Ford has pulled the cover off a new concept version of its popular electric pickup truck– the F-150 Lightning Switchgear. Debuted at the 2024 New York Auto Show, the concept is an off-road-ready variant of the Lightning with significant modifications.
The Switchgear sports a bold blue paint scheme accented with a lightning logo on the sides. Ford has used carbon fiber in the body to reduce the weight of the truck.
For off-roading, it features black trim, six front fog lights, and 18-inch wheels with 37-inch AT tires. Notably, the company is planning to offer a road package with 20-inch wheels, street tires, and a lowered suspension.
The suspension has Fox off-road shock absorbers and impressive ground clearance (343mm front, 279mm rear).
The Switchgear also maintains the standard F-150 Lightning dashboard layout. However, it adds clear performance-oriented touches.
There’s a lightweight hollow aluminum alloy handbrake lever, Recaro sports seats with four-point seat belts prioritize performance and safety, and the front passenger panel retains the exterior color for a cohesive look.
Like the production F-150 Lightning, the Switchgear uses a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system. Here, it produces a substantial 588 horsepower and 1050 Nm of torque. Ford fitted the concept with a 131kWh battery. However, the company hasn’t revealed official acceleration times and range.
As a point of reference, the production F-150 Lightning manages a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in 4.5 seconds and a maximum range of roughly 320 miles (515 km).
The Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear concept is a potential rugged off-road version of the company’s electric truck. Whether this or a variant of it reaches production remains to be seen. But it shows EVs have the performance possibilities for off-road driving.