The F-150 Lightning has to be many things to many people. From work truck to cruiser, off-road vehicle to boat hauler, there is an F-150 Lightning for virtually every task. As a result, the lineup is diverse.
Rather than talking about how many liters the engine has, we talk about batteries. Every new F-150 Lightning pickup has two electric motors and all-wheel drive. They also make a considerable amount of power and torque. New for the 2023 model the standard battery has a range of 240 miles, up by 10 miles from the previous year and the extended-range option runs for up to 320 miles on a single full charge. The standard battery makes 452 horsepower, up by 26 horsepower, and still a very impressive 775 pound-feet of torque. The two 3-phase fixed magnet ac electric motors in the extended-range option puts out a whopping 580 horsepower and 775 foot-pounds of torque. Charging at home is easy with the 80 amp Ford Charge Station Pro, it powers up to 30 miles of charge per hour to provide a full charge overnight. Ford claims the two inboard motors provide a faster acceleration than any other F-150 Lightning yet with 0-60 mph in the mid four second range.
The F-150 Lightning trims include the Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum with all-wheel drive, a SuperCrew Cab and a 5.5-foot box. Advanced technology includes powerful charging solutions, Ford Pass Integration, Ford Connected Charge Station and the Ford Charge Station Pro. The addition of Ford Intelligent Backup Power also means you can seamlessly connect to your house and power it up with the push of a button. Ford estimates that the Intelligent Backup Power can provide full-home power for up to 3 days on a fully charged battery. Another unique feature on the F-150 Lightning is the Pro Power Onboard which offers up-to 9.6 kw of power through the provided 120V outlets, four in the front, two in the cab and four in the bed.
Another interesting feature on the F-150 Lightning is the Intelligent Range system which calculates the distance you can travel while factoring in weather, traffic, grade, payload, and towing weights. The F-150 Lightning has a towing capacity of up-to 10,000 lbs. when properly equipped. The Onboard scale, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, Smart Hitch, Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance are all available to make towing a trailer as easy as turning a knob.
Since the F-150 Lightning is still designed to be a work truck several features were created to make it easier to work from anywhere. New for 2023 model is Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. An industry first, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist automatically controls steering, throttle and brake inputs to make hitching trailers easier. The Tailgate Work Surface is designed with composite materials, clamp pockets, tailgate tie downs and a flat surface for writing, measuring, and cutting. There is a ruler, a mobile device holder, a cupholder and small item storage.
With the removal of the engine the F-150 Lightning freed up space allowing for the inclusion of what Ford is calling a Mega Power Frunk. The hood opens creating a storage space with 14.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With 400-lbs. of payload capacity Ford says is can carry eight 50-pound bags of concrete mix. It also includes a cargo management system with grocery hooks, tie-downs, a cargo net and multi-function lid divider.
Standard features include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, easy-lift tailgate, a 6 speaker sound system, a 12-inch touchscreen, voice activated navigation, and cruise control.
The Lariat adds 20-inch wheels, LED pickup box lights, illuminated running boards, power open and close tailgate, a retractable rear step, heated and ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, memory driver seat, HD satellite radio, 8 speakers, 15-inch touchscreen, intelligent cruise control, and a garage door transmitter.
The Platinum features 22-inch wheels, a power sunroof, a skid plate, 8-way power massaging front seats, heated rear seats, 18 speaker premium stereo, wireless device charging, surround view cameras, and a heated steering wheel.
Safety is important and the F-150 Lightning includes the following active lane departure, blind spot warning, forward and rear collision mitigation, pedestrian detection, and a driver attention alert.
Towing Capacity
Available In A Variety Of Trims
All-electric
Rugged Durability
This second gen of F-150 Lightning and remains mostly the same in 2023 with some new color options(both gray), range, power upgrades and added trailer assist technology.
The F-150 Lightning might be the most important vehicle to the Ford motor company. It continues to be one of their top-selling vehicles, encouraging Ford to put their best foot forward with the 2023 model. The F-150 Lightning competes with the GMC Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T in the full-sized truck category. Ford is clearly pushing its new technology and new ideas with the F-150 Lightning, offering plenty of options not available anywhere else in this class. At the same time, the F-150 Lightning continues to excel at traditional truck tasks, with a best in class towing capacity of over 10,000 pounds when properly equipped.
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