TEASED: New Ford F-150 Lightning SuperTruck Coming With HUGE Rear Wing
Key Takeaways
- Ford teases new F-150 Lightning-based SuperTruck with insane aero package.
- SuperTruck is a demonstrator based on the F-150 Lightning, meant to tackle the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
- Ford views SuperTruck as a rolling lab for performance EV development, meaning trickle-down tech for future EVs.
Ford has teased a new F-150 Lightning-based pickup truck called the SuperTruck, with a plan to reveal the demonstrator imminently before it tackles the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. Unlike the SuperVan that tackled the same event last year, which is barely more than a visual homage to the Ford Transit panel van it was claimed to be based on, Ford says the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck will be based on the F-150 Lightning. The Ford Performance team was tasked with “ratcheting up the vehicles’ aerodynamics and power output to take on the daunting 12.5-mile uphill excursion,” as a test bed for the Blue Oval’s electric powertrain development.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
- Base MSRP
-
$54,995
- Engine
-
Electric
- Horsepower
-
426 hp
- Torque
-
775 lb-ft
- Transmission
-
Single-Speed Automatic
- Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
Wild Aero Won’t Make It To The Streets, But Other Tech Might
Ford is clear that this is a demonstrator and not a production truck, and given its hill climb aspirations, the oversized aero is not unexpected. The teasers don’t give away all the details, but they do show a gargantuan rear wing and a massive rear diffuser to suck the SuperTruck to the ground as it climbs the mountain. But while that might not make it to production, there could be knock-on effects as Ford looks to perfect the performance EV recipe.
We’ve already seen the first genuine performance EV from Ford in the Mustang Mach-E Rally, and with the F-150 pickup truck previously spawning the F-150 Raptor, Ford may also use this as an opportunity to gauge interest in a Lightning-based performance pickup truck.
Rolling Laboratories Already Helping Develop EVs and Hybrids
Ford has said that running EVs at Pikes Peak enables it to “push the boundaries of EV powertrains in the most extreme conditions and bring those learnings back to enhance its production vehicles.” The company describes these demonstrators as “performance-minded rolling laboratories” for developing electric motors, inverters, and battery packs, citing the SuperVan, Mustang Cobra Super Jet 1800, and the Mustang Mach-E 1400 as other rolling labs that are already helping the brand develop its battery management systems further.
There’s more to come, too, as Ford’s partnership with Red Bull Racing in Formula 1 is aiding the Detroit-based automaker in its efforts to develop high-performance hybrid powertrains. As for the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, more details will come to light closer to the time, but for now, color us excited.
