Off-road focused trucks are big business and Ford is hinting at the possibilities with the F-150 Lightning Switchgear concept. Created by Ford Performance and RTR, the truck draws inspiration from the F-150 RTR Ultimate Fun-Haver and sports an eye-catching exterior with custom carbon composite bodywork. This includes a widebody kit with bulging fenders and pronounced vents. The changes continue elsewhere as the concept has been equipped with front and rear bumpers that help to improve approach and departure angles. The model has also been outfitted with a front skid plate, steel rock rails, and a sizable spoiler.
The most noticeable upgrade is 18-inch
wheels that are wrapped in 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires. They’re joined
by a bed-mounted chase rack, which houses two spares. Ford didn’t say much
about the cabin, but it sports a handful of notable upgrades including five
Recaro Sportster ORV seats that have six-point harnesses. We can also see a
unique dash, a rear bar, and what appears to be a manual parking brake that
could double as a hockey stick.
The modifications are more than skin deep
as the truck has a revised suspension with custom components front and rear.
The concept also sports 3-inch Fox internal bypass shocks and a significantly
increased track of 2,032 mm. Thanks to the changes, the model
promises to be an off-road beast as it has 343 mm of clearance up
front and 279 mm out back. The truck also offers up to 330 mm of wheel travel.
If dirt scares you, there’s a street
configuration with an aerodynamic front bumper, a tonneau cover, and 20-inch
wheels wrapped in Nitto NT420V tires. This variant also has a revised
suspension with a significantly lower ride height. Despite the Raptor-like
looks, the F-150 Lightning Switchgear is relatively tame as it features a stock
powertrain. This means drivers will find a 131 kWh battery pack, which powers a
dual motor all-wheel drive system with 580 hp and 1,050
Nm of torque. There’s no word on how quick the concept is, but the regular
F-150 Lightning with the extended range battery can hit 96 km/h in
less than four seconds.