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Next gen Lightning prototype testing?


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I don’t buy that it’s early next generation testing. If it were, there is no reason to cover the body panels with camo if it’s just wearing the current trucks panels for equipment testing underneath. 
 

This is likely just a refresh of the current truck. Maybe it will get the NACS port and split tailgate.  

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14 minutes ago, 02MustangGT said:

Refresh of the current Lightning while Ford delays (err “pivots”) T3 yet again:


https://fordauthority.com/2025/08/full-size-ford-ev-pickup-van-pushed-back-to-2028-amid-pivot/

 

Well smart move with weak demand for products like that and I'm guessing stuff that is being learned with the CE1 products will help improve them. 

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43 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Well smart move with weak demand for products like that and I'm guessing stuff that is being learned with the CE1 products will help improve them. 

Agreed, however, investing billions in BOC only to have it sit idle for year(s) is not what I would consider a “smart move”.  We shall see how all of these investments play out; perhaps Ford can “pivot” and utilize BOC for EREV/hybrid production.  

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17 hours ago, 02MustangGT said:

Agreed, however, investing billions in BOC only to have it sit idle for year(s) is not what I would consider a “smart move”.  We shall see how all of these investments play out; perhaps Ford can “pivot” and utilize BOC for EREV/hybrid production.  

 

It doesn't make sense to lose billons more by having an operational plant and a payroll to pay on top of it either. 

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19 hours ago, 02MustangGT said:

Refresh of the current Lightning while Ford delays (err “pivots”) T3 yet again:


https://fordauthority.com/2025/08/full-size-ford-ev-pickup-van-pushed-back-to-2028-amid-pivot/

 

 

 

 

Thanks for that article. This statement from a Ford "spokesperson" caught my attention:

 

F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today’s customer needs

 

Yea, that's fine and dandy. But it's the duty of Ford's big shots to meet tomorrow's customers needs better than the competition. The "pivoting" nonsense that the big shots are using as an excuse for repeated delays of T3 product launch schedule is gettin' old.

 

Hopefully per what blazerdude20 mentioned, we'll see a refreshed F-150 Lightning in 2026 with features like built-in NACS port while Ford attempts to clean up the mess that is the T3 project.

Edited by morgan20
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23 hours ago, mackinaw said:

Notice how it's parked next to a Cybertruck.


Cybertruck there could be a coincidence.  Report states there were three F-150s towing identical trailers, and at least two are in same lane as if following each other.  The CT is clearly in a different lane and not towing, so may have been there by pure chance.

 


Anyway, speculation on possible reasons for F-150 testing are interesting.  The suggestion that they are testing new LFP battery packs could make sense, if testing under high load.  Trailers clearly have weight distribution hitches suggesting they could have been fairly heavy.  Could be testing other powertrain components as well, though wouldn’t explain need for camouflage.  Also, I would guess these trucks did not have much higher-capacity battery packs similar to those available on Silverado because it would add a lot of weight, particularly if using LFP batteries that are generally heavier per kWh.  If trucks were much heavier I’d expect Ford to incorporate 8-lug wheels like on Silverado.  Ford went that route even with Ranger Super Duty.  Would be interesting to know what exactly they were up to.

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6 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

It doesn't make sense to lose billons more by having an operational plant and a payroll to pay on top of it either. 

It does if you’re Ford, they went in boots and all with BOC

as it was their way of going head to head with GM’s 100% BEV plan

REVC is way under capacity making current Lightning

and an evolved version for the next three years makes sense
 

 

Seemed like a good idea at the time but it takes a lot of 

convincing otherwise before someone like Ford should 

either give up or delay their major survival plan.

 

I wonder if the image in the opening post is a EREV mule…

Edited by jpd80
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4 hours ago, sullynd said:

Just hit 50k miles on mine and still love it.

 

Congratulations! I have about 62k on my 2022 Lightning. Best pickup truck I've ever had. It's going to be towing our powerboat to Monroe Lake this weekend. 😎

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22 minutes ago, morgan20 said:

 

Congratulations! I have about 62k on my 2022 Lightning. Best pickup truck I've ever had. It's going to be towing our powerboat to Monroe Lake this weekend. 😎


I love towing with the Lightning. Tows our Scout trailer like there’s nothing behind it!

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