If one can drive a tractor above 150 mph for a laugh, then the idea of a utility vehicle simply outrunning a stereotypical farm equipment/grocery store shouldn’t seem so surprising. Ford did this in the early 2000s with the SVT Lightning, and Dodge did the same by stuffing a Viper engine into the Ram 1500, both of which were officially recognized by Guinness for being the faster trucks. However, in 2006, the Guinness title of world’s fastest production pickup was snatched from the V10-powered Dodge Ram SRT-10 by an Australian “ute” called the HSV Maloo R8 – a record that still stands today.
Before the ute vs pickup debate begins, it’s worth pointing out what the ambiguity is hsv The press release (that’s Holden Special Vehicles) specifically mentions the Maloo R8 breaking the “Guinness World Record for top land speed achieved by a production standard utility/pickup truck.” The race took place at the Woomera Prohibited Area on the outskirts of South Australia, with six-time Bathurst winner Mark Skaife driving. motion? A two-way average of 271.44 kilometers per hour or 168.66 mph in independence units.
Sure, the Maloo’s record top speed is significantly faster than the Ram’s 154.58 mph, but you could argue that this V8-powered Maloo probably isn’t the “fastest” pickup in the world right now. Although not Guinness-certified, the new Ram 1500 Rumble B has an advertised top speed of 170 mph, which makes it faster on paper than the Maloo R8. But to be fair, the record-setting Maloo managed to reach a top speed of 277.16 kilometers per hour (172.21 mph), which is probably why Ram marketed the Rumble B as “the world’s fastest production truck”: marketing.
Getting to know the HSV Maloo R8
In case you’re wondering, the Malu’s name is taken from an Aboriginal word meaning “storm” or “thunder”, and it’s basically a spicy version of Holden’s Commodore ute. Part of the VZ-generation, the record-setting Maloo R8 is powered by a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 that produces 398 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Running a 10.9:1 compression ratio, the Gen 4 LS2 features a lightweight aluminum block and high-flow cathedral-port cylinder heads as well as sequential multi-point fuel injection. HSV also gave the Maloo R8 some exterior flare with a 63 mm dual exhaust system with billet aluminum tips. HSV also gave the Maloo a sport suspension upgrade with progressive spring rates at the front and rear, including unique damper calibration. While standard brakes were four-piston units, HSV offered optional AP six-piston front brakes with grooved discs. On the outside, it features 245-section 19-inch tires and several Maloo-specific styling elements as standard.
In terms of transmission, you had the choice of a T56 six-speed manual or a 4L65E TurboHydramatic four-speed automatic with specific HSV performance calibration. The record-setting car was apparently self-driving, according to Australia which carThe manual version, with its different gearing, was not set up to accomplish this. In any case, the HSV Maloo R8’s unique Guinness World Record for being the fastest production pickup means it really is like YouTube. JayEmm on cars It’s called, “rumble from below.”
