Gang:

I just got back from my umpteenth trip to New Zealand on business. Did a little recon this time and I have a little "briefing" for all of you on the "performance truck" situation "down under" in New Zealand and Australia.

There are a lot of "trucky" Japanese vehicles on the roads. Most of them are what they call "utes", which are crew-cab compact pickups with small beds on the back (essentially a compact Explorer Sport Trac). Not very exciting.

Strangely, the "big boys" (Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler) don't appear to sell any real pickups down there (not even the compacts like the S10 and Ranger). Incredibly, though, both Ford and Holden (GM Australia) offer modern versions of the Ranchero/El Camino, which they market and describe as "pickups". Pretty weird seeing these all over the road, and believe me, they're quite popular.

I'm not too sure about the Holden (El Camino), but it's definitely based on the Commodore (a big four-door sedan). It very well may be offered with a detuned LS1, which is definitely available in the regular sedan Commodore (at least the HSV/Holden Specialty Vehicles model).

Ford's offering (Ranchero) is based on the Falcon sedan and is marketed under the name "Falcon Series II Pickup". The Falcon, in sedan form, is best described as a four-door, rear-wheel-drive (live axle) Taurus. That doesn't exactly give the right picture, but it's close. Now lop the azz off the sedan right behind the front seat, put in some sheet metal and a window, throw a low-sided bed on, and you have the Falcon Pickup.

It's offered in a few different trim levels. The one of interest (the hot rod) is the XR8. This is dolled-up and indeed looks a little bit sporty (little round pod headlights like an Acura Integra and some other goodies). It is fitted with the 5.0 HO pushrod V8, which I have to imagine (along with the sedan) is the only remaining application for this engine in the world. It's rated at 248 HP and 304 ft-lb and is mated to a four-speed auto and a limited-slip rear end. The XR8 weighs in at 3739 lb.

The TV ads show it cruising alongside the Thrust SSC supersonic car (or similar) on some dry lake for a while, then spanking it. The driver comments "...must be stuck in second..."

There's also an XR6 with a hopped-up version of Ford's 4.0 liter OHC I6.

I imagine that the XR8 goes pretty well, but merely an appetizer for a Lightning. On the other hand, it wouldn't take much to build one into a monster with the 5.0 in the engine bay.

Thought you might be interested...

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Silver Y2K Lightning
Bone Stock w/ Duraliner, Ford Hitch Cover

Best 60-foot: 2.063
Best 1/8: 8.876
Best 1/4: 13.789
Best MPH: 99.67

Silver (matching) Y2K ML320 Benz
Burl (ML430) Shift ****

1992 Grand Prix SE
Commuter Mule

 

That bit of information reminded me of when I was in Saudi in 93 I noticed a lot of 4 door compact trucks running around, looked just like the 4 door Nissans we got here now. I can't remember the name brand but they were Japanese like Nissan, Toyota, or possible Isuzu. I thought it was humorous just a couple of years ago when I saw the Nissan commercials here acting like they invented something new when all they did was start shipping the same thing here to America.

Adam
1999 F250SD 4X4 PSD
2001 Black L on order