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Extreme horsepower used to be a hallmark of only the rarest and most expensive exotic cars automobiles. Nowadays, mass-production sedans, pickups, and SUVs are packing as much power as the best sports cars in the world. And that's thanks to the recent advances in electric car technology and the American auto industry's love affair with fossil fuel-guzzling supercharged V8 engines.
The American auto industry has been at the forefront of bringing tremendous and affordable horsepower to the masses. In terms of power, most offerings by US-based carmakers beat the most potent options from European carmakers like Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, LandRover, and other car companies in their respective market segments.
Whether you like the irresistible roar of an American engine or the enormous torque and horsepower of EVs, here are the current market's top ten most powerful American production cars.
10 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - 670 HP
With a mid-mounted engine, the C8 Corvette is unlike any other 'Vette Chevrolet has built before. It has elevated the legendary nameplate into niche markets dominated by European exotics. The Corvette Z06 version turns the American sports car into a proper street-legal race car.
It boasts razor-sharp handling, and with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it lays down 2.6 seconds in the 60mph run. The star of the show is its amazing powerplant. The 5.5-liter high-revving flat-plane crank LT6 V8, dubbed the Gemini, churns out 670hp and 460lb-ft of torque. As a result, it's the world's most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 ever made.
9 Cadillac Escalade V - 682 HP
Cadillacs with the V-Series badge are meant to seamlessly blend the brand's luxury and refinement with extreme power. Additionally, you should expect performance-inspired styling and better handling for enhanced street driving. For the first time, Cadillac is offering the Escalade in V flavor.
Everything about the new premium full-size SUV is extreme, from its weight, size, cabin space, fuel consumption, and power. As such, it employs a hand-built supercharged 6.2-liter V8 to produce 682 hp and 653 lb.-ft of torque. The only SUVs that can outmuscle it are not even on sale - the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (707hp) and the 710-hp Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat revived for 2023.
8 Ford F-150 Raptor R - 700 HP
The F-150 Raptor R is the latest top-of-the-line trim level for Ford's high-performance Raptor pickup truck. Its designed for high-speed desert running and has impressive trail-conquering features. It differs from the typical Raptor by having 37-inch tires as standard equipment.
Out goes the Ecoboost V6, and in comes the Shelby GT500's Predator V8 engine. Re-tuned for better torque delivery in the low-to-mid rpm range, the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 is ridiculously powerful, cranking out 700 hp and 640 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Ford, the Raptor R is the fastest, most powerful, most extreme high-performance off-road desert pickup truck that has ever come off its assembly line.
7 Ram 1500 TRX - 702 HP
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The Ram TRX is designed to command respect with its big 35-inch tires, menacing grille, and intimidating stance. Slung in its nose is a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 making an insane 702 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft sent to all four wheels via a TorqueFlite 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Ram 1500 TRX edition is officially the world's most powerful production street-legal half-ton pickup. With a full-time four-wheel-drive system, it can load 1,310 pounds in the bed, tow 8,100 pounds, and sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
6 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - 760 HP
With enough power to drive anyone mad, the Ford Mustang Shelby is a great deal among modern performance cars. Sadly, Ford won't be producing a Shelby GT500 Mustang in 2023, and you won't be able to buy one in 2024. That makes the 2022 version of the 6th-gen model a must-get for those craving extreme power.
Under its hood, Ford stuffs a hand-built supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that pushes out 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque making it Ford's punchiest mass-produced car to date. Armed with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it does 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds on a good day.
5 2022 Dodge Challenger (Charger) Jailbreak Edition & Challenger SRT Super Stock - 807 HP
The Dodge Challenger and the Charger have been among the successful muscle cars keeping the V8 dream alive. With Dodge set to end their production in 2023, the automaker is offering special Challenger and Charger Jailbreak Edition models. Under the hood, they have the same engine as the Challenger SRT Super Stock Dodge makes for the drag strip.
The supercharged 6.2L High-Output HEMI® V8 engine boasts a staggering 807 hp and 707 lb.- ft of twist. Nothing in Europe can compare to both in terms of power, and in America, they're the most powerful muscle cars on the market.
4 Rivian R1T Launch Edition - 835 HP
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The Rivian R1T, released in 2021, was the first electric pickup truck in the world. Built as an adventure vehicle with AWD, it has immense off-road capability out of the box and features that will rival GMC's Hummer EV pickup truck. The R1T is available in three trim levels: Explore, Adventure, and Launch Edition. Its incredible Quad-Motor AWD system is available only on the top-tier R1T/R1S Launch Edition models.
The Quad-Motor AWD has two Dual-Motor drive units. The rear axle motors are more powerful, producing 420 hp and 495 lb.-ft, with those at the front axle only making 415 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The combined output is an impressive 835 hp and 908 lb.-ft of torque.
3 GMC Hummer EV Pickup - 1,000 HP
In 2020, GMC announced its plan to bring back the Hummer, but this time with electric juice. The Hummer EV has first arrived as a 9000 lbs"supertruck," capable of bolting to 60 mph in just 3 seconds. Incredible. It has also wowed many with off-road prowess and cool features like its T-top roof. Demand has been massive as the vehicle itself.
Built on the Ultium platform, GM's modular architecture for EVs, its highest powertrain choice features three electric motors delivering up to 1,000 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive is standard, and with a 205-kWh battery, its estimated range is 329 miles.
2 Tesla Model S/X Plaid - 1,020 HP
The Model S is a Tesla technological marvel that has been on the market since 2012. After several refinements and the debut of the Plaid trim, it has become the fastest production sedan on the market. It reaches the 60-mph mark in a Tesla-claimed 1.9 seconds and dispatches a quarter-mile in 9.23 seconds.
The straight-line speed is thanks to a 100-kWh battery pack, three electric motors providing all-wheel drive while generating 1,020 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft. Similarly, the Model X Plaid has 1,020 hp but accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds.
1 Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance - 1,111 HP
Lucid Air, the first vehicle Silicon Valley-based firm Lucid Motors has ever produced, is making waves in the industry. Its sleek and stunning dimensions make it as elegant as any EV on the market while giving it a world-beating 0.21 drag coefficient.
Equipped with a 118.0 kWh battery, the Lucid Air Dream Edition offers an eye-popping 520 miles of range (EPA). But if you want power, go for the Dream Edition Performance trim. With a pair of electric motors, it cranks out a combined 1111 hp and 1025 lb.-ft. Even more potent, the tri-motor 2023 Lucid Air Sapphire will have 1200 hp.