Has anyone picked up the new August issue of Car and Driver? There is an article in there about their "spys" efforts to find out what new vehicles are being developed. They usually follow up on manufacturer's show cars, stalk around with telephoto cameras, interview anonymous engineers and that kind of stuff. They are usually pretty accurate, but not always.

Here is their prediction for Ford:

1. An '07 sport truck with a 4.6 DOHC supercharged V8 producing 400 horses and 500 pounds of torque.

2. The engine will be mated to a new SIX SPEED (!) auto transmission capable of handling that power.

3. The chassis and body is NOT the F-150 (I speculate due to weight issues), but the Explorer based Sport-Trac!

Yea, it is a sport truck. No, it's not going to tow or haul very well, and it's not an F-150. But it is a Ford! And it will probably perform better than the Lightning, because of the lighter body.

If you have the magazine, check out the photo.

This could really cause some problems for the Dodge Boys. Let's hope it happens.
(NOTE: Thread title changed from 500lbft of Torque to 400lbft)

 

That will be a thumper....if it gets to market!

 

Yeah, its called the adrenaline someone posted it a while back, pictures and all. Thanks for posting it though. I'll try to find the link for you..

edit- Heres the link to the other thread, i believe its the same truck..
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=357628

 

That's really cool idea! Kind of a ressurection of the cyclone-typhoon gm vehicles from the 80's. Even though they weren't ford, those two trucks rocked.

 

I think thats the same truck that I posted about a couple months ago. The Adreneline. If it's the same truck, the it will have the old Mustang SVT engine, with 390 HP and 390 FT/LBS. That will be some awesome power either way!

 

http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/auto...sporttrac.html
Heres the link

 

Yes, the photo is the same truck as in C&D, but the mag is showing slightly higher power. Either way, if they build it, it ought to make a big splash.

 

Yeah, go to Ford, you can build an adrenalin Sport-Trac.

 

What will it go up against in the market...like what GM or Dodge

 

maybe the silverado ss or the dodge.. uh.. that thing with the v10 shoved in it? The sport trac offers a lot more versatility than those two though, which should boost sales i think..

 

It will go up againt the SS trailblazer 391hp,390tq and the SRT-8 cherokee 425hp.

 

My opinion why the lightning wasn't carried over was because of the new F150's weight...........very strong, very heavy. Ford did continue to sell the old 150 along side the new bodied 04's ..........they were called '04 Heritage. Our '04 Lightning is also a "Heritage" the DMV fees were actually refreshingly reasonable.


Have some concerns on the Sport Trac's weight. It will be an AWD, is a Crew cab and the last 4.6 S/C Cobra mill was an iron block (as is the L's 5.4)

I wouldn't be surprised if the Adrenalin weighs close to the last Lightning with much less torque.

 

It's going to be faster than the Gen 2 Lightnings...no doubt about it. That engine is sufficiently tuneable to crank out plenty of power and take much more abuse than the 5.4's. It the drivetrain can handle the power then it's going to be a killer street/strip truck...

 

Better heads on the 4.6...........please explain the "take much more abuse" statement.



Some quick and objective numbers;


04 Lightning curb weight = 4670 LBS.

05 Sport Trac 4X4 V6 curb weight = 4349 (the 4.6 iron block/SC/intercooler will easily add 300 LBS making the 2 vehicles very close in weight.

The stock L = 380 HP and 450 pound feet of torque.

Sport Trac will be 390 HP and 390 torque.


Now on to the subjective;

I'll go out on a limb and predict very similar 1/4 mile times for both vehicles. And on a gut feeling, Ford will put some goofy speed limiter on the Sport Trac because of the 4 door 4 passenger nature of the vehicle just like the de-tuned S/C Harley F-150's and my Marauder(driveshaft balance issues) The Lightning is an honest 151 MPH vehicle(been there, done that verified on Garmin GPS)

 

Unless you've been out of the loop for the past few years you'd know the 4.6 from the 03/04 Cobras have fully forged rotating assembly. As opposed to the Lightnings having forged piston and crank but sinter-forged powder metal rods. Those things can see 600+ at the wheels easily where anything approaching 500 is risky in a Lightning.