Ford F-150 SVT Lightning (1999-2004), $20,000

The SVT Lightning is what happens when you take the F-150 and add the same supercharged 5.8-litre V8 used in the Ford GT. The power plant in this vehicle makes 380hp and 450lb ft of torque, getting from zero to 60mph in just 5.8 seconds.

3. Chevrolet C/K Pickup 1500 454 SS (1983-1987), $10,000

The 454SS is a monster engine that needs no introduction for Chevy fans. The Corvette C3 is one of the most notorious cars equipped with this 7.4-litre V8. With 230hp and 405lb ft of torque, it does a 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds.

4. Chevrolet SSR (2005-2006), $22,000

The SSR (Super Sport Roadster) is arguably not a truck by design… but we reckon it qualifies for our list. Just like the Trailblazer SS, it came with the same LS2 6.0-litre V8 that came in the C6 Corvette, Pontiac GTO, and Cadillac CTS-V. The LS2 in the SSR produces 390hp-400hp and 395lb ft of torque. All this power means it can do 0-60mph in just 5.4 seconds.

5. Ford F-150 (2009-2014), $15,000

The Ford F150 in 5.0-litre V8 form shares the same Coyote motor that’s in the Mustang GT. While there may be an even faster F-150 in ‘Tremor’ guise with a twin turbo 3.5-litre V6 Ecoboost - capable of a 5.8 second 0-60 time - we would take the 5.0 option for its naturally aspirated power and tuning potential. The 5.0 makes 385hp and 387lb ft of torque and it will do 0-60mph in just 6.8 seconds.

6. Dodge Ram 1500 R/T (2005-2010), $20,000

Many people hear R/T and think cars, however the Ram R/T was fitted with the same 5.7-litre V8 Hemi that comes in the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. It produces 345hp and does 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds.

7. Dodge Ram SRT-10 (2004-2006), $20,000

The SRT-10 variant of the Dodge Ram shares the same 8.3-litre V10 engine used in the Dodge Viper. With 500hp and 525lb ft of torque, the SRT-10 can do the 0-60mph sprint in 5.2 seconds.

8. Cadillac Escalade (2015-), $75,000

The Cadillac Escalade has the redesigned 6.2-litre V8 LT1 engine, which can also be found in the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon Denali. More excitingly, however, is that the LT1 engine is used in the current Corvette C7 and Chevy has confirmed the 2016 Camaro will also use this engine. With 420hp and 460lb ft of torque the Escalade will do 0-60mph in a remarkable 5.9 seconds. For a 5761lb (2613kg) vehicle, that’s pretty damn impressive.