2024 Ford Lightning: New Ford Lightning More Powerful Than Before Review

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2024 Ford Lightning As you may know, Ford has closed the order book for the 2022 F-150 Lightning some time ago. Unfortunately, many people who have recently switched to electric trucks – and haven’t ordered one yet – are unlikely to easily secure the 2022 model.

Obviously there will be exceptions, but people shouldn’t count on Lightning’s appearance at this time, and if so, it might be too expensive. .

The new truck announced at Ford’s event today is not a reference to the next-generation electric F-150, or plans for an electric heavy-duty pickup. “It will be a new truck,” Farley confirmed to MotorTrend after the official event ended. We understand that this will be an “addition” to the F-Series family.

Ford previously said it would build the next generation of electric F-Series trucks announced in 2025 at Blue City Oval, a new campus in Stanton, Tennessee.

Ford spent $11.4 billion to build an electric vehicle assembly plant and a gigawatt battery plant there, as well as two more giant factories in Kentucky.

A competitor to this all-new truck could be an electric version of the current smaller Ford Ranger. Ford had also considered making a version of the Bronco pickup, but that plan was put forward. There is also a car based on the Ford Maverick which is already available as a hybrid.

Positioned as an affordable entry-level vehicle, the Maverick may not be the best candidate for an electric vehicle—which would still be an expensive proposition for the model given the high cost of the battery—and its association with the full-size F-Series family is loose, to say the least.

2024 Ford Lightning Review

The Ford F-150 Lightning is arguably the most popular pickup truck today and perhaps one of the hottest on the market. With demand far outpacing production, it would take Ford years to complete the backlog, even if the reservation process was kept under control.

Ford has closed the order book for the 2022 F-150 Lightning as all production capacity has been allocated. This means that no new reservation holders can convert their reservation into an order.

That is until the reordering process continues with the 2023 electric truck model. That’s why many people want to know when the 2024 model will be.

Ford has done its homework with the Lightning and has produced trucks with the extraordinary capabilities and high levels of build quality without losing the character that has made the F-150 pickup America’s best-selling vehicle for more than 40 years.

Ford has chosen an original sales strategy for the Lightning. Unlike other automakers selling electric vehicles, which usually start shipping with the most expensive variants, Ford opened up production lines for the cheaper Pro models.

The new Ford F-150 Lightning 2023 is capable of more power than expected, the company confirmed alongside the start of production of the new electric vehicle last week.

While maximum torque remains at 1050Nm throughout the range, both variants get additional power.

The model with the Standard Range battery pack now delivers 337kW (up 9kW), with the Extended Range variant capable of 433kW (up 13kW).

2024 Ford Lightning Interior

The Blue Oval makes additional changes to the pickup, although it is expected to feature an Android-based infotainment system to at least some parts of the lineup.

At the moment, it’s unclear how the Android system will differ from the current Sync 4 infotainment system implemented in the electric pickup, but as Ford Authority reported last year, it will host a variety of useful third-party apps.

Read next: 2024 Ford Raptor: Next-Gen Ford Raptor V6 Review

New Ford Lightning Engine

Ford claims that with its long-range battery and dual-motor powertrain, the F-150 Lightning will produce 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, which will give it a 0-60 mph time in the mid-four years. second range.

Those numbers would make it the fastest and most powerful version of the F-150, as the PowerBoost Hybrid hits 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and the 450-hp Raptor 37 takes 5.6 seconds.

Ford offers both standard and long-range batteries to feed the F-150 Lightning’s motor. The standard range battery will have a usable capacity of 98 kWh, which Ford claims will be good for a range of 230 miles (automakers usually refuse to use the full capacity of the battery for endurance).

Buyers with a little more money to spend will be able to order a remote battery with a usable capacity of 131 kWh. So equipped, the F-150 Lightning will offer a claimed 320-mile range, or 300 if you opt for the top-trim Platinum.

Of course, Ford’s claims are just estimates, but it’s worth noting that the manufacturer calculated those estimates assuming a 1,000-pound payload on the bed, so EPA ratings may vary.

Ford plans to make charging at home easy, with an 80-amp charging station as standard equipment if you opt for a remote battery.

With that setup, shoppers will be able to add 30 miles per hour of range. If you’re at a public charging station with a 150 kW fast charger, you can extend your range to 54 miles in just 10 minutes.

Ford Lightning Production

Meanwhile, Lightning production actually started two weeks ago. More than 2,000 have been built to date and are intended for customers.

The full-size electric truck was originally supposed to go on sale in May—actually the first deliveries are already underway, making it a bit early. “This is history being made,” said Ford executive chairman Bill Ford. “This truck will change everything.”

Ford capped Lightning orders to around 200,000 in December. Farley said he did not know when the order book would open again. If one could order Lightning today, the wait would likely be a year, he said.

Ford is increasing production to 150,000 Lightnings a year, nearly double the 80,000 trucks Ford says it will be able to build by 2023, its first year of production.

The wall has been completely torn down and pushed out twice since construction began. Ford’s ability to achieve higher run-rates will take effect mid-year.

Even with the higher output, some orders will eventually get the 2023 model.

The Dearborn factory uses robotic autonomous guided vehicles to move trucks between work stations instead of traditional conveyor belts, making it easier to change floor plans as needed.

The Rouge Center also uses “cobots,” short for “collaborative robots” that can work with someone without a safety cage and perform tasks that are ergonomically difficult for humans.

Read next: 2023 Ford Explorer: New Ford Explorer SUV Expert Review

2024 Ford Lightning Price

We expect the Hummer to be much more affordable than the Hummer, with the base Ford Lightning Pro work truck starting at $41,669 compared to the Hummer’s $112,595 opening salvo for the loaded Edition 1—lower-priced trims will roll out over the next few years.

2024 Ford Lightning Release Date

We expect the release schedule of the Ford F-150 Lightning starting in April at the Ford Rogue Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan next year just like its predecessor.