You get what you pay for is an adage we have all heard many times. But in the case of the Ford F-150 Lightning, customers are going to get MORE than they paid for. We don’t have to tell you, that is a rare thing these days. So, while everything might not be rosy in Ford land getting more truck than you bargained for is certainly a nice surprise. Ford released a statement that confirms the all-electric pickup will deliver more horsepower, range and payload than originally estimated.
It may have been a long time coming but the F-150 Lightning will begin to ship to customers in just a few days. The Pro Series trucks will be the first to ship. Both the standard- and extended-range battery packs offered on the F-150 Lightning will deliver more horsepower than originally targeted. “We were seriously focused on raising the bar on this truck, including after we revealed it, so we can deliver more for our customers,” said Dapo Adewusi, F-150 Lightning vehicle engineering manager. “And our drive for continuous improvement will get a big boost when we start getting feedback and ideas from customers when they receive their Lightnings.”
Power Boost
When the F-150 Lighting was revealed in May 2021 it boasted some impressive numbers. The extended-range battery pack was said to deliver 563 horsepower. However, when it ships it will actually produce 580 horsepower. The standard-range battery pack will see a similar boost. It was targeted to deliver 426 horsepower but in reality, it will crank out 452. Nothing wrong with getting a free helping of 26 horsepower. The payload capacity is also larger than expected. It was targeted to be able to haul 2,000 pounds. But properly equipped F-150 Lightning pickups can now haul an extra 235 pounds for an impressive total of 2,235 pounds. That is over a 10 percent bump.
Range
Perhaps one of the most talked about capabilities with any all-electric vehicle is the range. The F-150 Lightning is exceeding expectations in that capacity as well. “Ford released the final EPA-estimated range figures for all F-150 Lightning pickup models, which includes a 20-mile increase for F-150 Lightning XLT and Lariat trims with the extended-range battery for a total EPA estimated range of 320 miles.”
Impressive
With these new real-world numbers let’s look at the F-150 Lighting with the extended-range battery. It produces 580 horsepower, a 2,235-pound payload rating and a range of 320 miles. And both the extended-range and standard-range batteries produce 775 pound-feet of torque. That is more than any other F-150 pickup ever. It may not make you totally forget the Coyote V8, but you have to respect these numbers. This truck is not a gimmick, it is a legitimate work truck that will be leading Ford into the future.
Production
After months of hearing about chip shortages leading to reduced supply and some vehicles being shipped with fewer features the news of ‘free’ power is a refreshing change of pace. Production is going on right now and soon we will have our first real-world drivers putting miles on the F-150 Lightning and at that point we will really know what kind of truck Ford has here. But based on everything we know we expect customers to love their new truck.
Source: Ford Truck Authority
