1,000 HP F-150 Headlines Ford’s F-Series Lineup For SEMA

The Ford F-150 SVT Lightning is long gone, but its spirit lives on in a customized pickup created by Kurt Busch and ZB Customs.

Set to debut at SEMA later this week, the one-off model is based on a 2018 F-150 Lariat Sport 4×2 SuperCab and features a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine that has been equipped with JE forged pistons and a Ford Performance forged rotating assembly. The performance modifications don’t stop there as the truck also has a new intercooler, a high-performance oil pump and a side exiting exhaust. Thanks to all these upgrades, the model produces 1,000 hp (745 kW / 1013 PS).

In order to cope with the upgraded performance, the truck has a chrome-moly prop shaft, a 9.75-inch “flipped” axle and an Eaton Detroit Truetrac locker. ZB Customs also installed a retuned suspension which features custom upper control arms as well as new sway bars and coilovers. To bring things to a halt, there’s a Brembo braking system which has eight-piston calipers up front which grab onto massive 16.2-inch (412mm) rotors.

On the styling front, the truck has a widebody kit as well as a carbon fiber spoiler and splitter from DezignWorks. Other notable touches include a custom paint job, an alligator leather interior and 22-inch monoblock wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G2 tires.

Kurt Busch’s truck isn’t the only celebrity entry at this year’s show as country music star Brantley Gilbert worked with SpeedKore to develop a one-off pickup called the F-150 Pro-Touring Edition. It’s powered a 5.0-liter V8 engine which has been outfitted with a Ford Performance supercharger, a cold-air intake and a side exiting exhaust. Other performance changes include three-inch lowering springs, Brembo brakes and 22-inch HRE wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion tires.

Ford didn’t mention performance specifications, but the truck has an assortment of carbon fiber components including the front fenders, heat extractors, mirror caps and door handles. Rounding out the highlights are a brown leather interior and a Brantley Gilbert-inspired guitar.

Ford will also be showing five other F-Series trucks at SEMA including the 2019 F-250 Super Duty Transformer Work Truck by DeBerti Design. While work trucks are typically rather plain, this particular model has a pre-runner front bumper, a custom-fabricated bed and a “pull-out bumper utility box.” The pickup also has a revised grille, auxiliary lights and 17-inch beadlock wheels with 37-inch BFGoodrich KR2 tires.

The upgrades continue under the hood as the truck’s 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine has been outfitted with a twin-turbo kit, a cold-air intake and a Ford Performance exhaust. This enables the model to produce 900 hp (671 kW / 912 PS) which is pretty insane for a diesel-powered vehicle.