Hardcore electric ute incoming: Dakar-ready Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear concept paves the way for wild Raptor EV

January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 John Mahoney 2299 Views Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear

The all-new Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear concept has been unleashed, revealing the Blue Oval is plotting a faster all-electric Ford F-150 Raptor.

Picking up where the SuperVan 4.2, Mustang Mach-E 1400, Mustang Cobrajet 1400 and the F-100 Eluminator left off, the latest battery-powered concept from Ford Performance has this time been prepared in cooperation with North Carolina-based motorsport engineering firm RTR Vehicles.

To evolve the regular F-150 Lightning into something ready to tackle the legendary Baja100 race along the Californian peninsula has taken some work.

Engineers began by widening both the track and then width with a set of carbon-fibre front
fenders. To raise its body out of harm’s way a high-lift kit was added that also includes a new long-
travel suspension that’s needed to soak up 200km/h landings over rocky terrain.

Speaking of suspension, the F-150 Lightning Switchgear concept boasts a set of beefy
competition-ready Fox 3-inch-diameter internal bypass dampers that boosts body control
on both dirt and road.

Ford Performance has also bolted on some limit straps to prevent damage to the dampers during jumps.

The suspension upgrades also include uprated double wishbone suspension up front and a new multi-link suspension at the rear that’s combined with coil-over dampers, a new anti-roll bar and bespoke control arms.

Finally, to improve the its approach and departure angles designers have included new front and rear steel bumpers. Saving more weight both the bed sides and rear bumper cover are both made of carbon-fibre.

Helping protect the underbody, the F-150 Lightning Switchgear gets steel rock sliders and a heavy-duty front bash plate.

Competing the substantial overhaul of the electric F-150, there’s off-road racing 18-inch rims wrapped in 37-inch tyres, the F-150 Lightning Switchgear also gets a new sports bar that has two spares mounted to it.

Inside, there’s been limited changes, with just a pair of Recaro bucket seats introduced that
get six-point harness to clamp the driver and passenger in place. Look closer and there’s also
a rally-ready hydraulic handbrake.

Beneath the skin it’s not known if there’s been any changes to the standard truck’s dual-motor powertrain but it’s thought they’ll be a power-up over the standard truck’s 433kW and 1050Nm.

Primed to be officially unveiled at an upcoming Californian off-road racing event on January 25, for now Ford Performance has yet to confirm a production version is on the way. Instead, it says electric vehicles like the F-150 Lightning Switchgear provide a “playground for engineers to advance learnings quickly for future electric vehicles”.