SVT fans rejoice! A new Ford super-truck is coming this fall
by Sam Abuelsamid on Jun 15th 2008 at 8:29AM 
2004 SVT Lightning Concept
It's been several years since Ford last offered a Lightning version of its F-150 pickup truck but it looks like it will soon strike again. In spite of plummeting sales of big trucks, a high-performance variant of the new 2009 F-150 will launch later this fall, likely at either SEMA or the Los Angeles Auto Show. Ford showed a concept version of an SVT F-150 in 2004 that never made it to production. In March 2007, SVT's Jamal Hameedi told us that a high-performance truck was under development.
While participating in the Ford Racing Invitational media drag racing event this weekend, other SVT officials declined to get any more specific than "a new SVT truck is coming" and "later this fall." (clarification: Jamal Hameedi was not at the racing event and did not provide any of the new information) When pressed, he did acknowledge that it's based on the big truck platform and that is was unrelated to the so-called Raptor truck. An obvious guess would be an F-150 powered by the GT500 engine. Since the GT500 already uses the cast-iron truck block, it would be an easy installation. Whether it will use two or four wheels to deliver all that torque is unknown, but after my experience trying to put GT500 power down this weekend, hopefully it'll use all four.
Update: After hearing from someone at Ford and talking to Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com this new truck will almost certainly not be called a Lightning. In fact according to Mike, this new truck is likely to be the new Harley-Davidson F-150.
[Source: Ford]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Matt 8:34AM (6/15/2008)
I thought that trucks were the spawn of the carbon devil nowadays?
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MajorGeek 9:01AM (6/15/2008)
Only to the many, many Americans who bought trucks and SUVs as a status symbol, then could not afford a 1 dollar rise in the price of gasoline and now pretend to be green when in reality, its a shortage of the green that has them out of SUV's.
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Derek 9:07AM (6/15/2008)
Well put.
almost Dr. G.. 9:14AM (6/15/2008)
x2 guess you are a major geek! good yob.
Torrent 4:37PM (6/15/2008)
best post of the day award goes to you.
JMC 3 9:10AM (6/15/2008)
Happy Fathers Day !
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Avinash machado 9:30AM (6/15/2008)
I thin that anyone who can afford a top of the line truck like this can afford the gas. It is also a nice truck to run over Al Gore when he is crossing the street.
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madgamer 9:49PM (6/15/2008)
It's a truck, not a Lambo, so I think gas price is still relevant. While they will certainly sell some anyway, I don't think it will go over as well as it would have say, 2 years ago.
Mobius_1 9:31AM (6/15/2008)
I'll buy Al Gore one! (and Ken Livingstone, and Greenpeace)
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CarbonBlack 10:31PM (6/15/2008)
Al gore is already enough of a hypocrite!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-08-09-gore-green_x.htm
Don 9:48AM (6/15/2008)
Excellent! Just in time for $5 gas! Maybe $6 gas! Whee!
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Volvo 10:06AM (6/15/2008)
I realize that Ford does not have many cars left in the stable (look at their web site) but why doesn't the SVT team apply itself to producing a SVT focus or Taurus (or 500 or whatever it is called). IMO greater displacement not needed (perhaps tweaking the engine to get greater output at same fuel burn as they apparently have been able to achieve with the 2009 escape).
The majority of their effort could be toward changes in handling. Tighten it up, more "connected" steering and braking response, etc.
OOPs have I commited the cardinal sin of suggesting the American market sedans handle more like their European counterparts.
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pmiddle5 12:05PM (6/15/2008)
Now is a time when a lack of an SVT Focus confuses me greatly. The idea of an SVT Fiesta (when it makes it here) is exciting but Ford likes to disappoint me so I do not expect it
Ohso Clutch 10:10AM (6/15/2008)
Happy Fathers day, indeed!
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DanMan 10:18AM (6/15/2008)
Buy the motorcycle, doesn't matter how fast the bike is it will get better fuel economy and you won't look like a poser who wishes his wife would let him buy the Harley.
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tollonodre 1:35PM (6/15/2008)
Uh, most Harley buyers *are* posers. That's what keeps them in business.
DanMan 4:23PM (6/15/2008)
Sorry, I meant ANY motorcycle. Hell buy one of those 200+mph screamers and it will still do better than the F-150 mpg.
fiyawiya 10:36AM (6/15/2008)
Anyone willing to buy a truck like this should be sent to Iraq and fight for the gas to fill the tank.
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Austin 11:12AM (6/15/2008)
Ok do you know that 95% of Iraq is just as safe as in the US, maybe its even safer. Would you go into the gang areas of the US.
MajorGeek 11:37AM (6/15/2008)
Not sure about you, but I live in America. As a free country, I drive what I want and the military is volunteer. You really need to analyze your statements for just how close to being socialist they are, then consider leaving the country yourself.