Ford is embracing the street truck culture by releasing a special edition of its Maverick pickup, the Lobo.
Announced on Aug. 1, the Lobo is significantly different than the standard Maverick and the off-road-focused Maverick Tremor. It remains entirely focused on street performance with its lowered ride height, tuned suspension, and performance-tuned steering.
For a refresher, "street truck" is a term that encompasses more than one simple modification. These trucks are usually lowered instead of lifted so that they handle twists and turns more capably. They can have modified engines to provide even more power for improved speed and better burnouts.
A Ford street truck made an appearance in the 2001 film, "The Fast and the Furious." Paul Walker's character Brian drove a 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning in multiple scenes while working his way into the good graces of Vin Diesel's Dominic.
The new Lobo sits lower than the stock Maverick, specifically, a half-inch lower in the front and 1.12 inches lower in the rear. Its roof is 0.8 inches lower.
This lowered ride height pairs with the dual-piston front brake calipers from the Europe-only Focus ST and a twin-clutch rear drive unit used on the Bronco Sport to make the Lobo drive like a performance car.
The power comes from a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. According to Ford, this engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. This engine includes a single twin-scroll turbocharger.
The Logo includes a special driving mode that features improves cornering performance, grip, and stability. This mode, which is similar to the Mustang's track mode, is designed for closed courses.
Photo credit: Ford
Of course, what makes the Lobo unique are the visual touches. The pickup includes a black-painted roof and 19-inch black wheels. These stand in contrast to the unique front fascia, painted rear bumper, and rocker moldings. The pickup exterior also features a Lobo name badge on the front fenders.
Ford turned to designer Kristen Keenan for inspiration when working on the interior of the pickup. The seats feature Grabber Blue and Electric Lime accent stitching, the Lobo name embossed into the seats, and an overprint on the seats.
There are two configurations of the specialty pickup -- standard and high. The high configuration includes extras such as a heated steering wheel and seats, Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 driver-assist technologies, a 360-degree camera, spray-in bed liners, and a moon roof. The high configuration will also have Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist starting in 2025.
Ford did not provide pricing for the new Lobo but noted that ordering begins Aug. 1. Deliveries will begin in early 2025.