Not fairly with the quickness of its identify, the 2022 Ford Lightning arrived a yr after it was introduced. There was a lot fanfare, an avalanche of deposits and now there’s an estimated three-year backlog for supply.
First teased on the 2019 Detroit Auto Present, Ford beat all of the others — Tesla to GMC, Chevrolet to Rivian — to the streets to additional add to the producer’s truck legacy.
The trade’s best-seller for many years, hadn’t Ford already supplied each conceivable truck crucial to take care of its gross sales benefit? The Lightning boldly provides to the combination. It’s a luxury-oriented, full-size electrical pickup truck with top-level efficiency and a 300-plus mile vary.
Out there in Professional, XLT, Lariat and Platinum trims, the F-150 Lightning splits its battery prowess.
The Professional trim is offered with a smaller-capacity battery; the Platinum is obtainable solely with a higher-capacity battery. The XLT and Lariat are geared up with the smaller-capacity battery customary, with the higher-capacity battery optionally available.
The usual-range battery produces 452 horsepower and a 230-mile vary; The extended-range battery gives 563 horsepower and a 320-mile vary. The usual all-wheel-drive system has selectable Regular, Sport, Off-Highway and Tow/Haul modes. Metallic skid plates present underbody safety.
As an electrical car and with sturdy energy, the Lightning is exclusive. Vehicles aren’t typically related to velocity, however the Lightning accelerates from 0-to-60 miles per hour in lower than six seconds, a superior effort for any car and notably for a truck.
The reviewed top-line Platinum trim provides options from decrease trims and the luxury-loaded Lariat trim, together with the ominous 15.5-inch tablet-style Ford SYNC 4A touchscreen infotainment system. There’s additionally an upgraded entrance grille, 22-inch all-season tires and aluminum-alloy wheels.
That’s loads, however a tow know-how package deal, max trailer tow package deal and Ford BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system are additionally within the combine.
Perforated luxurious leather-trimmed seats, a twin-panel panoramic moonroof and a Bang & Olufsen 18-speaker amplified encompass sound audio system take the Lightning into the next class. With a couple of different luxurious pickup vehicles, the brand new Ford is a small, richly-appointed house on wheels.
Regardless of its high-end look, the brand new Lightning isn’t only for present. It has workhouse capabilities with as a lot as a 2,235-pound payload restrict (with a regular vary battery) and a towing capability of 10,000 kilos. With an unladen load, the utmost vary is 320 miles.
Additional useful for patrons eager on versatility, the Lightning has two 120-volt retailers within the cabin, and 4 exterior 120-volt retailers and two USB ports. It’s all a part of a 2.4-kilowatt Professional Energy Onboard package deal (a 9.6-kW model is optionally available).
The Lightning is replete with surprises, beginning with a $50,000-plus distinction between the bottom degree Professional mannequin ($39,974) and the Premium ($90,474). But there’s just one cab possibility, the Tremendous Crew, and one-bed size, 67.1 inches.
Ford calls its entrance trunk a Mega Energy Frunk. It options extra energy retailers, drains plugs and a 400-pound restrict for cargo. It’s sufficient house for 2 medium-size, soft-sided suitcases.
For cellular work, a big console workspace simply unfolds and expands flat when the gear shifter is tucked ahead and flush. The truck’s work versatility is additional assisted when the tailgate is lowered. Constructed-in ruler marks stretch throughout the gate’s inside.
Exterior surprises embrace the LED gentle bar above the entrance non-grille-like grille in addition to built-in facet steps. There’s additionally a rear step help. It emerges from the tailgate and snaps again into place when now not wanted.
The brand new Lightning is fast, quiet, snug and revolutionary. Is its top-line price $92,000 earlier than state and federal rebates?
If Ford’s tallies are correct greater than 200,000 prospects are ready to search out out.
James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and digital e-newsletter. Signal-ups can be found on his web site, theweeklydriver.com. He
could be reached by way of e-mail: james@jamesraia.com.