2004 Roush Stage 2 F-150

The latest reports from Detroit indicate that there won't be an SVT Lightning version of the latest Ford F-series. That's too bad because the F-150's optional 5.4-liter, 300-horsepower Triton V-8 gives it just-adequate punch for such a large and heavy ride. Enter famed Ford race-shop, engineering concern, and tuner-accessory producer Roush Performance, whose Stage 2 F-150 package boosts power to 405 horses (a gain of 105) and ups torque by 155 pound-feet.

Roush's Roots-style supercharger delivers six psi boost and delivers a sweet blower whine to match. Roush's fresh-air inlet shuttles cool air to the supercharger while a free-breathing side dual-exhaust system (with polished twin tips) opens up the flow. A recalibrated computer manages the air/fuel mix more aggressively than stock. At the test track, the engine hardware cut 0-to-60-mph acceleration by nearly two seconds; on the street, the power boost dramatically increases passing ability.

The 2004 F-150 corners well for a truck, but the Stage 2 packages ups the handling game with the shorter/stiffer front (coil) and rear (leaf) springs that team to drop ride height about 3.0 inches. A set of Roush-spec Bilstein mono-tube gas shocks and an oversize front anti-roll bar help hold tires to tarmac. The stock tires have been shelved in favor of Roush's 20-inch diameter six-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich KDW P285/55R20 tires. The suspension upgrades deliver improved, more predictable handling and also work to reduce 60-to-0-mph braking by a noteworthy 27 feet.

Roush tastefully ups the F-150's visual game with the addition of a front chin spoiler, painted front bumper, wheel opening flares, lower side skirts, rear bumper cover, and tailgate spoiler. However, the nonfunctional hood scoop is just dorky.

The cabin gets a makeover, which includes performance leather seats (with added bolsters and Roush stitchwork), embroidered floormats, Roush instrument cluster gauges, and machined-aluminum pedals. But the upgrade to stick-on, faux-carbon-fiber dash panels is so late-1990s.