GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, is set to introduce a new Lobo variant of the popular Ford F-150 pickup truck in the U.S. The upcoming pickup variant will incorporate a series of sporty cues to lend it a more performance-oriented, street truck attitude. Now, our spy photographers have caught the upcoming Ford-150 Lobo out and about testing as a camouflaged prototype. Notably, GM does not offer a direct rival with the current Chevy Silverado lineup.
As reported by our sister publication, Ford Authority, the new Ford F-150 Lobo appears to incorporate a new front fascia with a series of aggression-adding aesthetic upgrades, including a unique front grille and a new chin spoiler. The new Lobo will also incorporate a set of lowered side sills, while in the corners, we spot a set of new six-spoke wheels measuring in at 22 inches in diameter. The new 22-inch wheels are wrapped in Bridgestone Alenza AS02 275/50R22 rubber. Notably, this wheel-and-tire combo is not available from the current F-150 lineup.
Interestingly, our photographers spotted two Lobo prototypes, with a few notable differences between them. For example, while one of the prototypes was equipped with a standard hood, single exhaust exit, and black side mirrors, while the other was equipped with hood-mounted heat-extracting vents, white side mirrors, and dual exhaust pipes. Additionally, one of the prototypes was equipped with an XLT badge, which may indicate that the new Lobo upgrade could be available on multiple trim levels.
Unfortunately, beyond the exterior styling differences, it remains uncertain what sort of performance upgrades the new F-150 Lobo may have to offer. Regardless, the forthcoming launch of this new F-150 underlines just how badly GM needs a street truck variant of the Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra.
See all photos of both F-150 Lobo prototypes here.
To note, Ford already offers the Lobo in the Mexican market, where the Lobo nameplate is used in place of the F-150 nameplate, a change made in the ‘90s to attract younger buyers.
Comments
“A unique front grille and a new chin spoiler”
… adds 200 horsepower right there! 🙄
Don’t know what’s worse: (A) None of GM’s many Silverado “editions” presenting any rival, or (B) Ford thinking they need to compete with their own marketing trim levels.
No GM “street truck” variant? Ever heard of the Silverado RST??
RST a “street truck”??? Its just a color matched LT. Nothing “street” about it at all. It was just a replacement for the LT Z71 trim package on the K2XX trucks.
This Lobo mule however is actually taking a street truck approach. Its lowered at least an inch or two and has some sport appearances on the front bumper and doors. RST has NONE of that. At all.
Lobo is all appearance too “new front fascia….unique front grille….new chin spoiler….lowered side sills…while in the corners, new six-spoke wheels measuring in at 22 inches”. “beyond the exterior styling differences, it remains uncertain what sort of performance upgrades the new F-150 Lobo may have to offer”
And “ lowered side sills”, nothing about it actually being lowered
RST is not a replacement for LT Z71 ( or any other trim) . Chevy offers Z71 on (almost) every Silverado trim level, including LT, so you can still get an LT Z71. And I see nothing about Lobo being lowered, where did see that??
It may replace LTZ
I’m a GM guy but you have to hand it to Ford for giving their customers what they want. I truly wish GM was equally as aggressive in the full-size truck market.
Giving customers what they want but specifically the customers who want increasingly costly variants of the F150 or Mustang.
Sure, but people seem to want it.
Ford will also sell you a Maverick if you want something cheaper. Or even a stupidly expensive version of the Maverick if you want that.
Mary says “what?” Give customers what they want. No chance with my girls in charge. No cadillacs either except plug in. Too bad for you.
RST?
If GM offered the single cab 2wd with a V8 and a 10 speed, they would sell like hot-cakes. Put the 6.6 gas in it. That would be awesome.
They would barely sell at all, and no dealership would ever order one because of it.
It isn’t like they weren’t offering those for years.
Nate – I disagree. GM only offers 2 V8 rear wheel drive vehicles. The Corvette and the CT5 V Blackwing, which is unattainable for most people. If they offered a V8 Rear wheel drive single cab 2wd for ~45k would be a hot seller. The aftermarket would offer all kinds of bolt on options as well. There is a muscle truck market, especially since they killed the Camaro.
?????? Silverado WT with the 5.3. and you can buy those with a single cab for less than a mustang.
Now they don’t offer it in a short bed true, but they offer everything else you just asked for.
Honestly, I think there’s an opportunity here to relaunch Pontiac. Take 3 models and rebrand
-colorado RZ2 with V8 and lowered
-traverse with sport package
-CT5 with less edgy body panels and cloth trim as new GTO
All that can be done for next to nothing. But hey, today’s GM=no fun.
I wholeheartedly disagree. I have multiple customers who want single cab short bed trucks. I have one who is willing to pay to get a long bed chopped (on his own dime, after purchase), but I haven’t even been able to get that allocated for him.
In addition to not offering a short bed single cab, GM won’t put nice features into anything with a single cab. Ford and Ram both offer nice trims with great feature sets on single cabs, even into the medium duty range. GM won’t even let you get a telescoping steering wheel (yet for some reason they will let you get adaptive cruise control), or audio controls on the steering wheel. Those of us in the business know there’s a demand for not just these trucks but more options on these trucks. But GM’s thinking, apparently like yours, is that not enough stripped down builds sell so nicer ones won’t either. That’s staggeringly ignorant, especially considering how often I have to pull from other states just to supply the stripped down single cabs I have demand but not allocation for.
I kind of think Chevy should concentrate on quality not quantity. Meaning; in offering of different trim and color variations. GM as a whole tries to do many things instead of doing right the things that need to be done to highly profitable. Less vehicles and deleting mindless small variations of the same vehicle would be better than trying to compete with every other vehicle made by other companies.
Don’t be upset at me, but I stopped comparing Ford vehicles with GM vehicles. Philosophically and culturally, they are two different types of vehicles. Especially when it comes to the truck/SUV world.
You also notice, not many people compare BMW and Mercedes-Benz to each other as much as people hype them up to be competitors.
In the case of Ford and GM, they couldn’t be less different. Lincoln has never really even built a standalone car of its own (save for that LS sedan deviation which still actually had some Jaguar roots). Even the Continental and Mark VII/VIII were quite flawed in philosophy compared to the Seville/DeVille/Eldorado triplets. Aside from the Northstar engine, those Cadillacs weren’t all that bad. The Lincoln suspensions SUCKED even worse than that Cadillac motor.
So, as far as luxury cars go, and trucks/SUVs, Ford is very different.
With that said, I can’t tell who is more of the American version of GM: is it Ford or is it GM?
of VW*
1958-60 Lincolns and Continentals were certainly ‘standalone.’
The RST is not a TRUE street/sport truck. GM needs to up the HP/TQ, add paddle shifters, corsa exhaust, lowered/agressive stance, yet keep tow rating up. This would sell very well!! I’d buy one!
will chevy build a SS w/6.2 truck in the near fruitticher ????
Talking about a Ford!!!👎👎👎👎
GM street truck. Regular cab,short box ,6.2 liter, whipple supercharger, 5 speed manual. Sign me up .
My 2002 Ford Lighting, (a real ‘Lighting”), Supercharged V-8 automatic is a kick in the a**! Put that type drive train a (Colorado/Canyon) and watch it sell!