Are Nigerians the only ones in a dilemma over big, gas-chugging engines? The country has seen a senseless spike in fuel prices coupled with unprecedented hyperinflation, such that only thieving politicians and criminals can afford a two-year-old car. In Today’s Nigeria, running a V8 model might as well be a crime against your survival, and many around the world feel the same. However, the V8 engine has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.

The Blue Oval’s V8 voyage began with Henry Ford’s introduction of the flathead V8 in 1932, the first affordable V8 engine offered in cars priced under $500. About two decades later, the Ford Y-block OHV V8 was born, followed by the Windsor small-block V8 in 1961.

The modern dispensation is all about downsizing and migrating away from fossil fuel, but Ford has yet to abandon the V8 tradition, as evidenced by the Coyote V8s in modern F-150s and Mustangs. EVs promise instant torque, but few can match the raw torque – that twisting force that propels vehicles off the line and keeps them moving under load – of a V8.  We rank 13 Ford V8 engines with the highest torque outputs ever.

Ford Super Duty F-450

Image Credit: Ford.
  • Engine: 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Diesel
  • Torque: 1,050 Lb-Ft

The F-450, including the F-250 and F-350, are members of Ford’s family of Super Duty trucks. People who buy the F-450 are typically agricultural, industrial, and construction professionals who need a heavy-duty truck built Ford tough for commercial and extreme towing applications.

Its dually rear axle (dual rear wheels) allows it to tow fifth-wheel trailers, large boats, and heavy commercial loads. It is powered by several engines, most notably the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel, producing 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft in the current generation.

This allows it to boast a best-in-class gooseneck towing capacity of up to 37,000 lbs and a conventional towing capacity of 24,200 lbs. The payload capacity is rated at approximately 6,210 lbs.

Ford Super Duty F-350

Image Credit: Shutterstock.
  • Engine: 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Diesel
  • Torque: 1,050 Lb-Ft

The F-350 is another member of the Ford Super Duty family that slots between the F-250 and F-450. It’s a heavy-duty pickup truck that doesn’t shy away from demanding tasks like towing and hauling, prepped with technologies like the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Trailer Sway Control, Hill Start Assist, and Trailer Brake Controller.

It’s a top choice for RV enthusiasts and everyone else with heavy towing and hauling needs, whether in the construction, agriculture, or industrial sectors. Ford equips the F-350 with torquey mills, including the 475-hp 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel shared with the F-450.

It also uses a 430-hp 7.3-liter gasoline V8 and a 385-hp 6.2-liter V8, but the Power Stroke turbodiesel delivers the most torque. This allows it to tow just as much as the F-450 and even support a higher payload capacity rated at 7,850 lbs.

Ford Super Duty F-250

Image Credit: Ford.
  • Engine: 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Diesel
  • Torque: 1,050 lb-ft

The F-250 also shares the formidable 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine with its F-450 and F-350 Super Duty siblings. Its position below the rest in the Super Duty lineup allows it to fulfill a design for work and play, offering heavy-duty performance that doesn’t necessarily require the extreme capabilities of its higher-placed siblings.

Besides the Power Stroke, the F-250 also uses a 7.3-liter gasoline V8 engine producing 430 hp and 485 lb-ft of torque and a 6.2-liter gas V8 producing 385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.

So, the Power Stroke is the champion behind its max gooseneck towing capacity of 22,800 lbs and a conventional towing capacity of 20,000 lbs. The payload is rated at 4,260 lbs, all of which makes it beyond capable of handling heavy loads like large trailers and boats.

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Image Credit: Bring a Trailer.
  • Engine: 5.2L Supercharged V8
  • Torque: 625 Lb-Ft

Taking a break from the F-Series, the Mustang also boasts one of the torquiest V8 engines Ford ever built, specifically the Mustang Shelby GT500. As the most powerful iteration of the Mustang, the GT500 is blessed with a high-output 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque, earning it the nickname “Predator V8.”

The Predator, which is the most powerful Ford production engine, marries a 7-speed dual-clutch (DCT) transmission and propels the GT500 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 180 mph. As such, the GT500, developed by Shelby American, is a Mustang for enthusiasts who demand extreme speed and track-ready handling.

Ford F-150 Raptor R

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 5.2L Supercharged V8
  • Torque: 625 Lb-Ft

The Raptor R is an even more extreme variant of the high-performance version of the F-150 pickup called the Raptor. While the ‘standard’ Raptor features a 450-hp high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 producing 610 lb-ft of torque, the R version gets the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with over 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque.

In Ford’s own words, “The new Ford F-150 Raptor R cranks out 720 horsepower,” making it “the most powerful and capable high performance off-road full-size truck to ever run in the sand and beyond, thanks to an updated 5.2-liter supercharged V8 cranking out 720 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque.” The Raptor is a product of the Ford Performance division.

Ford F-150 (1997-2004)

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 5.4L V8
  • Torque: 450 Lb-Ft

This is part of the 9th-gen F-150, offering several improvements and features designed to solidify its position as a top choice in the full-size truck segment. It had a larger cab, a more rounded front fascia, and a range of V6 and V8 engines.

The 300-hp 5.4-liter V8 was decidedly more popular than the 4.6-liter displacement with 305 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque. The 5.4-liter generated 365 lb-ft, but the later models produced more horses.

For example, a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 gifted the SVT Lightning model with 380 ponies and 450 lb-ft of torque. Another version of the supercharged V8 during that period powered the 2002–2003 Harley Davidson Edition with 340 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque.

Ford Bronco

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 5.0L V8
  • Torque: 415 Lb-Ft (in 2021+ models)

This classic American SUV has seen a significant revival in recent years. It is now in its sixth generation after bouncing back from a 25-year-long hiatus in 2021. As usual, the Bronco comes in 2- and 4-door configurations, powered by a variety of straight-4, V6, and V8 engines.

The V8 is a free-breathing 5.0-liter unit available in the Bronco Raptor. It produces 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful and torquiest mill in the Bronco lineup. The turbocharged EcoBoost V6 makes 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque.

Ford Mustang GT

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 5.0L Coyote V8
  • Torque: 410 Lb-Ft

The GT500 by Shelby American may be the most powerful Mustang, but the Ford Mustang GT is easily the most iconic, with a history dating back to its introduction as a high-performance version of the Mustang in 1965.

The GT badge has since become a Ford parlance for power and performance, no matter the iteration over the years. Its free-breathing 5.0-liter Coyote V8 is also one of the torquiest in Ford’s V8 history, producing 450 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

A 6-speed manual gearbox or 10-speed automatic transmits power to the rear wheels. The engine’s high-revving nature allows it to deliver strong low-end torque and exhilarating performance at high RPMs.

Ford F-150

2024 Ford F-150
Image Credit: Ford.
  • Engine: 5.0L V8
  • Torque: 410 Lb-Ft

Ford’s bestselling vehicle offers various configurations to meet the transportation needs of a broad audience. Providing adequate power and feature sets for daily commuters and heavy-duty workers necessitates a wide range of powerplants, including V6, V8, and hybrid options.

The V8 is a free-breathing 5.0-liter unit producing 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, ideal for towing and heavy-duty work. While it depends on the powertrain configuration, the F-150 can tow a maximum weight of 14,000 lbs and haul up to 3,325 lbs. Those are best-in-class figures that need a decent amount of torque to make good.

Ford Mustang

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 4.6L V8
  • Torque: 390 Lb-Ft

The Mustang is an American icon that needs no introduction. It has relied on a wide variety of engines since launching the pony car segment in 1964, from the 2.3-liter EcoBoost straight-4 to the 5.2-liter supercharged V8. However, the Mustang also received motivation from a 4.6-liter V8 that was part of Ford’s Modular engine family, specifically from 1996 to 2010.

This engine came in SOHC (single overhead camshaft) and DOHC (dual overhead camshaft) configurations, with the former featuring two or three valves per cylinder and the latter 4 valves per cylinder. The DOHC variant powered high-performance models like the SVT Cobra and Mach 1. The 2003–2004 SVT Cobra’s supercharged DOHC 4-valve V8 produced 390 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.

Ford Expedition

Image Credit: Mecum.
  • Engine: 5.4L Triton V8
  • Torque: 365 Lb-Ft

The Expedition full-size SUV is the largest in Ford’s SUV lineup and is known for its long list of family-friendly comfort and tech features. The primary heart is a twin-turbocharged V6 producing 380 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, but our focus for this article is the 5.4-liter Triton V8 that powered various Expedition models from the late 1990s to the mid-2010s.

The Triton V8 produced varied horsepower and torque figures throughout its production run. It was good for up to 300 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque during the early 2000s, and by the late 2000s, it produced up to 310 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 9,300 lbs when equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package.

Ford Explorer

Image Credit: Jeremy CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.
  • Engine: 4.6L Modular V8
  • Torque: 315 Lb-Ft

The Explorer mid-size SUV is one of Ford’s most popular and bestselling models. The current models rely on 4-cylinder and hybrid powerplants, including the turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost straight-4, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, and a 3.3-liter hybrid V6.

However, the 2nd-gen Explorer (1995–2001) got motivation from V8 units from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. It was a 5.0-liter V8 later replaced by the 4.6-liter Modular V8 in the Explorer’s third generation (2002–2010).

Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

Image Credit: Shutterstock.
  • Engine: 4.6L V8
  • Torque: 297 Lb-Ft

The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) is probably America’s most popular cop car, as well as the most iconic. Ford produced it from 1992 until 2011, during which time it became a staple in law enforcement, thanks to its durability, power, and capability to handle tough duty cycles.

The heart was always a 4.6-liter V8 engine with various power outputs throughout its production run. The early models (1992–2000) produced approximately 190 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the later models (2001–2011) produced up to 250 hp and 297 lb-ft of torque.

Author: Philip Uwaoma

Philip Uwaoma is an experienced automotive journalist currently writing for The Bearded Bunch. He built a diverse portfolio covering agriculture, business, entrepreneurship, technology, travel destinations, and product reviews. Philip also founded Cars and Horsepower, a website dedicated to sharing insights and news about the world of automobiles.

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