If there is one thing the brand new 2022 F-150 Lightning wants you to know, it’s this:
No, it does not get lonely at the top.
For 44 years, the legendary pick-up has held best-selling status with no indication to be bumped. While some might argue that its new electrified endeavor is a lateral move, the facts speak otherwise.
According to MotorTrend, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning full-size all-electric pickup is a “thunderbolt that strikes at the heart of an industry hurtling toward adoption of electric cars.” And we really couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
You may recognize the name, Lightning, as Ford had first used it on the 1992 on a performance F-150 that was the world’s fastest production truck at the time, but was which was discontinued in 2004. Ford brought back the Lightning name, first used in 1992 on a performance F-150 that was the world’s fastest production truck at the time.
Contrary to rumor, the Lightning will not replace the traditional F-150. Instead, it simply reveals a branch of the F-150 family tree we had yet to meet. We’re not talking long-lost cousin who ditched the country, moved to the big city and goes by a new name. But rather, the admirable go-getter who embraces new challenges but never forgot their roots. That’s the F-150 Lightning. What you see it what you get. And trust us, there’s a whole lot to see.
Why should a devoted pick-up buyer strongly consider the ’22 Lightning? The real question is: why shouldn’t they? Because it gives more for less.
No seriously, here are the specs:
- Four-door, five-passenger SuperCrew cab with a 5.5-foot bed.
- Maximum payload of 2,000 pounds, of which 400 pounds can go in the “frunk” (front-trunk) where the engine used to reside.
- It can tow up to 10,000 pounds.
- With extended battery: 563 horsepower, 775 lb-ft of torque, and a driving range of about 300 miles on a single charge.
- With standard battery: 426 hp, 775 lb-ft, and a range of about 230 miles.
- It retains the full-size spare tire in the back.
Living up to its name, the Lightning quickly struck its way to the top of the F-chain by becoming the quickest and most powerful F-150 we’ve seen yet. You’re looking at a beast that can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It shaved nearly a whole second off the previous-generation off-road Raptor model, with a best time of 5.2 seconds. (Motortrend)
In making the Lightning, Ford didn’t shy away from addressing some of the most common complaints of truck-owners: gas-mileage, ride, and handling. In fact, the 2022 Ford Lightning is a pioneer for independent rear suspension.
Built for durability and smart as it is tough, the eco-friendly Lightning is also quite the extrovert. Claiming yet another title in the F-series lineup as the most connected truck. In addition to its 15.5-inch touch screen, the F-150 Lightning offers a new variety of features and apps.
Okay, okay I get it. But how deep do my pockets have to be?
Just when you thought Ford couldn’t possibly outdo themselves more than they have, they hit you with an MSRP at $41,669 that’s is available for both retail and fleet customers. It is one of four trims; the others are the popular XLT (which starts at $54,669), Lariat (starting price forthcoming), and Platinum (about $90,000).
Charging your Car for Dummies
All trucks come with a mobile charger that can either plug into a standard 240-volt outlet, which provides about 13 miles per charging hour at 32 amps, or into a regular 120-volt outlet to charge at 3 miles per hour. The new 80-amp home charger, Ford Charge Station Pro, is the better way to go, charging up 30 miles of range in an hour and getting the larger extended-range battery from 15 to 100 percent charge in about eight hours.
Junk in the Frunk (front trunk)
Ford’s Lightning boasts four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. To aid the driver, cameras provide a 360-degree view. There are also box and accessory cameras, but not a camera underneath the truck to see the terrain below you when wheels are in the air as you’re off-roading.
Onboard Scales is another cool feature; it uses the truck’s sensors to estimate payload, letting you know when you hit the F-150 Lightning’s threshold. The input is fed to the trip planner, which adjusts your range accordingly—one more way to assuage range anxiety.
Pro Trailer Hitch Assist makes its debut on the Lightning; it controls steering, throttle, and brake inputs to align your ball hitch under your trailer coupler. You still have to hop out to attach the trailer yourself.
Needless to say, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has left us Thunderstruck.
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