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Heavier Camo Than OG F-150 Lightning
We have shots of various F-150 Lightning prototypes, and they’re very thoroughly disguised. The entire truck is in Ford’s traditional graphic wrap, and there are plastic bits covering some of the body details, likely hiding evidence of the body modifications made to the dimensions of the mules. Our latest Lightning mule gets even heavier front-end camouflage, with vinyl coverings and black mesh hiding the front-fasica. The lighting is covered in camo mesh—with headlights that might be new placeholder-style prototype lighting.
Underbody and Wheel Camo
Even more important is the huge application of sweeper-style brush camo that hangs all around the prototype, and the disguised wheels. The original F-150 prototypes that hit the road in March 2021 never had its underbody or suspension camouflaged, even though the Lightning had a newly-designed independent rear suspension set-up. We originally thought the underbody camo might be hiding a revised battery set-up, and the disguised wheels possibly hiding new wheels that had been upsized to 24-inches to match GM’s EV trucks. Thanks to a camo slip and a Ford patent, we might have another explanation for Ford’s over-the-top disguising effort.
Eight-Lug Wheels = More Weight = Bigger Battery?
One of Ford’s disguising disks covering the rear wheel of a Lightning prototype appears to be a very important wardrobe malfunction. We can now clearly see that the prototype is equipped with beefy eight-lug wheels, instead of the six-lug units fitted to the current F-150 Lightning. The additional lugs is highly suggestive of a weight gain, possibly for a much larger battery pack. GM’s full-size EV pickups get 8-lugs, and their huge battery packs (200+ kWh) yield trucks weighing 8,500-9,500 pounds. The upcoming Ram REV hasn’t disclosed its curb weight yet, but its monstrous 229-kWh battery requires an 8-lug wheel. For perspective, the current F-150 Lightning’s 6-lug wheels haul around 6,500 pounds and an 131-kWh Extended Range battery. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Cybertruck also gets 6-lug wheels for its 6843-pound Cyberbeast or its 6,603-pound AWD model.
Are Those Hub Motors?
While analyzing the undisguised rear wheel, we looked beyond the new eight-lug set-up, and noticed the uniqueness of what lies behind the spokes. What might initially look like a rotor, appears much different under close examination. There is no visible brake caliper, suggesting that this set-up is nothing like the current F-150 Lightning, or any other EV truck on the market—except for the Lordstown Motors Endurance EV. Poking pixel-by-pixel behind these F-150 Lighting test wheels reveals what appears to be a new in-wheel Hub Motor design. That certainly explains Ford’s efforts to camouflage every wheel on every one of the new F-150 Lightning prototypes we’ve spotted during recent tests.
Ford Patented A Solid Axle/Hub Motor System in Early 2023
The media got wind of a Ford patent for a new Hub Motor system attached to solid axles, which was reported in February 2023:
https://www.greencarreports.com/new...e-hub-motor-combo-with-ev-off-roading-in-mind
We can’t say for sure that this is the system hiding behind all of that underbody sweeper camo on these F-150 Lightning prototypes. However, if a new suspension set-up and Hub Motors is being tested, it would certainly explain Ford’s serious efforts to obscure what lies underneath these new EV test mules.
Ford admitted that it toyed with the idea of in-wheel motors on the original (current) F-150 Lightning, but decided to keep things as straight-forward and familiar as possible to placate those thinking of early-adopting an electrified F-150. Ford decided to go for the tried-and-true F-150 set-up, and claimed durability benefits of inboard EV motors. Ford stayed traditional instead of placing more vulnerable Hub Motors in the wheels, which would add complexity and lots of unsprung weight to its first-ever EV trucks.
Perhaps Ford has decided to take a big technological leap towards Hub Motors for its second-generation F-150 Lightning, which are said to add lots of efficiency (and probable range) to its new EV platform. That, and a bigger batter could put the F-150 on the forefront of EV truck tech. Or it could be a huge gamble fraught with peril. That’s likely what these tests are trying to resolve.
Sharing Track Space With Cybertruck
We spotted the F-150 Lightning prototypes sharing track space with a Tesla Cybertruck. The benchmarking exercise makes sense, as Ford crafts its second-gen F-150 follow-up as registration data suggest that the radical Tesla Cybertruck is beginning to outpace its rivals.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a...f-150-lightning-rivian-r1t-registration-data/
The presence of the Cybertruck alongside these fascinating F-150 Lightning prototypes adds even more spice to what is already a very eye-opening story about Ford’s EV truck efforts.
We have shots of various F-150 Lightning prototypes, and they’re very thoroughly disguised. The entire truck is in Ford’s traditional graphic wrap, and there are plastic bits covering some of the body details, likely hiding evidence of the body modifications made to the dimensions of the mules. Our latest Lightning mule gets even heavier front-end camouflage, with vinyl coverings and black mesh hiding the front-fasica. The lighting is covered in camo mesh—with headlights that might be new placeholder-style prototype lighting.
Underbody and Wheel Camo
Even more important is the huge application of sweeper-style brush camo that hangs all around the prototype, and the disguised wheels. The original F-150 prototypes that hit the road in March 2021 never had its underbody or suspension camouflaged, even though the Lightning had a newly-designed independent rear suspension set-up. We originally thought the underbody camo might be hiding a revised battery set-up, and the disguised wheels possibly hiding new wheels that had been upsized to 24-inches to match GM’s EV trucks. Thanks to a camo slip and a Ford patent, we might have another explanation for Ford’s over-the-top disguising effort.
Eight-Lug Wheels = More Weight = Bigger Battery?
One of Ford’s disguising disks covering the rear wheel of a Lightning prototype appears to be a very important wardrobe malfunction. We can now clearly see that the prototype is equipped with beefy eight-lug wheels, instead of the six-lug units fitted to the current F-150 Lightning. The additional lugs is highly suggestive of a weight gain, possibly for a much larger battery pack. GM’s full-size EV pickups get 8-lugs, and their huge battery packs (200+ kWh) yield trucks weighing 8,500-9,500 pounds. The upcoming Ram REV hasn’t disclosed its curb weight yet, but its monstrous 229-kWh battery requires an 8-lug wheel. For perspective, the current F-150 Lightning’s 6-lug wheels haul around 6,500 pounds and an 131-kWh Extended Range battery. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Cybertruck also gets 6-lug wheels for its 6843-pound Cyberbeast or its 6,603-pound AWD model.
Are Those Hub Motors?
While analyzing the undisguised rear wheel, we looked beyond the new eight-lug set-up, and noticed the uniqueness of what lies behind the spokes. What might initially look like a rotor, appears much different under close examination. There is no visible brake caliper, suggesting that this set-up is nothing like the current F-150 Lightning, or any other EV truck on the market—except for the Lordstown Motors Endurance EV. Poking pixel-by-pixel behind these F-150 Lighting test wheels reveals what appears to be a new in-wheel Hub Motor design. That certainly explains Ford’s efforts to camouflage every wheel on every one of the new F-150 Lightning prototypes we’ve spotted during recent tests.
Ford Patented A Solid Axle/Hub Motor System in Early 2023
The media got wind of a Ford patent for a new Hub Motor system attached to solid axles, which was reported in February 2023:
https://www.greencarreports.com/new...e-hub-motor-combo-with-ev-off-roading-in-mind
We can’t say for sure that this is the system hiding behind all of that underbody sweeper camo on these F-150 Lightning prototypes. However, if a new suspension set-up and Hub Motors is being tested, it would certainly explain Ford’s serious efforts to obscure what lies underneath these new EV test mules.
Ford admitted that it toyed with the idea of in-wheel motors on the original (current) F-150 Lightning, but decided to keep things as straight-forward and familiar as possible to placate those thinking of early-adopting an electrified F-150. Ford decided to go for the tried-and-true F-150 set-up, and claimed durability benefits of inboard EV motors. Ford stayed traditional instead of placing more vulnerable Hub Motors in the wheels, which would add complexity and lots of unsprung weight to its first-ever EV trucks.
Perhaps Ford has decided to take a big technological leap towards Hub Motors for its second-generation F-150 Lightning, which are said to add lots of efficiency (and probable range) to its new EV platform. That, and a bigger batter could put the F-150 on the forefront of EV truck tech. Or it could be a huge gamble fraught with peril. That’s likely what these tests are trying to resolve.
Sharing Track Space With Cybertruck
We spotted the F-150 Lightning prototypes sharing track space with a Tesla Cybertruck. The benchmarking exercise makes sense, as Ford crafts its second-gen F-150 follow-up as registration data suggest that the radical Tesla Cybertruck is beginning to outpace its rivals.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a...f-150-lightning-rivian-r1t-registration-data/
The presence of the Cybertruck alongside these fascinating F-150 Lightning prototypes adds even more spice to what is already a very eye-opening story about Ford’s EV truck efforts.
