GM Caught Benchmarking Ford F-150 Lightning
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The race for full-size electric pickup supremacy is in full swing, with our spy photographers this week catching GM engineers benchmarking the Ford F-150 Lightning amid the ongoing development of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV.
Our sharp-eyed spies caught GM engineers behind the wheel of a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, while a 2022 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate served as the chase vehicle. It’s not uncommon to spot automakers benchmarking the competition’s products, and seeing as the upcoming Chevy Silverado WT will serve as a direct rival to the F-150 Lightning Pro, we’re not surprised that GM is keeping a very close eye on this particular vehicle right now.
The 2024 Chevy Silverado WT will launch with a dual-motor e4WD powertrain rated at 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque, as well as an Ultium battery providing a GM-estimated driving range of 400 miles. The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, by comparison, features a dual-motor setup rated at 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, along with an EPA-certified driving range of 230 miles. Ford also offers an Extended Range battery in the F-150 Lightning Pro, which adds a more powerful 563 horsepower dual-motor setup (torque remains the same) and boosts driving range to an EPA-estimated 300 miles. Pricing for the Ford F-105 Lightning Pro starts at $39,974 including destination and freight, whereas GM will charge $39,900 for the Chevy Silverado WT before freight charges.
GM is also working on other Chevy Silverado EV model variants, including a sporty RST First Edition and a rugged Trail Boss, however the WT trim level will be the first to arrive when it launches next spring, so it makes sense that GM is focusing more on this model for the time being. It’s therefore possible the automaker will benchmark other F-150 Lightning trim levels in the future, like the range-topping Platinum, for example.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the ongoing development of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV WT as its official launch date approaches. For now, though, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevy news, GM electric vehicle news, General Motors technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Fords not even on the race as the lighting will be out dated as soon as the Chevy and Ram arrive.
Fords hard at work at a similar truck as these others but it is 3 years out.
Nothing on the present Ford platform can be used on other models same on Mach E.
I expect GM is just getting a comparison base line.
If you can’t beat them, buy one and copy it. That is what the Asians do.
GM is not copying. Ford is adopting the GM style EV platform.
Odds are GM will use the data to show the advantages of the more modern platform they have over the dated Ford platform.
Ford. Inverted a F150 wile GM designed a compete truck.
We’ll see how many recalls they have on the Ford EV. 😜
And the Silverado EV aswell
It is common for companies to purchase competition products. Seems as a GM employee got into the order list to get the F-150 Lightning early. But Ford still has a big one year lead over GM in getting the ET (electric truck) out to customers. That alone is a big win for Ford.
Being first in this case is not a win. Getting it right the first time is a win.
Ford is just covering their a$$ for being behind.
How is it a big win for Ford to have a truck out a year early and be losing a bunch of money that entire year? Because they were the first to have a half-baked electric half-ton pickup truck to dealerships? Lol. Nothing but a bunch of clowns that want Ford to believe they did it right. They’ve literally come out and stated that isn’t the case as they are paying a big price. They’re first and playing catch up at the same time, being first has costed them and now playing catch up will be costly. It was a stupid decision. The Silverado EV is superior to the Ford Lightning in nearly every aspect.
The Ford F-150 Lighting will be a huge money-losing venture for Ford. As raw materials prices escalate, just like the electric Mustang, Ford had to come out and tell the truth, they are losing money on each sale. The F-150 Lighting, taking into consideration all the costs that Ford had to put in only to produce a few electric Lighting, Ford’s main concern and focus right now is the ICE F-150, so there is only a little part of the Ford Rouge plant that is devoted to the EV Ford Lighting, allowing only a few to be built. In the meantime, Chevrolet Silverado has come up from third place and took over the sales lead in full-size pickups. The current F-150 Lighting is a temporary build until Ford racket up to build their permanent electric EV pickup which is 3 years away. This is a huge cost to be able to say we came out first with a temporary electric pickup, and because of mile range, and some first-out-of-the-block recalls and hiccups, it could give Ford some negative PR.
Fairly certain Ford will be benchmarking the Silverado EV as soon as one is available.
My view on GMC’s EV truck
All-wheel steering on a pickup truck that is meant to haul weight or tow trailers concerns me… Will the rear steering be able to handle the torque the EVs are able to produce without buckling over time? Also, would the payload cause the rear steering alignment to go out of alignment?
Cute gimmick but I think GMC is asking for a bucket off of warranty issues down the road.
That’s so silly. If a 9,000+ lb Hummer can rear wheel steer while towing and it’s more powerful electric rear motors aren’t producing too much torque without buckling, what logically raised this concern for a lighter, smaller, truck with motors that produce less torque? That’s that For(d)ward thinking for ya. Smh
The Hummer hasn’t been out long enough (or in numbers) to prove reliable over time.
The Lightning will be obsolete in a coupe of years, but Ford is taking the market advantage here just like with the Mustang decades ago.
And it’s hard for me to admit I like the Lightning more than that weird Silverado EV.
Fear not GM is seldom a leader. Mary is hoping the Silverado EV is a quality piece after GM’s disaster with the Bolt. She has all her eggs in the EV basket.
Oh joy, an electric Mastodon, what an innovation! Ford’s Maverick hybrid will “Eat GM’s Lunch” not everyone needs or wants a truck so big that you can’t put a box in the bed or wash the windshield without a ladder. For your info I am a Chevy Guy, and own a 2018 Colorado, and it is as big as the old Silverado, pre-profit blo1ating.
The title is so silly to me. “Caught GM” as is they were tip toeing around in a Ford. GM sees Ford as an alliance at the end of the day. They are not the Big Fish for General Motors. They are building world class vehicles and competing with the best the auto industry has to offer around the world. Ford hasn’t even edged Toyota in infotainment technology.