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For a new little truck, the Ford Maverick has a lot of big things going on. Rumors about new models are popping up in every direction. Now there are patents filed for both the Ford Maverick Thunder and Ford Maverick Lightning, but what’s the difference? 

The Ford Maverick Thunder and Ford Maverick Lightning could be on the way 

2022 Ford Maverick models
2022 Ford Maverick models | Ford

We will kick things off with a fun fact. Thunder is the sound that occurs when lightning travels from the sky to the ground. The booming sound is basically from electronic static discharge flying through the air. 

This makes it seem like the Ford Maverick Lightning will be more powerful than the Ford Maverick Thunder. But the titles could provide uniformity among the Ford truck lineup. For example, the Ford F-150 Lightning is already out. 

Now the Ford Ranger Lightning and the Ford Ranger Lightning could follow in its tracks as electric models. There will be an electric truck in each size to better meet the needs of various drivers. 

The Ford Maverick Thunder and Ford Ranger Thunder could refer to new plug-in hybrid variants. The F-150 and Maverick already have hybrid models. 

How much power do the Maverick Lightning and Thunder have? 

We’re still waiting to learn more about the Ford Maverick Lightning and Ford Maverick Thunder, and we should get a few more clues b the fall once the 2023 Maverick rolls out. Until then, we have a few clues to speculate about. 

The Maverick Thunder could borrow from the Ford Escape PHEV. It uses a 2.5-liter inline-four engine, an electric motor, and a 14-kWh battery to crank out 221 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. It has a 40-mile electric range and gets about 100 MPGe. 

But the upcoming Ford Explorer PHEV has our attention. The 2023 Ford Explorer PHEV could use a 3.0-liter V6 engine with an electric motor and a 13.6-kWh lithium-ion battery to provide 450 hp and 608 lb-ft of torque. 

The Maverick Lightning is a little bit more of a mystery. The little truck might be unable to share components with the Ford F-150 Lightning. However, the Ford Ranger Lightning is expected to borrow from the F-150 Lightning. 

Perhaps the Maverick Lightning will get a similar setup from the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It has between 266 and 480 hp and 317 to 634 lb-ft of torque. 

When will we learn more about the Maverick Thunder and Lightning? 

2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid engine fire recall
The 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid | Ford

We could see easers about the Ford Maverick Lightning and Ford Maverick Thunder in a few weeks when the 2023 Maverick goes on sale. But according to GearPartrol, we might not get these new variants until 2025.

Also, the Lightning trademark was filed in Europe, while Thunder was filed in America. This may indicate that we will get the PHEV models in America first as Ford sees how well the Lightning models perform in other markets.

The coolest versions of the Ford Ranger, such as the Ranger Raptor, already have a higher priority overseas, so we wouldn’t be surprised. Ford may need to ramp up production of electric vehicles in America to have the capacity for new electric trucks too.

We will keep an eye on the Maverick to report the latest news. We’re still waiting on the Maverick Rattler and Maverick ST to arrive as well.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.