Ford F-150 Lightning

With the success of the Mustang Mach-E electrified crossover and the E-Transit, the first electrified Ford F-150 has arrived and it brought back an iconic nameplate to match its electrified stance. This is the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

With prices starting at below 52 grand plus additional costs, the new Ford F-150 Lightning is the electrified take on the best-seller that promises to deliver the same "Built Ford Tough" philosophy in this age of the new normal.

So, why did Ford decide to bring back the Lightning brand for this electrified F-150? For those who owned a super-old F-150 SVT Lightning, the one with the supercharged engine in it, consider the new F-150 Lightning a bit of a joke, just like the Mustang Mach-E when it was a crossover instead of being a muscle car that purists wanted. Sacrilege it is, the F-150 Lightning is built to tackle all kinds of demanding tasks like a true blue-collar worker.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning interior

Beginning with the styling, the Lightning features a unique exterior design that differentiates it from the normal F-150, which is common sense for carmakers trying to differentiate it from normal ones. The same story goes for the interior because instead of using a similar dashboard layout to its ICE-powered equivalent, it dons a tall touchscreen similar to the one used on the Mustang Mach-E, which is packed with numerous gadgetry, including the annoying Amazon Alexa feature.

While it can accommodate up to five people and has a big interior space which is typical for full-size trucks, the F-150 Lightning's convenience doesn't stop at the rear trunk because, with the unique electric powertrain position, the front hood has motors in it. Instead, it's a front boot that's almost as spacious as a Porsche 911. Ford calls this the Frunk but the Frunk is nothing new for carmakers. Mid-engined supercars had the frunk but nothing as spacious as the Ford. Besides, you can plug in it and enjoy manly stuff anywhere, especially tailgating parties with your bros.

Thanks to its dual electric motors that made it a 4WD offroader, the F-150 Lightning can be bolted with either a 98 kWh or a 131 kWh battery pack. With the latter, it generates about 563 horsepower, 775 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 0-60 mph time in the mid-4-second range, that's quicker than the Ford F-150 Raptor. As for range, it's good for up to 320 miles while running on the extended-range variant.

Because of its electric powertrain, driving the F-150 Lightning feels like weightlifting a 1000lb barbell repeatedly. It feels like hard work while on the go and even when you go offroading or using the available towing package, guess you'll have to go exercising first before handling this electrified truck. This is a real man's electric truck doing extreme jobs. This is no time to sit back and enjoy binge-watching your favorite painting TV show from your childhood. Once you're in the Lightning, the hard labor begins and every day is a work day.

At the end of your arduous day, the F-150 Lightning comes prepared with a list of safety features some may find shocking behind the wheel, including the intriguing Ford BlueCruise hands-free driving which works like Tesla's AutoPilot. It's shocking to have an autonomous driving feature implanted in the F-150 Lightning and with a long list of ADAS, welcome to the new normal, cowboy.

Although mediocre to reviving the Lightning brand to the electrified F-150, this deserves all the attention it deserves like blue-collar workers. With its electric powertrain, shocking tech features, the same F-150 capability, and unique front boot, the new F-150 Lightning has the earnings of being a Built Ford Tough vehicle. Macho-bellied men are more than welcome to drive this electrified F-150 by all means necessary and such capability means jealousy for those who wish who want to drive one.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Ford F-150 (14th Generation)

The Ford F-150, the best-selling vehicle on a day-to-day basis, has been the strong choice for freedom-loving Americans from all walks of life; whether they want something to work for or for going places like a real American. With the arrival of the 14th-generation model, the all-new F-150 promises to be the most advanced pickup truck that became the second home for the patriots.

Priced at 28,940 US dollars plus additional costs, the all-new Ford F-150 brings the blue-collar workers' favorite workhouse into greater depths by mixing the brains and the brawns together to create a pickup truck that works for people from all walks of life.

Before we get to know more about the F-150's strong-arm tactics that made America's favorite pickup truck great again, let's get to know more about its masculine exterior design and at first glance, it's somewhat similar to the previous model it replaces, only better. Of course, because this is the truck made for all kinds of duties, several variants have different grilles to choose from and one of them comes with the new active grille shutters, making it the most aerodynamic F-150 ever made.

Come at the back and this is where the real work begins for blue-collar men flexing their muscles. Sure, it doesn't have the fancy rear gate like the ones you get from the Ram 1500 but the new F-150 can be fitted with new zone lighting, Pro Power Onboard to plug your stuff on, and a tailgate work surface that comes with rulers, media holder, cup holder, and extra storage on the tailgate itself. Although it's somewhat more of a gimmick for a pickup truck, it's the ideal desk job for men who thought they can't sit on both boards. Why not?

Come inside, there's more serious stuff to do in the new F-150 because apart from the optional stuff at the tailgate, you can fit the interior with the new work surface you can turn this truck into an office. You can imagine doing all the work-from-home jobs while going out on an offroad trip but that would be risky. Also, the new F-150 comes with the available max recline seats so you can rest easy before doing time. Of course, we wouldn't forget about the high-tech cockpit that packs a 12-inch instrumental cluster and a 12-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4 on it. With all the tech and convenience loaded into the new F-150, the work-from-truck concept has just gotten real now.

Under the hood, the new F-150 is offered with the choice of six powertrains ranging from a beefy 3.0L Power Stroke turbodiesel that is almost as beefy as the Cummins guys that Ram uses, up to the almighty 5.0L TI-VCT V8 engine producing 400hp of power and 410lb-ft of torque. 

For the first time in an F-150, a 3.5L Powerboost hybrid V6 engine is offered and this powertrain produces 430HP of power, 570lb-ft of torque, and can tow up to 12,700lbs of stuff not to mention the class-leading payload of up to 2,120lbs.

How about driving? Well, being an F-150, it still works like an F-150 but having the one with a four-wheel drive is where the real party begins because offroading is where the F-150 does best, almost. Thanks to its military-grade aluminum body, this new F-150 can withstand all kinds of punishment it comes across, allowing this truck to come back home as it was nothing happened. When you go for the off-road-oriented Tremor variant which comes with available Trail 1-Pedal Drive, Trail Control, and Trail Turn Assist, plus monotube front and twin-tube rear shocks, it sure loves playing rough.

On the subject of playing rough, the new F-150 now boasts a wide array of driver-assist features and it's the only pickup to offer Active Drive Assist.

The new F-150 is now the best F-150 ever made because of its productive conveniences, a wide range of powertrains including the first-ever hybrid variant, handy-capable dynamics fit for all kinds of roads, and numerous tech installed on it. It's no doubt that the blue-collar patriots' choice has now evolved into a white-collar workhorse that loves getting itself dirty like a real patriotic American. That's Ford's national right done right!

Photo: Ford

Forza Horizon 4: Revenge of #PrimeDay

It's the time of the year again when our favorite heavy beasts become bats out of hell for the most insane moments of their lives. Yep, it's Prime Day and it's time to uncage those heavy beasts and let loose.



This year's Prime Day became two days only but despite the extra day, these beasts don't waste any day unleashing their raw power and their insane character from every angle. They're all about business and leisure without compromise and that's what Prime Day is all about.

Without further ado, let's meet the prime specimens roaring through the sounds of Prime Day.

First off, the truck that got beaten by a HALO jumper in the Arizona desert; was the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The current F-150 Raptor is powered by an EcoBoost V6 engine which results in more power but the beastly sound of the 6.2L V8 is hard to miss and with all that roar coming out from its glorious V8 engine, this is what made this truck a bad-ass.



Next, it's the super hot hatch that got beaten by a midship German sportscar, the Renaultsport Megane 250. While it's not suitable for drag racing against the most powerful hot hatches on the road, the lightweight bodywork and race-inspired chassis make this one of the best handling hot hatches of all time and despite being lost to a certain Porsche, it sure is a lot of fun to drive.



Then, there's the McLaren MP4-12C, the supercar that harks the return of McLaren making supercars since the legendary F1. Made in the days when Lewis Hamilton raced for McLaren, the 12C is a cutting-edge supercar that propagates through the track with intelligence unheard by supercar standards. If you have seven and a half minutes to spare while taking a break at the Ring, this is the McLaren for you.



And lastly, the Pagani Zonda R, the most feral of the prime specimens featured here, is packed with extreme aerodynamics that is fitting for a no-holds-barred machine that sits in Pirelli racing tires and 6.0L V12 Mercedes engine producing 750HP and because it dons so much carbon fiber on its body, it's 200kg lighter than your first Zonda. It may be labeled the last of its kind but it's not.



Prime Day is all about business and leisure without compromise, and with heavy beasts like these, not even Darth Pancake can choke these monsters off.



Ladies and gentlemen, please hold tight.






THIS IS...PRIME DAY!



Cars like these are known for opening their inner Amazon and unleashing hell on all roads of the world and with prime specimens like the F-150 SVT Raptor, the Renaultsport Megane III, the 12C, and the Zonda R, it's like every day is Prime Day because of the monsters that lurk beneath their sheets of metal. They really are fantastic.

See you next Prime Day...

Forza Motorsport 7: Prime Day

It's Prime Day once again and once again, the prime specimens that roared through the sounds of prime are back to let their feral instincts roar in Forza Motorsport 7. Whether if it's up against the HALO Jumper, a mid-engine German sportscar, the Nurburgring, or even for one last ride, these prime specimens are all about business and leisure without compromise.

Releasing our first feral beast from its cage is the Ford SVT Raptor. Today's F-150 Raptor is one of the best offroaders ever made but what made us miss the most about the old F-150 SVT Raptor is its 6.2L V8 engine because of the sound of this feral beast is much more ferocious compared to the EcoBoost V6 engine that today's Raptor had. It may be heavy and somewhat irrelevant in circuit racing but you can't beat the monstrous sound of its V8 engine the SVT Raptor possess and there's so much to love about a monstrous offroader that challenged the HALO jumper and lost.





The next beast is the Renaultsport Megane 250 and while today's Megane RS is basically five-door only, the last three-door Megane RS of the past is something to be missed because while being short on power compared to hyper hot hatch rivals such as the Ford Focus RS and the VW Scirocco R but because of its cup chassis, motorsport-level expertise, limited slip differential, and lightness, it eats the powerful ones like a rat scaring away a big fat biker. Being a prime meridian, the Megane RS remembers the most insane race of its life while delivering near-sportscar levels for everyday speedo boys.





The next prime meridian to be released from its cage is the McLaren MP4-12C. With today's McLaren 720S being the evolution of its Super Series range, the 12C is something to remember as the first McLaren ever made in this new era since the legendary F1. Unlike their last masterpiece, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the 12C is purely McLaren inside and out as well as its 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine which is somewhat small but packs a heavy punch when you put your foot down. As a high-tech sportscar with some motorsports know-how in the days when Lewis Hamilton is a McLaren driver, the 12C is all about propagating through the track with intelligence unheard by supercar standards, quickly became the supercars we all fell in love with since the 458 and the Gallardo.





And the last beast to be unleashed from the hell in the cell is the Pagani Zonda R. As the track-only finale to the Zonda, the R features extreme aerodynamics that is fitting for a no-holds-barred machine that sits in Pirelli racing tires and 6.0L V12 Mercedes engine producing 750HP and because it dons so much carbon fiber on its body, it's 200kg lighter than your first Zonda. Start this beast up and you can really hear its roar loud enough to deliver the prime of its life. This is the first Zonda that dons a semi-automatic gearbox that shifts faster than your basic supercar and such impressiveness lapped the Nurburgring faster than the Ferrari 599XX.





These prime specimens really proved to the world that they are business and leisure without compromise and when Prime Day comes, these feral beasts roar through the sounds of prime and prepare for the insane moments in the prime of their lives. Since this is Prime Day, it's time to let these beasts loose in the Grand Prix circuit of the Nurburgring like bats out of hell. Let heavy beasts roar through the sounds of Prime Day!



How's that for Darth Pancake? These heavy beasts really roared like bats out of hell and that is why they called it PRIME DAY, a day when you can open your Amazon and go all out. It's like releasing your anger for a day and it never felt so alive driving these prime specimens to the prime of their lives.



Until the next PRIME DAY, my little kittens...

FH3 Hot Wheels: PRIME Day

It's Prime Day and what better way to honor such a day of whatever that means to online shoppers than taking a spin round Hot Wheels Thrilltopia with some of the feral machines known to many, those that rev themselves to the prime meridian of their lives and whether if its against the likes of a HALO jumper, a mid-engined sportscar, or just for the fun of it, these prime specimens are all about business and leisure without compromise.







These are the prime specimens in question; the original Ford F-150 SVT Raptor with its 6.2L V8 engine, the 250HP Renaultsport Megane which is questionably the last three-door Renaultsport Megane in history as its replacement will be available as a five-door only, and the track-only finale of the legendary Pagani Zonda, the Zonda R.

Those three machines are humming to the sounds of the prime and despite being different in every tangible way, they are always in sync to the prime of their lives as they are proud to do whatever they want. The Raptor, for instance, once raced a HALO jumper and lost, the Megane once raced a mid-engined German roadster and lost, and the Zonda R, well, it tries to impress the driver with everything at its disposal. No matter the situation, the song of prime is what kept these machines alive for the prime of their lives as they enjoy their most insane races of their lives.

Since this is Prime Day, the Raptor, the Megane, and the Zonda are ready for their most insane race of their lives once more but first...







These prime specimens have been given improvements to survive Hot Wheels Thrilltopia. The Zonda R has became an inch replica of the Zonda Revolucion. The F-150 SVT Raptor became the Velociraptor by Hennessey. And the Megane RS250 became the Megane RS N4. The Revolucion replica is my idea while the Velociraptor and the Megane N4 are borrowed from a well-known expert in replicas. Guess I should give them credit after this. Anyway, with all set, these heavy beasts are ready for the prime of their lives as they are facing against a jurassic menace lying beneath the Hot Wheels tracks like bats out of hell.



This is exactly why they called PRIME Day because these prime specimens enjoyed the most insane races of their lives and even though their races are very dangerous, they feel like it should be like this all day. How's that for an epic soundtrack? From Arizona to Rockingham, this is business and leisure without compromise. This is PRIME and they are all made for their most insane moments in the prime of their lives.

Speaking of which, the Hot Wheels Goliath Circuit event's opened for business and looks like we'll end this note right here as I'm going to prepare the most insane race in my life right here in Thrilltopia. Until then, the journey continues...

Forza Horizon 3: Everybody's Gone to the Raptor

Hold it right there. You might think I might forgot one of the star cars of Forza Horizon 3, am I right? As you may now, aside from the Lamborghini Centenario, the all-new Ford F-150 Raptor is one of the cars featured in the cover of Forza Horizon 3 and for a second there, I thought I might not drive it but here I am, driving one now to see what's like.



You may have been familiar with the brand new F-150 Raptor pickup truck but for those who want to know the extreme offroad version of America's best-selling pickup truck, the new F-150 Raptor is powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that produces more power and better fuel economy versus the old Raptor's V8 engine while mated to Ford's first-ever 10-speed automatic gearbox. Also, the new F-150 Raptor, like the normal F-150, takes advantage of advanced materials such as high-strength steel and high-strength, military grade, aluminum alloy, allows this truck to lose 500 pounds of weight compared to the old Raptor.

To make sure the new Raptor is capable ot take on the most unforgiving road conditions on the face of the planet, it's been given with the available Torsen front differential, standard FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology that works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain, and new shock canisters. It even comes with the all new Terrain Management System with six preset modes help the truck power through different terrain and driving conditions.

You might be asking that there's something different with this Raptor I'm driving but seen here is the Race Truck version of the said model. It was made to take on the 2016 Best in the Desert off-road racing series' factory stock class and because it is stock class, it carries the same specs as the base F-150 Raptor, meaning it still as unstoppable as the normal F-150 Raptor, but to test this theory, let's take a stroll to a construction yard against some of the heavyweights in the motoring industry and see if this pickup truck lives up to its promise as a no-holds barred offroader.

Wow, no wonder it was built tough as every Ford truck should be but it's not over yet because you might think that I had enough with the Raptor, I had something special just for you. It took me moments to prepare this Raptor just for but here it is...







Surprised? It's a special F-150 Raptor I made featuring all of the Aqours heroes from Chika to Mari. True to the theme of having the best routes ever experienced in the Land Down Under, nothing's more shiny than making this theme for the Raptor and while some might call it a blasphemy because I kinda messed up this all-American pickup truck with something Japanese-y, it feels like I made a perfect vacation getaway vehicle that will get me through the ocean roads, urban metropolis, lush Aussie jungles, and the outback like summer's on me. This is the ideal thing to do with one of the star cars of Forza Horizon 3 and it's time to take a Step Zero to One with one of the stars of Horizon Australia, which is none other than the Ford F-150 Raptor.



Not the best I have done with the Raptor but it's the best show this offroader can offer to show the whole crowd how it's made and knowing about this truck is just half the story because even though the all-new F-150 Raptor shows how capable this truck is in such driving conditions in the land down under, its never-ending adventure to show its true strengths as the most capable offroad truck in the face of the planet continues and I'm looking forward to see what's next for the ultimate F-150. Now this is what you called a Step Zero to One.

Forza Motorsport 6: Raptor's Delight

The next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor, much like the new Ford GT and the Shelby GT350, made its early video game debut at Forza Motorsport 6 since its launch and I was one of the happy people to get a first bite out of Ford's next-gen extreme offroader before this car reaches dealerships in the Autumn of 2016.



Before taking a spin on the next-generation F-150 Raptor, let's have a quick intro. Making its world premiere at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, the next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor is the result of Ford Performance's superior off-road capability, from rock crawling to sand running.

Based on the 13th-generation Ford F-Series trucks, the new F-150 Raptor, like the normal F-150, takes advantage of advanced materials such as high-strength steel and high-strength, military grade, aluminum alloy, allows this truck to lose 500 pounds of weight compared to the old Raptor.

The new F-150 Raptor is powered by Ford's brand new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that produces more power and better fuel economy versus the old Raptor's V8 engine. This engine is mated with Ford's first-ever 10-speed automatic gearbox.

It is now the most capable Raptor ever made thanks to its available Torsen front differential, standard FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology that works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain, and new shock canisters. It even comes with the all new Terrain Management System with six preset modes help the truck power through different terrain and driving conditions.



Sure, the new Raptor is an extreme offroader in its own right but here in the world of Forza Motorsport 6, it sounds too pointless because this is basically a racing game where all good cars race on tracks. Despite being too pointless here, I can hardly feel just how improved the new Raptor is aside from its miniaturized engine that delivers more than the old one but its military-grade aluminum bodywork shows just how light and durable this car is. Even though this is a major improvement than the previous model, handle with care because this is still a heavyweight juggernaut and you have to be very alert and very precise to handle even the slightest of corners.

Because this is the first truck in the world to offer a double-digit gearbox, you can really feel that ten gears in a truck is far too bulky on the shifting ratio but what are the odds? You never know until you try.



This car loves to get messy in the rough but in FM6, playing rough is not a necessity here or could it be? Because this is an all-new model, let's find out how much the new model has improved over the previous one and for that, I have to go to the Top Gear Test Track and find out.



This is going to be a fun science experiment because this is where I find proof if the all-new F-150 Raptor stacks up against the old F-150 SVT Raptor. Let's find out!


After sending these heavyweights their big run on the Top Gear Track, the results are in. The old Raptor did it in 1:41.106 while the new Raptor did it in 1:37.835, about four seconds quicker than the old one. Which means, even this truck doesn't have a spot to play rough in FM6, the new Raptor, thanks to its EcoBoost V6 engine, aluminum bodywork, enhanced dynamics, and a hunky 10-speed gearbox, this hunk of junk is no longer a hunk of junk. It's now...just a hunk. A hunk that can get through even the toughest jobs in the world of Forza.

Top Gear claimed that this is the best selling car in the world...

If Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear asked that what is the best selling car in the world, chances are you'd get it wrong because the best selling car in the world ISN'T ACTUALLY A CAR.

This pickup truck doesn't work in Britain!

It was actually the Ford F150 and you wouldn't guess it that this isn't a car but this is a business phenomenon. There are more F-Series pickup trucks in the world than there are Australians. They sell nearly a million of these every year and that's a 107 an hour. Unlike the VW Beetle or the Toyota Corolla, they sell 107 an hour in North America, meaning that someone's buying now, and now, and now, and now, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In general, we buy everything American; from their food, beverages, TV shows, music, and we even buy them on their walls, but we don't buy their pickup trucks. Why is that? We'll find out at the end...

This pickup truck doesn't work offroad!

This here is the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning that was launched in 1999 and it comes with substantial suspension modifications. The 5.4L V8 engine comes with a supercharger and it churns out 380HP and 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds. This leviathan beast will outrun a German sports car and with the supercharger, it sounds like a jet engine! But the question is, why don't we buy it? Here in America, everyone who walked in the countryside will be eaten by wild animals so they need a car with a gun rack but here in the Philippines, it's not. Here in America, everyone has a dream of being an outdoorsman, where as we really don't have that dream.

In America, when you want some logs with fire, you load your truck with chainsaws and headed out in the forest. What we do is going in the shops. What I'm picturing in my head now is that I went at the Festival Supermall in Filinvest, Alabang. I went shopping for some clothes, then going at the Comic Alley to see some anime figures, posters, and something something. Later, I went to see some movies. And then, I went for some grocery shopping at SHOPWISE. Yep, we're finished shopping at Festival Supermall but it really doesn't make sense for this pickup. Also, this truck is rather thirsty and quite large in European roads. You can't also bring it offroad because this is a RWD or because you might scratch the paint. There is also one small reason why we don't need a pickup truck and the main one was this; IT'S RUBBISH!

This is actually made with technology that was familiar to any 19th century tunneling contractor. It has a ladder chassis which is made from old shovels, the brake discs are the size of milk bottle tops and the interior doesn't match.

Like what the good old pioneers do...

Pickup trucks like the Ford F150 doesn't work in the Philippines because we're a bit more sophisticated and the only way this Ford F150 SVT Lightning work is at Gran Turismo 5 because in this game, it's a bit more quirky than that....

*With thanks to Jeremy Clarkson

"Purely Redneck" about the Raptor

We witnessed the Ford SVT Raptor at some episode of Top Gear USA (in Hennessey Velociraptor guise) where Tanner Foust challenges against a HALO Jumper and the Velociraptor lost. At the hands of The Stig's American cousin, it set a lap time of 1 minute and 39 seconds. It was close but we no matter what, the Raptor's one bad pickup for the road hogs. Tanner Foust said that there's something "purely redneck" about the Raptor's sound.

Tiff Needell's Renaultsport Megane
vs. Tanner Foust's VelociRaptor

With the Raptor included on Forza Motorsport 4 via the December IGN Pack, players can personalize the Raptor with a host of tuning parts, enhancements at the exterior to make it more look like the Raptor used at the Baja 1000 race, and best of all, set a Top Gear Power Lap Time. This is what makes this truck a bad-ass!

The Stig's American cousin already tried it,
but can The Stig tame this?

Hey, you know what, this what happens when the McLaren MP4-12C, Pagani Zonda R, Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, and the Renaultsport Megane are all playing the same music. The music where you heard it from a part where Tanner Foust races against the HALO jumper, Tiff Needell tries out the Zonda R at some kind of boring version of Top Gear called F*fth Gear, highlighting the McLaren MP4-12C's progress at the Nurburgring, and when Tiff Needell drives the RenaultSport Megane against a boxer sports car driven by Vicki Butler-Henderson at Rockingham.

Because most people trying to recreate the Hennessey Velociraptor, it is possible to reach this Raptor to "Velociraptor" levels just by swapping the engine into a Shelby GT500 engine and max out as far as you can. All it needs now are some DIY of the Velociraptor decals that you can paste it at the side of the Raptor.

So, can I hug it? Yes but that's a little scary and creepy...