Ford Performance turns F-150 Lightning up to 11
New one-off 'Switchgear' demonstrator channels the Raptor spirit and shows just how keen Ford is to 'own off-road'
It is clearly not enough that Ford already builds America’s best-selling electric truck. Along with virtually every manufacturer on the planet, the manufacturer is also keen to prove that EVs are not only (sort of) virtuous but also inspirational and fun. Accordingly, and in collaboration with Vaughn Gittin Jr. and RTR Vehicles, it has built something called the F-150 Lightning Switchgear - a pickup very much in the same electric avenue as the SuperVan 4.2 and Mustang Super Cobra Jet revealed last year.
The premise, of course, was to let the engineers run wild with a stock F-150 SuperCab and ‘push electric vehicle performance into unexplored territory’. Interestingly, the dual-motor, 580hp all-wheel-drive electric powertrain has been left alone; instead, Ford Performance and its partners focused on a) removing some weight and b) overhauling the standard chassis so the Switchgear doesn’t lose its mind with some air under the tyres.
Make that ‘a lot of air’. And a lot of tyre, too - those are 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers with two spares carried in the back. To cushion their return to earth, the one-off F-150 features a custom-made chassis (double wishbone at the front; multi-link at the rear) complete with coilovers and silly-grade Fox 3.0 internal-bypass dampers. As you might expect, the Switchgear gets a huge supply of ground clearance, not to mention unique front and rear bumpers to improve approach and departure angles.
That accounts for b). When it comes to a) Ford went to the trouble of replacing as much of the body as possible with carbon composite parts. It had to limit this application in some areas where steel was required (not least the front bumper and skid plate) but it kept an ace up its sleeve in the shape of a ’Street’ variant, which uses basically the same suspension components - albeit with different springs for a lower ride height and 20-inch wheels - to emphasise the F-150’s configurability. Or its Switchgear-ness, if you will. This gets more carbon. But less air. So Ford hasn't shown it yet, but likely will do when the new pickup makes its public debut in California later this month.
tting themselves that the move to EV wont float all the red necks boats so their cash cow is at risk, so are chucking everything at PR to make it look cool and create a halo effect. Good luck to em but I like mine with a dirty tick over and 8mpg thanksThe dealerships are full of EV trucks that are just sitting there gathering dust with no interest from any potential buyer..
Rumour has it that buyers for some reason aren’t believing the Government hype on EV,s. What is telling is that GM and Ford have stopped production of certain EV,s all due to lack of interest.
The dealerships are full of EV trucks that are just sitting there gathering dust with no interest from any potential buyer..
Rumour has it that buyers for some reason aren’t believing the Government hype on EV,s. What is telling is that GM and Ford have stopped production of certain EV,s all due to lack of interest.
Every single EV thread is ruined by these posts. Stop it. (and you should stop believing clickbait youtube channels too).
Every single EV thread is ruined by these posts. Stop it. (and you should stop believing clickbait youtube channels too).
As for ruining this post that’s pushing things a little too far. I am only stating my opinion as I see it, just like you are.
They are hugely popular as work tools + they have a pretty significant group of people who use them for leisure stuff that involves towing boats, off road buggies, snowmobiles etc.
Maybe they're just not convinced an EV will work quite as well for those scenarios yet, they do like their old skool v8's! I'm sure it'll change as the Tech improves as there's some nice benefits to EV stuff for work trucks such being able to run/charge tools from them.
I'm waiting on someone to bring a decent offering over here as I'd gladly swap my diesel Navara for something electric as long as I can tow a mini digger around 200 miles.
Every single EV thread is ruined by these posts. Stop it. (and you should stop believing clickbait youtube channels too).
https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/11/23997632/ford-...
And there's this:
https://www.theautopian.com/ford-lost-36000-for-ev...
and this
https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/26/23934172/ford-...
and this
https://insideevs.com/news/693626/ford-cuts-ev-inv...
And it looks like Ford's execs aren't getting the message. People want cheaper cars, EVs or not, doesn't matter.
This is the reality Germans are waking up as well. People buy Chinese because they are cheap and will not overpay for home-grown in the current (or I suspect any) financial climate.
The dealerships are full of EV trucks that are just sitting there gathering dust with no interest from any potential buyer..
Rumour has it that buyers for some reason aren’t believing the Government hype on EV,s. What is telling is that GM and Ford have stopped production of certain EV,s all due to lack of interest.
Every single EV thread is ruined by these posts. Stop it. (and you should stop believing clickbait youtube channels too).
This does not mean EVs are doomed or anything, but it does pose questions about the viability of an all-EV switch for brands in the USA.
If a manufacturer puts all its eggs in the EV market and do not sell enough cars and end up broke who is too blame? will they be forced to change direction? will legislation need to be amended?
But for me an electric pickup for off road use is not for me.
Or are they bouncy and vague like an unladen truck or van?
Steering is better than you’d expect, and actually there is minimal body roll, however as soon as you floor it, it just takes off, lights up the rears and the chassis is completely out of its depth.
Good for a laugh!
The hypothesis that loads of folks buy the ICE F-150 therefor, they'll easily make the switch to EV was just plain wrong. For a number of reasons, not least because of high price & terrible performance as a truck. Add to that the gash charging infrastructure, higher cost of insurance and the fact gas prices have come down since the peak in 2022 and it's not much $ difference between filling up ICE vs EV.
Raptor R (or RAM TRX) all the way.
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