In 1991, Ford shocked the truck market with the release of the all-new pickup truck called the Lightning. This truck tipped off the high-performance truck market that’s continually evolving to this day. The first generation Lightning was based on the ninth generation F-150 frame from 1991-1999, and the second generation Lightning was based on the 10th generation frame from 1999-2004. Then, the Lightning wasn’t produced or updated until 2022. While most of the manufacturers took a step in the right direction since the early 2000s, when Ford brought the Lightning back in 2022, it was a huge step in the wrong direction.
Both generations of the early Lightning were only offered in single-door short bed configuration because they were solely performance-based. These trucks featured custom 17-inch aluminum wheels equipped with factory race tires, Lightning badging, upgraded air dams, integrated fog lights, a bigger speedometer, factory engine mods, bucket seats, and suspension modifications that made the truck lower for better performance. The first generation featured a 5.8L 351 Windsor V-8 engine that made 240 horsepower with the ability to reach 110 miles per hour. The second-generation Lightning featured a 5.4L Supercharged Triton V-8 which produced 380 horsepower and could reach 148 miles per hour. These trucks are so iconic that one was even featured in the “Fast and Furious” film.
With the Ford Lightning trucks of the late ’90s and early 2000s featuring supercharged V8 engines that roared for everyone to hear, it would make sense to continue the trend and make a performance truck that turns heads. Considering that the new Ram TRX features a 6.2L supercharged V8 engine making 702 horsepower, and the Ford Raptor a 3.5L twin-turbocharged V6 engine making 450 horsepower, Ford should have made the Lightning able to be competitive with these trucks and take away from the spotlight of the dominant Ram. But no, instead they do the unthinkable: go electric.
The Lightning is no longer solely a performance-based truck, as it has three different trim packages offered instead of one fully built performance one. The work-truck Pro version starts at $41,669, the XLT at $54,669, and the loaded Platinum tops out just above $92,000. The Standard Range pack claims a driving range of 230 miles, and the Extended Range, which is optional on all models except the Platinum, is claimed to have a driving range of up to 300 miles. The new Lightning pickup has the equivalent of 573 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. Ford reports the EV truck can hit 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 110 mph.
I will give the truck credit in the sense that the interior is nice; however, it lacks the “performance truck” feel, and the seats and steering wheel are the same as any other truck made. I don’t think the truck is worth the cost, and no longer making the Lightning a performance truck turns away many Ford fans and forces them to find a different model. For the price of the Platinum Lighting, you can get the fully loaded Ram TRX, which is a much better option in my opinion. I would rather hear the roar and whine of a supercharged V8 engine, as opposed to the hum of a battery when I step on the gas. While perhaps the idea of an electric truck is cool, I think Ford really disappointed their fans here by turning the iconic Lighting into an EV.
