The Ford Maverick Lobo promised to bring the company back into the performance street truck segment with the four-cylinder powered pickup getting several upgrades to help it shake rattle and roll on autocross tracks. However, there are buyers out there who want more power and presence out on the street.
Ford has delivered by bringing the Lobo treatment to the Ford F-150 which brings the same basic elements of fun but in a bigger and more powerful package.
This Lobo has eight-cylinder power
Lobo means “wolf” in Spanish and this particular Wolf is far from being a mere sheep thanks to the 5.0-liter V8 that lurks under the hood. While it doesn’t get any more power, the naturally aspirated V8 still makes 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque but the main catch here is unlike the Raptor, a V6 is not available and the 5.0-liter will be the only flavor of engine for Lobo buyers. A 10-speed automatic is the lone transmission on hand and the suspension is lowered slightly from stock.
Unlike its distant ancestor the SVT Lightning, The F-150 Lobo is mainly a cosmetic exercise with a 10-piece ground effects kit being used to sharpen the truck’s looks. A set of glossy 22-inch wheels are also part of the package and the tweaked front grille gets a dual-layer lightbar. Black accents are splashed throughout and the truck also gets a dual exhaust system which is not available on its smaller Maverick counterpart. The Lobo starts life as a SuperCrew-equipped STX and as a result, the interior largely carries over from that model albeit with minor trim and badging differences.
When can I buy one?
Ford didn’t reveal precise launch information but the F-150 Lobo could make its way to dealerships later this year. A base model starts at $59,995 but look for the bulk of Lobo models to come with plenty of optional goodies which will put many of these trucks past $60,000. Thankfully, the Lobo will not follow founder Henry Ford’s color plan for the Model T (where black and nothing else was the law of the land) with the truck also being offered in Atlas Blue, Rapid Red, Carbonized Gray, and Oxford White.
While the Lobo is the latest addition to the F-150 lineup, it will most likely not be the last. Reports have indicated the next-generation model has been pushed back by a year to 2028 with the now five-year-old current-generation F-150 expected to hold down the fort for the company for the immediate future.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.