Remember The Ford F-150 Nitemare by Roush? Well, It's Now - Allegedly - the Quickest Production Truck in the World

Roush has been pumping up cars and trucks for over 40 years. One of its most popular products today -- the one getting all the attention -- is the Roush F-150 Nitemare. The tuner has managed to turn a decent truck into a handsome hunk that also performs very well. I had earlier praised the product for its value-for-money proposition, and the tuner has given us one more reason to show why it is one of the best ones in the business currently. To prove its might, Roush took the F-150 Nitemare for a sprint and the results were exemplary. The Roush F-150 Nitemare is now officially the world's quickest pickup truck! But wait, terms and conditions apply here.

Everything Isn't Hunky Dory

The trucks in the video look just like the ones Roush sells. They are production-spec and are equipped with all the stuff you find on the Roush F-150s. Roush claims that these trucks are now the quickest production trucks in the world, but the press release says otherwise. The mule that took the test run was not the production-spec truck, but “an engineering test truck equivalent to a production Nitemare 4x4 Regular Cab”. So, doesn't this make the title null and void?

Although the tests were done with the same Continental rubbers as the standard Roush F-150, the track was set for a sticky launch. This gives ample support to a vehicle when starting off the line and can make a difference of at least a millisecond or two. But nevertheless, the feat is no small achievement for a vehicle of this size and magnitude. To put things into perspective, even the 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS takes the exact same time to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill.

Roush F-150 Is A Beast Incarnate

There are many tuners out there who increase the truck's power figures either by a margin, or do some weight-shedding to make the truck more agile. Irrespective of the engine option you choose on your F-150, Roush will replace it with a retuned Ford 5.0-liter, V-8 engine and shoot it up with steroids. In the stock form, the engine produces 395 ponies and 400 pound-feet of torque. It retains the same 10-speed automatic transmission that sends power to either the rear wheels, or all of them depending on what drive configuration you choose.

We have heard news of the 5.0-liter, V-8 mill's production being scaled down. In all likelihood, it won't be featured in the 2021 Ford F-150 as well. So, how will Roush strategize this moving forward? The next best engine of the lot would be the 3.6-liter, V-6 EcoBoost unit used in the F-150 Raptor. But, as they say, there's no replacement for displacement, and perhaps, that is why Roush decided to do a test run with this mill before it goes into extinction.

Powerful and Handsome

The Roush F-150 is one of the most tastefully modded trucks out there. The standard F-150 is not a looker by any means, but that changes with the Roush treatment. There is a Roush-exclusive grille up front, integrated accent lighting on the grille, Graphics, and decals all around the body, LED headlights, 22-inch, seven-spoke wheels, and a front bumper cover to further enhance the looks. On the inside, the Roush treatment brings along WeatherTech floor mats, serialized console badge for exclusivity, optional black and red leather seats, and a tonneau cover by Extang. The best part about Roush F-150 Nitemare is that it can be had on any trim.

You can also opt for an optional Dual Tip Active Exhaust System that comes with four different modes - touring, sport, wide-open, and custom. A dial mounted on the console allows the drivers to switch seamlessly between each of the exhaust's 'open' and 'closed' valve positions. It can also be controlled through a mobile app where you can create a customized profile to make your Nitemare sound just like you would want it to.

Is The Hennessey F-150 As Fast As This?

For me, the fact that so many features can be offered at just $19,150 is quite shocking. Hennessey also has the Ford F-150 in its range with two different power configurations. It also features an air-to-water intercooler, high-flow air induction, and fuel injector upgrade. This helps the engine produce 650 horses. But the catch is that the donor vehicle needs to be equipped with the 5.0-liter, V-8 engine only. The pricing is not announced, but a lower Heritage variant costs $94,000, which includes the price of a new F-150 Platinum priced at $54,000. Based on this, I'd say the cost of the package and the donor vehicle will be over $100,000. Is the Roush F-150 Nitemare looking worth the money now? However, I'd still like Hennessey to reveal the 0-60 times on its F-150 to see which truck is actually faster.

Final Thoughts

There are many Ford-approved aftermarket manufacturers that have worked on the F-Series, such as Hennessey, RTR, and Tuscany, to name a few. But, I believe Roush offers the best bang for the buck. The news of the Nitemare F-150 being the quickest production truck adds a certain desirability quotient, irrespective of the caveat. The Roush F-150 Nitemare is one hell of a truck in terms of engine specs and aesthetics, and I wouldn't be surprised if the company hiked the price of the truck by a couple of thousand dollars now. What are your thoughts on this feat and the title? Share them with us in the comments section below.