The Ford F-150 Lightning Is Officially Back and Fully Charged
Recent rumor mill rumblings suggest the Lightning name was returning to the Ford F-150. And more specifically, it would return on the upcoming F-150 electric truck. At the time, the only information sources were alleged leaks from Ford documents. But now, the Blue Oval has made it official: the Ford F-150 Lightning is back, and it’s electric.
The Ford F-150 Lightning returns as an electric truck
Originally called the SVT Lightning, the first proper high-performance Ford F-150 still enjoys a healthy fanbase. And while the dune-jumping Raptor essentially took its place, recently-spotted prototypes hinted that the Lightning would strike again.
Those hints are now a reality. In a recent press release, Ford confirmed that the upcoming all-electric F-150 will bear the Lightning name. It seems, therefore, that the ‘E-150’ name spotted on the NHTSA’s website was likely a placeholder.
And Ford President and CEO Jim Farley stressed that the Ford F-150 electric truck will stay true to its performance roots. To quote, the electric Lightning is “‘even quicker than the original.'”
Admittedly, a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds “isn’t exactly a high bar to clear,” MotorTrend points out. That’s because, unlike the original F-150 Lightning, the upcoming electric model has dual motors and AWD instead of RWD. However, the Lightning EV isn’t only about performance.
Similar to the current-gen F-150 Hybrid and the upcoming Hummer EV, the electric Ford Lightning will have a built-in generator. And according to Car and Driver, this generator can power a home. Plus, the electric pickup comes with a front trunk and the ability to download over-the-air updates, Autoblog reports. And based on the teaser video, the new Lightning has a large light bar in front.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about the upcoming Ford F-150 Lightning
However, while Ford promises the electric F-150 Lightning will live up to its forebears, some of the specifics are still unknown.
For example, while the new Lightning has dual motors and AWD, as of this writing Ford hasn’t released specific horsepower or torque figures. Nor has it revealed the truck’s towing or payload capacities. That being said, it does claim the upcoming Lightning will have more horsepower and torque than any current F-150, Autoblog reports.
Additionally, as of this writing, there’s no information about how much range the Ford F-150 Lightning offers. Given the Mustang Mach-E’s EPA-estimated range, Car and Driver expects at least a 300-mile range out of the truck. Such a range lines up neatly with the Rivian R1T’s and Tesla Cybertruck’s claimed ranges.
Finally, as of this writing, we don’t know how much the new F-150 Lightning will cost. For comparison, the cheapest F-150 Hybrid model, a SuperCab XL with a 5.5’ bed, starts at $43,485.
We’ll know more soon
The good news is that we won’t have to wait long to learn these details. Ford is unveiling the Lightning on May 19th, 2021 during a multi-platform livestream. And production is expected to start in Spring 2022, likely making the new Lightning a 2023 model.
We’ll just have to wait and see what the Lightning brings.
Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.
