9.9L Lingenfelter Suburban POV: Experiencing the Ultimate Sleeper SUV from the Driver's Seat

      A few years ago, we learned about one of Lingenfelter's 550-horsepower Chevy Suburban 2500s available for sale in Washington. Equipped with a 9.9-liter Mercury Marine V8 instead of the standard 7.4-liter or 454 engine, this rare upgrade from Lingenfelter Performance Engineering epitomizes the height of '90s land-yacht culture.

      While Lingenfelter has developed numerous astonishingly fast General Motors vehicles, the concept for this Super-burban did not originate with the tuner. Instead, it stemmed from a request by the Saudi Arabian government, which sought a new heavy-duty, high-performance vehicle for law enforcement. GM handed the project to Lingenfelter, which then created the beast you see here. This remarkably quick sleeper model was subsequently made available to the public—because why not?

      We highlighted its 550 horsepower earlier, but this V8 also delivers 705 pound-feet of torque, enabling it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, as tested by Car & Driver in 1994. With modern tires, this vehicle could likely outpace a Durango Hellcat driver. Given its specifications, the pre-COVID price of $17,000 appears to be quite a deal in today's market. But does it live up to expectations?

      Tedward was fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of one of these formidable machines—no easy task, considering their limited production—and his experience highlights both the Suburban's advantages and drawbacks. It has plenty of power (at one point, he mentions it "makes the 454 feel like a Corolla") and produces an impressive sound, but it accelerates so rapidly that he wishes it had more robust brakes, a challenge given the need to maintain its original sleeper look. This understated theme is further emphasized by how smoothly it gains speed. While the vehicle certainly makes noise, it doesn’t seek out unnecessary attention.