Ford launched two new vehicles in the last couple of years, but we noticed patterns when it came to naming them. One is to revive an old moniker from the ashes – the Bronco – and the other one is to attach the legacy of a loved badge on its electric vehicle – the Mustang Mach-E. For its next EV, which is arguably the most important product for the Blue Oval and will pave the way for its future, the company has combined both these patterns. We’re talking about the upcoming electric F-150, which the company could call ‘Lightning’.
You Remember Ford SVT Lightning, Right?
Let me refresh your memory in case you don’t. Ford first used the Lightning badge in 1993 on the performance version of the ninth-gen F-150. The first-gen Lightning lasted got two years, between 1993 and 1995, and made a comeback on the tenth-gen F-150 for a lightly longer run this time, between 1999 and 2004. The third-gen Lightning was previewed at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, but it never made it to production.
How Do We Know It’s Called Lightning?
The news comes from Car and Driver, which received a Ford document from a source. The document showed the use of the Lightning moniker along with references to the Mustang Mach-E and the E-Transit, the electric cargo van. The publication reached out to Ford and got a response saying, "we're excited to introduce the all-electric F-150 very soon, but we don't comment on speculation about future products."
Is It A Good Move?
Of course, it is. The electric truck market is filled with several players, and to create a splash, Ford has to come up with something people talk about. The same hype was created when the automaker revealed that the Mach-E will be prefixed with the ‘Mustang’ badge. Even though it drew a lot of flak, people couldn’t stop talking about it. To quote the 19th century American Showman Phineas Barnum, “there's no such thing as bad publicity”. It seemed to work in the case of the Mustang, and it sure as hell works in the case of the electric F-150, too.
The Lightning belongs to a time when performance trucks were still trying to become a successful niche. That didn’t happen, the SVT Lightning is fondly remembered even today. Using the name on the same truck it was earlier used on and the clever wordplay associated with an ‘electric’ truck using ‘Lightning’, I think this will be well received by the audience.
What Do We Know About The Electric F-150?
The electric F-150, (or should I say the F-150 Lightning?) is expected to arrive sometime next year. The company hasn’t revealed much about the truck yet, but we do know it will have a dual-motor setup that powers all four wheels. It will generate more power and will be quicker than any of the current crop F-150s. If we don’t include the upcoming Raptor and Raptor R, then we’re looking at over 450 horses and sub-five-second 0-60 mph time. It will also have an amazing towing capacity.
The publication also reported that Ford has patented a removable range extender that could go in the truck’s bed. But, even without this, it needs to have a range of around 400 miles to be on par with the electric Chevy Silverado’s 400-mile range. Currently, the best Ford has to offer on the Mach-E is 305 miles.
The company has also stated in the past that it is not interested in selling EVs costing over $100,000. So, we can be certain that the range tops out in the five-digit bracket. The F-150 Lightning will be built at the company’s new Rogue Complex facility in Dearborn, Michigan.
Conclusion
We were pissed about Ford prefixing Mach-E with Mustang, but we are more than happy this time around. What are your thoughts on the electric F-150 being called Lightning? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.