Maverick Goes Wild!

DETROIT – Compact pickups as hot rods? Yes, says Ford, with the Lobo edition, a street performance version of the Dearborn automaker’s refreshed 2025 Maverick.

Featuring a series of body, chassis and powertrain modifications, the Lobo’s lowered, wide body exudes sports car street cred while what’s under the sheet metal encourages autocross racing and drifting, says Keith Daugherty, Maverick vehicle integration engineer.

Chassis changes include a lowered ride height, steering gear and mounting hardware upgrades and dual-piston front brakes borrowed from the European Focus ST (albeit with softer-responding “comfort” brake pads, Daugherty says).

Powertrain upgrades include improved cooling for the standard 238-hp, 277-lb.-ft. (376-Nm) turbocharged EcoBoost 2.0L 4-cyl., a 7-speed paddle-shifted version of the 8-speed automatic and a twin-clutch, torque-vectoring rear drive unit. A “Lobo” track mode reduces antilock-braking and stability-control intervention, giving the pickup agile cornering ability and drifting capability, Daugherty says.

Lobo mode also boosts engine response, turbo pressure, transmission response and steering action.

The Lobo edition goes on sale early next year, priced at $35,000 to $40,495, plus $1,595 destination and delivery charge.