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The Tesla Model S was a big bang, but the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck is an even bigger bang. Here's how I reached that conclusion, based on the F-150 Lightning's specs, price, and Roadshow's earliest impressions of it on the road. 

First, the Lightning almost can't help but define its segment. It's right at the intersection of America's best-selling vehicle and the future of propulsion. And it approaches that intersection with utter normalcy; you might not even know it's an electric model unless you're a car buff. That will do a lot to normalize electric trucks.

Electric trucks frankly make more sense than electric cars. If the idea behind electrification is to zero out fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions, trucks' higher fuel consumption and greater emissions make them the most important place to start.

Ford has a track record of getting truck buyers to do what truck buyers traditionally don't, including buying aluminum-bodied trucks or ones that have engines with fewer than eight cylinders or as small as 2.7 liters. Getting those buyers to go electric is an even bigger lift, but you can argue that nobody has disrupted the truck market lately as successfully as Ford.

The F-150 Lightning is shockingly affordable. Starting at $40,000 before tax incentives, the same price as the average vehicle in the US. That's remarkable considering it's a truck and has a novel powertrain. Whatever other motivations there are to buy an electric vehicle, nothing will make them a broad success as much as superior overall cost compared to combustion-engined models.

And the F-150 Lightning is something to brag about, which matters to truck owners. Whether it's a sub-4-second 0-to-60-mph time, 775 pound-feet of torque, ability to power a home, or large and innovative front trunk space, F-150 Lightning buyers will be a vocal minority on the pickup truck market.

There are plenty of other electric pickup trucks gunning for the F-150 Lightning but that's almost more of an endorsement than a threat. The electric F-150 is a bolt of lightning in automotive history. Read More

Ford Authority, citing unnamed sources "familiar with the automaker's researched and development projects," says Ford has already begun testing on a twin-turbo version of the massive 7.3-liter push-rod motor in at least two Ford Super Duty trucks. There aren't any pictures of the trucks in question, but Ford Authority says they've been fitted with heat shields on each corner of the front end and modified hoods.

It's not clear at this time why Ford would want to design a twin-turbo version of the Godzilla motor, or what sorts of vehicles the engine would power. What we do know is the setup is fully capable of taking on massive amounts of boost, with stock internals able to produce over 1000 horsepower with aftermarket bolt-on kits. Tuners who have swapped out internals for stronger pieces have seen custom supercharged versions of the 7.3 make nearly 1500 horsepower.

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The original Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, sold over two generations with sport-truck styling and improved performance, has attained legendary status since it left production in 2004. Keen to capture some of that magic for its newest pickup offering, Ford has taken the wraps off the 2022 F-150 Lightning EV, which trades its namesake's huge V8 for an all-electric powertrain that offers up to 300 miles of range, with a starting price of $39,974.

As we saw at President Biden's press conference yesterday, the 2022 Lightning maintains the same basic styling as its F-150 twin, with two different floor-mounted battery packs. A standard-range battery (SR) goes 230 miles between charges, while the extended-range unit (ER) hits 300 miles. In both cases, the batteries send power to a front- and rear-mounted electric motor, putting out a combined 426 horsepower (318 kilowatts) in the SR, with the ER getting 563 ponies (420 kW). Both configurations make 775 pound-feet (1,051 newton-meters). And if that ain't enough, the Lightning can power your home in a blackout for three days. Read More

DEARBORN, Mich., April 23, 2021 - Mustang Mach-E First Edition customers in the U.S. are getting a little extra surprise from their ponies, thanks to the team at the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Each Mustang Mach-E First Edition customer will receive a special collectible wireframe pony sculpture in the color corresponding to their vehicle's paint job, created with the help of 3D printing.

The sculpture is based on the large-scale wireframe model of the pony featured at the global reveal of Mustang Mach-E in November 2019.

The wireframe pony sculptures are 3D-printed in white plastic in-house at the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford. They are then sent to a dye facility where they are dyed one of three colors - Rapid Red Metallic, Grabber Blue Metallic or Carbonized Gray - to correspond with available color choices for First Edition. Included is a baseplate with the vehicle's VIN.

The collectible wireframe pony marks the first time Ford has issued a 3D-printed component as part of a gift directly to the customer - and it's allowing additive manufacturing to establish a new-use case within the enterprise.

"This isn't the first time we've 3D-printed a vehicle part, but this one is different," said Harold Sears, technical leader for additive manufacturing. "It highlights a special connection with the customer and is really exciting because it showcases the potential to personalize. When you think additive manufacturing, you think of making parts, assembly fixtures or jigs to help build a vehicle, but this is another place where additive manufacturing can shine."

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• Ford becomes the first automaker to offer Mappo - a new in-car app that provides culture-oriented travel recommendations based on books, movies, music and more
• Available to owners of Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC^® 3 and SYNC 4 technology , Mappo helps travelers  seamlessly explore cities based on their interests using advanced voice controls
• Mappo users will be able to upload points of interest in their own cities to enrich travel across North America, Europe, Asia and more
• The collaboration with Mappo, a startup technology company in Tel Aviv, is another success for the Ford Research Center in Israel that opened in 2019

"We have Super Duty customers who saw the Tremor winch calling to say they want that same choice," said Ron Meredith, Ford truck vehicle personalization planning manager. "So we've expanded its availability to every new Super Duty pickup and made sure it meets the needs of all of our hardworking Super Duty customers."

Available as a factory-orderable option or dealer-installed accessory, the winch can be added to optional 7.3-liter gas V8 or 6.7-liter Power Stroke^® V8 diesel-powered 2020 or newer 4x4-equipped F-250 and F-350* Super Duty pickups with available dual batteries and dual 397-amp alternators.

Developed with crash safety and capability top of mind, the fully integrated winch is mounted behind the steel bumper and features optimized airflow and clearance regardless of engine choice. The winch features high-tensile strength, abrasion-resistant synthetic cable is ideal for helping stranded motorists or as an indispensable tool on the job site. The winch includes the only wireless remote control in its class**, along with a wired remote control.

The Ford Performance Parts winch by Warn will be available to order beginning April 8 as a $3,000 factory option, or it can be added after purchase at a local Ford dealership for $3,000 MSRP plus labor.

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*Not available with F-350 DRW equipped with 4.10 rear gearing

**Class is full-size pickups over 8,500 pounds GVWR

RTR Vehicles, a longtime Ford custom vehicle collaborator founded by Vaughn Gittin Jr., ARB 4x4 Accessories, Australia's largest manufacturer and distributor of 4x4 parts and accessories since 1975, and 4 Wheel Parts, a leading off-road parts retailer with a strong online presence and 95 locations across the U.S. are developing parts for the summer launch of Bronco two- and four-door SUVs. 

Ford and the off-road aftermarket companies are collaborating on a range of performance parts beyond the current catalog of Ford-approved accessories for Bronco and Bronco Sport. Additional offerings include suspension and lift kits, custom wheels and body components, performance driveline parts, plus an extensive list of camping and off-road accessories such as tents, racks, storage solutions and lighting.

"Off-road enthusiasts crave accessories to create their ultimate off-road machines, so we're accelerating the development of Bronco-specific offerings by working directly with three of the leading suppliers in the 4x4 arena to further build out our list of off-road parts and accessories available this summer," said Jeff Seaman, Ford icons regional product line manager.

SUVs as individual as you are

Bronco Sport launched last fall with more than 100 items owners could add to their SUVs. With the upcoming arrival of Bronco two- and four-door models, more than 200 Ford-approved items will be available for customers to choose from. 

As more aftermarket companies come online, that number will grow, especially with many builders leveraging the modular design (learn more about modular design at the Ford Media Center) of Bronco two- and four-door SUVs - where doors, roofs, fenders, grilles and more can be easily replaced in pursuit of ultimate personalization. 

"We've brought more companies into the personalization process a lot earlier than in the past to take advantage of the unique design aspects of Bronco and Bronco Sport, all aimed at making customization more accessible to a wider range of off-road enthusiasts - from hobbyists to professional off-roaders," said Seaman. "In the end, no two Bronco SUVs should ever need to be the same. They can be as diverse as our customers are." 

Custom builds showcase a world of possibilities

At the Easter Safari event in Moab, Utah, off-road enthusiasts can drive various trails and see the all-new 2021 Bronco and Bronco Sport rugged SUVs in person, along with the unveiling of several new custom builds by Ford and aftermarket suppliers.  

The custom Bronco four-door Outer Banks™ series with Sasquatch™ Package on display mixes high-tech luxury features with rugged off-road Ford-licensed accessories, including JAC Products rock rails, fender flares by Air Design and Trail Armor rocker panel covers by Lund, with a 40-inch curved LED lightbar by Rigid on top and a retractable full-roof soft-top by Bestop. A matte black hood wrap and Covercraft windshield sunscreen are added to reduce glare. 

Inside, rugged off-road accessories that optimize space and make for secure stowage include a DC Safety rear cargo organizer plus roadside assistance and first-aid kit, a Tufty MOLLE straps and security drawer below, along with a Console Vault center console. 

Custom Bronco four-door SUV by RTR Vehicles

This multipurpose heavy-duty Bronco four-door Badlands SUV by RTR Vehicles sports custom RTR rock sliders and rear bumper, RTR 3D-printed grille with simulated accent lights, plus 35-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires mounted to RTR Tech-6 wheels. A roof-mounted Project X lightbar, custom RTR graphics and 12-volt Type S Blizzard Box refrigerator/freezer in back complete the package.

"Ford absolutely knocked it out of the park with its all-new Bronco SUVs, so we're pouring our passion into blending our unique experience with Ford Performance and King of the Hammers racing to create our best possible turnkey vehicle packages and performance off-road parts," said Gittin Jr., RTR president. "RTR products are designed to turn heads and engineered to take off-road enthusiasts to their favorite destinations and beyond."

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No more speculative renderings and no more spy shots as the wraps have come off Ford's smallest truck, weeks (if not months) before the Maverick's official debut. A TFLtruck reader took several images of a camo-free pickup on the streets of San Diego where the Blue Oval was shooting an ad for its hotly anticipated unibody truck.

Ford's worst kept secret appears to be a high-end version (First Edition?) as denoted by the body-colored wheel arches. That would make sense considering automakers shoot videos of a range-topping trim level since that one looks the best in press images and videos. The sub-Ranger truck looks to be ready to take on the Hyundai Santa Cruz and logic tells us it will be mechanically related to the newly released Bronco Sport. Read More

• All-new 2021 F-150 Police Responder, America's only purpose-built, pursuit-rated pickup truck, debuts today, with Ford opening government order bank tomorrow - ahead of spring state and local government bid cycles
• All-new F-150 Police Responder now offers enhanced top speed of 120 mph and available Police Engine Idle, which lets an officer remove the key and securely exit the running truck without losing power to lights and sirens
  
• New automatic four-wheel-drive mode and torque-on-demand transfer case constantly adjusts torque to front and rear wheels as needed to improve performance and handling on dry pavement, while increasing traction on wet, slick and less stable surfaces for a more seamless transition between on- and off-road driving
  
• Tech upgrades include standard SYNC^® 4 with wireless software updates, plus available Ford Telematics^™ - smart solutions designed to help reduce vehicle downtime and unscheduled maintenance so law enforcement fleets can stay on patrol 
  

We're getting our best look yet at the new Ford Maverick thanks to a photo of a still-camouflaged prototype that appears to be sitting alone on an assembly line. While it's still wearing some of its disguise and quite a few bits are missing, this is the first time we've seen such little covering on the baby pickup's nose. 

Things have been quiet on the Maverick front for the past couple months, but today's leaked image (coming to us in a tip from mavericktruckclub.com) shows us a handful of things we haven't seen before. The prototypes spied on public roads thus far have worn camouflage over what appeared to be a Bronco Sport front end. We can see from this that the Maverick will get a visually distinct nose, despite likely riding on the same fundamental platform.

If there was any lingering question as to whether this would be part of the baby Bronco family, this pic offers convincing evidence that it won't. Instead, the look seems to split the difference between the Bronco Sport and the midsize, rear-wheel-drive Ranger. Ford has kept relatively mum about the Maverick project, but there are a few things we do know. For starters, it's going to ride on a unibody, front-wheel-drive platform. As you can see in the spy photo below of the Maverick's rear suspension, at least one variant is riding on a twist-beam style setup with no rear differential in sight.

We're calling the Maverick a 2022 model here, but that's far from a given. As is the case with the details of the trucklet itself, Ford has kept tight-lipped about the Maverick's production timeline. We expect the company is hoping to clear the hurdle of getting the Bronco Sport and larger Bronco into the hands of customers before pivoting to production logistics for its new baby pickup.

One of the most anticipated electric vehicles has hit the market before the end of 2020 and could be a positive catalyst for a legacy automotive manufacturer heading into the new year.

What Happened: The first 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E delivery occurred in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, according to InsideEVs.

Deliveries in other states should start soon, with InsideEVs reporting that Mach-E buyers have received emails about their vehicles shipping.

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