2025 Ford Maverick Lobo

posted in: Ford Maverick | 0

Inspired by the lowered truck era that lasted from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s and Maverick customers already personalizing their trucks for performance, the Maverick Lobo is a new canvas for modern street truck builds.

Lobo is the street-performance version of Maverick, giving customers a new, differentiated model with the same Maverick value and versatility. It joins the lineup that includes the off-road capable Maverick Tremor and the efficient Maverick Hybrid.

When Maverick designer Josh Blundo joined Ford in 2019, he saw a clay model of the Maverick and noticed its potential. He began modifying the truck as if it was his own: a widebody, wings, front splitter, and wheels.

His idea inspired a special build by Tucci Hot Rods that drew praise at the 2021 Special Equipment Manufacturers Association trade show. Blundo and the team later got the green light and began designing Lobo.

At the same time, engineers like Keith Daugherty began tweaking the springs and suspension and testing components from other Ford performance-oriented vehicles to help create an authentic on-road performance truck.

Engineered for On-Road Performance

Maverick Lobo’s standard twin-clutch rear drive unit enables torque vectoring to help improve cornering performance, grip and stability. Torque vectoring is active in Lobo Drive Mode only for closed-course usage.

 

  • Turning In – Torque shifts to the outer wheel to improve cornering performance.
  • Change in Direction – Torque shifts depending on driving situation to improve agility or stability.
  • Accelerating Out of a Bend – Torque shifts to the outer wheel to reduce acceleration understeer.

The result of that collaboration is the Maverick Lobo with a lowered ride height and an on-road tuned suspension with tuned shocks and a 2-liter EcoBoost engine tested to Built Ford Tough standards and backed by a factory warranty.

Maverick Lobo ride height is a half-inch lower in the front and 1.12 inches lower in the rear compared to Maverick, and roof height is 0.8 inches lower.

Tuned steering makes Maverick Lobo drive more like a performance car, with torque vectoring through a twin-clutch rear drive unit and bigger, enhanced brakes with dual-piston front brake calipers used on the Focus ST sold in Europe. Inspired by drifting and autocross, there’s also a new Lobo drive mode, which improves cornering performance, grip, and stability, helping to minimize understeer.

Lobo mode is meant only for closed courses because it activates the truck’s torque while reducing stability control intervention. (Think about Lobo mode as the Maverick equivalent to Mustang track mode.)

And to ensure Lobo is ready to handle demanding performance driving, we also upgraded the cooling system. It utilizes the larger radiator and fan from Maverick’s 4K towing package and a transmission oil cooler.

Street Truck Design

Maverick Lobo maintains Maverick aesthetics in a slightly different interpretation. Unique front style painted rear bumper, and rocker moldings contrast with a black-painted roof and 19-inch black wheels.

Those wheels remind me of the wheels used on the Pontiac Trans Am Turbo cars.

The interior features inspiration from street art that designer Kristen Keenan observed in her travels and experiences she gained in designing athletic shoes.

There’s Grabber Blue and Electric Lime accent stitching, a graffiti-inspired overprint on the seats as a nod to street culture, and the Lobo name embossed into the black driver and passenger seats.

This color combination is a nod to current streetwear trends, where multiple colors are often used together in a way that brings harmony without matching perfectly.

To keep it easy for customers to select their Maverick Lobo canvas and get started with their own personalization, the truck comes in two configurations: standard and high.

Purposeful Technology

Standard configuration comes with everything described above, while high configuration adds other comforts like heated steering wheel and seats, Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 driver-assist technologies, a 360-degree camera, spray-in bedliner, moon roof, and, beginning early in 2025, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Pro Trailer Hitch Assist helps take the frustration out of hitching a trailer. It works by using the rear camera and corner radars to align the hitch with the trailer coupler while simultaneously controlling the truck’s speed, steering, and braking to stop at just the right place.

Once hitched, Pro Trailer Backup Assist makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a knob to indicate which direction the trailer should go while reversing into position.

Ordering for the 2025 Maverick Lobo begins Aug.1, with deliveries starting in early 2025, and late availability on high configuration models.

Photos:

Follow Jim Oaks:

I have owned numerous Ford trucks during my lifetime and am best know for my involvement and influence with the Ford Ranger. I'm equally excited about the Ford Maverick, and look forward to sharing stories, features, and other information with you.

Latest posts from