Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear: An Electric Raptor One-Off Ready to Soar

At a glance, one might mistake this burly Ford pickup truck for an F-150 Raptor. And why not? It’s got big mud tires (37 inchers to be exact) bolted to gnarly wheels.

There’s more ground clearance, more stance, more flash – everything you’d expect from Ford’s popular off-roader. But that face clearly belongs to the F-150 Lightning. Technically speaking, this isn’t an electric Raptor. However, Ford tells us it’s heavily influenced by years of Raptor experience.

Officially, it’s the F-150 Lightning Switchgear and no, you can’t buy it (yet). This rig is the latest demonstrator from Ford, joining vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E 1400 and bonkers SuperVan to showcase electric performance in various genres.

While the Switchgear is aimed at conquering all things off-road, Ford is keen to mention this truck is also designed for performance on pavement. You might say it puts the switch in Switchgear.

For now, you want to know about the F-150 Lightning that gets air𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧e on purpose. To make that happen, Ford teamed up with RTR Vehicles and Vaughn Gittin Jr, and though it looks merely like a Raptorized EV, Ford tells us the Switchgear is its own entity.

Fox 3.0 internal-bypass shocks are installed front and rear, paired with a custom double-wishbone suspension in front and multi-link independent with a stabilizer bar at the rear. The changes give the Switchgear a considerably wider track, 80 inches front and rear, and it wears custom carbon body panels with big ol’ fender flares to contain the tires.

In off-road guise, these changes give the Switchgear 13.5 inches of ground clearance in front and 11.0 inches at the back. That’s aided by the aforementioned 37-inch off-road tires mounted on 18-inch wheels, and if you peek underneath, you’ll see a steel skid plate and custom rock rails. Special front and rear bumpers help with approach and departure angles, too.

The upgrades add approximately 150 pounds to the standard Lightning XLT, not bad considering all those changes but we’re still talking about a truck that weighs around 7,000 pounds.

Here’s where things get a bit interesting. The Switchgear also has an on-road configuration using pretty much the same suspension components.

The 18-inch wheels and knobby tires are replaced with 20-inchers on street-friendly rubber. The skid plate, rock rails, and high-clearance bumpers are ditched for a big carbon composite front fascia, rocker panels, and a tonneau cover. The suspension is tweaked with different springs to favor a lower ride height, specifically 7.0 inches in front, 5.0 inches at the back.

In both formats, the powertrain is the same, and by that we mean it’s 100-percent stock. That’s a dual-motor setup with a 131.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack from the extended-range model. Output is 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque.

While Ford won’t build a Lightning Switchgear for the public, Ford CEO Jim Farley says demonstrator vehicles like it play a key role in public perception of the brand. Speaking to the press at Multimatic’s facility in North Carolina, he evoked the memory of Ken Block, stating the need for vehicles like these “to generate digital content and just have fun.”

That said, despite the Switchgear’s dual nature, Ford debuted only the off-road version of the upgraded Lightning at the big Ford Performance 2024 kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina. For now at least, there’s no denying the company’s focus is on having fun in – and above – the dirt.

“We want to own off-road,” said Farley. “I don’t care if it’s Hammers, Dakar, or Baja.”

The hammers to which he is referring is King of the Hammers, a major off-road event held in Johnson Valley, California. Ford will be there with the Lightning Switchgear later this month, but for those more interested in the on-road version, automaker representatives tell us there’s more to come.

Related Posts

ABC Reported: 30 minutes ago, Kristi Noem SHOCKED the nation by releasing evidence of text messages sent before Charlie Kirk was shot, demanding that “Stephen Miller and the mayors be held accountable for what they did…

In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through political circles, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has released explosive evidence of text messages exchanged just hours before conservative activist Charlie…

Read more

ABC Reported: 30 minutes ago, MAGA just leaked evidence showing Trump signed a separate bill exempting the families of his close associates from taxes, Elon Musk was right — this is being called a “tax-evasion scheme…

Washington, D.C. – In a bombshell revelation that’s rocking the nation, MAGA insiders have just unleashed irrefutable evidence confirming President Donald J. Trump secretly signed a private executive bill last…

Read more

BSC Reported: 1 hours ago, tech visionary Elon Musk shattered his silence on T.r.u.m.p’s explosive Epstein files call-out to MAGA — unleashing a torrent of speculation and heated discourse online… more!

Eloп Mυsk Breaks Sileпce oп T.r.υ.m.p’s Epsteiп Files Call-Oυt — Sparks Oпliпe Firestorm! Iп a stυппiпg tυrп of eveпts, tech titaп Eloп Mυsk has fiпally spokeп oυt followiпg former Presideпt…

Read more

Angel Reese Calls For An American Eagle Boycott, Slams Sydney Sweeney Campaign as “Disgusting and Divisive”

WNBA star Angel Reese has called for a boycott of American Eagle, denouncing the brand’s latest ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney as “disgusting and divisive.” The comments, made late last night on…

Read more

Lil Wayne Buys $3.7 million USD Mansion for Ex-Wife — But the Real Reason Has Nothing to Do with Love

Social media has been buzzing this week with reports that Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne has purchased a $3.7 million mansion for his ex-wife, Toya Wright, in Los Angeles. While some…

Read more

“BREAKING NEWS: ‘I’m Leaving Everything To…’: Maye Musk Stuns Guests at Her 77th Birthday as Elon Musk and His 14-Year-Old Son Listen in Shock! Detail in comment👇👇👇”

A Birthday Speech No One Saw Coming Gasps Across the Room A Legacy Beyond Wealth Reactions From the Musk Family

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *