This one-off Ford F-150 Lightning EV wants to fly

Ford is out to prove that EVs can still provide the same driving thrills as their ICE counterparts. And this time, they created one that can fly just as high as the F-150 Raptor in the Baja desert.

The Blue Oval has taken the wraps off the F-150 Lightning Switchgear, and boy it has the makings of an electric trophy truck.

Built in partnership with drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s RTR Vehicles, the F-150 Lightning Switchgear sports a unique bodywork and off-road equipment, as well as beefed-up underpinnings and bigger tires.

Ford kept the F-150 Lightning’s dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain for the Switchgear, pushing 580 PS and 775 Nm of torque. It also has a 131 kWh battery that’s rated to give over 500 kilometers of range.

In terms of looks, the Switchgear sports front and rear overfenders made of carbon composite, along with front and rear bumper covers. It’s also wrapped in a Ford Performance livery – giving homage to the Blue Oval’s racing and motorsports division.

Underneath, the Switchgear gets a double wishbone suspension setup in the front with Fox internal bypass dampers with droop-limiting straps. The rear features a semi-trailing arm setup with a stabilizer bar. The EV truck rolls on 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires on 18-inch forged aluminum alloy beadlock wheels. There’s another road-spec version but Ford chose to unveil the off-road version first.

This is all part of Ford’s plan to explore possibilities for EV pickup trucks and show customers they can still have the fun of driving even in the electric age.