Sometimes, you're sitting back wondering just what the big deal about high-revving engines is. Why aren't there any pickups revving to 9,000 rpm like a 911 GT3 can? It raises the question: which V8 truck has the highest redline in 2025?Don't worry, these thoughts make you a completely normal gearhead.
Below, we dig into the world of revs and torque and how both apply to the pickup scene today. Along the way, we examine the fastest-revving V8 you can buy in a truck this year. See how the model stacks up against every other eight-cylinder-powered pickup on the market.
Here's How The Fastest Revving Pickup V8 Stacks Up Against The Rest
The fastest-revving V8 you can buy in a production pickup today can be found under the hood of the Ford F-150 Raptor R. It's an extreme performance pickup with power coming from a supercharged V8 engine heavily influenced by motorsports. The powerplant makes 720 horsepower at 6,650 RPM and 640 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 RPM. The 5.2-liter V8 is nicknamed the Predator and comes from the earlier Mustang Shelby GT500.
| 2025 Ford Raptor R Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.2-liter V8 gas supercharged |
| Power | 720 HP @ 6.650 RPM |
| Torque | 640 lb-ft @ 4,250 RPM |
| Drive | 4x4 |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic |
| 0-60 mph (approx) | 3.8 seconds |
If you're wondering, the Ram 1500 TRX with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 makes 702 horsepower at 6,100 RPM and 650 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 RPM. The Raptor R's smaller but more powerful V8 delivers less torque but more horsepower and peak revs than the TRX.
Key Predator V8 Technologies
- A recalibrated V8 engine configuration with a new supercharger pulley delivers peak performance at the speeds and conditions where most Raptor R drivers spend their time
- Specific cast stainless steel exhaust manifolds for better off-road durability
- Enhanced oiling system with a deeper pan and upgraded filter-cooler system for optimal lubrication and cooling when tackling extreme grades
- Dual exhaust system with pass-through muffler
Compared to more mainstream V8 pickup truck engines, drivers get up to an extra 1,000 revs to play with in the Raptor R. The 5.7-liter V8 in the Ram 1500 makes peak power at 5,600 RPM and has a maximum engine speed of 5,800 RPM. General Motors' 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s deliver peak power output at 5,600 RPM. The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8 in the F-150 is smaller in displacement, but delivers peak horsepower output a little higher up the dial, at 6,000 RPM.
What's The Big Deal About High-Revving Engines Anyway?
Enthusiast drivers love high-revving engines for a multitude of reasons. Many of these center around the emotional auditory experience, as well as the thrilling sensation of a power curve that surges and swells as the revs and noise ramp up. Engines that perform this way are becoming increasingly rare, helping drive appeal. Modern powerplants tend to use turbocharging and hybrid assist to make more power from downsized, lower-redline units that are also more fuel-efficient.
Turbocharging and hybrid assist are two ways to make an engine more powerful. Another option is increasing the powerplant's displacement. A more challenging method to increase output is to make it rev higher. For example, Honda used this strategy to great effect in the 1990s as its VTEC mill rose to fame. For a time, you could buy a Civic Si with a K20 engine that revved to 8,000 RPM, which was a treat in an affordable sports coupe.
Today, your average family sedan or crossover engine probably has a redline around 6,000 RPM. Sportier cars tend to push that figure towards 7,000 RPM as a sort of upper limit of maximum revs in a modern mainstream engine. Part of this situation is due to the modern trend toward turbocharging, because forced induction allows a powerplant to make a similar amount of power without requiring a higher redline.
Sources: Ford, Stellantis
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
