Maybe he just likes the F150?  That's what's great about this country...you can drive whatever you can afford (to make payments on).   I drive an F350 because I need it.  I would probably buy a Ranger if I didn't need a Super Duty, but since our next RV may be a truck camper, I'll probably be moving up to an F450.

F-150 and the like are today's Crown Vic/large sedan.  They just replaced the trunk with a bed.

Not everyone wants a shoebox/econobox.  If Ford can make money offering both, why not?

Maverick quickly went up in price.  Even if this truck starts at $30k will it be profitable at that MSRP, or will it soon be $40k when equipped with range and options buyers actually want, need, or will buy?  I hope it can deliver and succeed but IMO numbers don't add up favorably, making it much more challenging than Maverick ever was.

I get that people want all kinds of things but that doesn’t mean it’s always a good idea to give it to them.  What if they ask for 400 HP next?  Obviously Ford thinks 300 HP must be viable, but on flip side I don’t always agree with their judgement. 😀

I don’t see it as a minor change at all.  Increasing boost pressure to get 150 HP per liter in a truck that “may” be used for towing raises a lot of questions.  Is it covered 100% under warranty?  If not, how many owners will likely take risk of voiding coverage.  And if Ford offers full warranty because they feel it’s “bulletproof” then I think warranty costs will go up significantly.  Granted it’s meant to be a street truck but will Ford limit some guy from towing a 4,000-pound trailer uphill at stupid speeds made possible by 300 HP?   Honestly, I’d have to know a lot more details than what has been disclosed here.  On the surface selling it as an additional trim or factory option with full factory warranty sounds like a bad idea.  Maverick is first and foremost a truck and not a sports car, and some owners may want to use its capabilities accordingly so doesn’t seem a minor change to me.  Regardless, it’s adding significant stress to vehicle components.      

Depending on range and towing I would trade in my ICE-Mav for a theoretical E-Mav.  I don't need something the size of Lightning but the Mav is just right for me.  Today's standard size truck is just too big. The guy across the street from me drives is  V8 powered F-150  3 miles back and forth to work and never seen him do anything but pick up coffee at Dunks in the morning.  From what I understand it more about who has the the biggest truck among his coworkers.    

I'm cautiously optimistic.

Ford Maverick 300T Project Kit Should Arrive In 2026 According to Matthew Simpson, Ford's Executive Director of Accessories and Personalization, the Ford Maverick 300T project kit will be "available to customers in 2026." This is obviously good news for Maverick owners that want a bit more sportiness from their compact pickups, not to mention more power than the Lobo offers as well.     Depends on the segment.  You have a lot of Maverick buyers that come from regular sedans, so they want more fuel economy.  But on the flip side, there are other folks that want more power too.

It kills me when people say “why can’t Ford do this vehicle that Kia is doing”.   Why can’t Kia do a Maverick or Bronco or Bronco Sport or Ranger or F150 or Mustang or Transit or Super Duty?   Each company is unique regarding institutional knowledge and experience, reputation and market position.  You invest your capital where it makes the most sense for your company.