Ford pulls the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning
10-22-2004, 12:46 PM
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Ford pulls the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning
STEVEN COLE SMITH
Posted Date: 10/20/04
Ford has pulled the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning SVT pickup truck, instead putting all SVT's eggs into one basket - the SVT Cobra Mustang, due in 2006 as an '07 model.
"It's a business decision," said Alan Hall, SVT spokesman. The official line is that the Lightning has been "postponed," and not killed, but if it is revived, it will be 2008 or later before we see one. SVT has gone from three vehicles in 2004 - the Lightning, the Cobra Mustang and the SVT Focus - to none in 2005.
Ford had already shown a concept version of the next-generation Lightning in 2003. The concept had a supercharged V-8 engine with more than 500 horsepower, in answer to the Dodge Ram SRT-10, which eclipsed the Lightning as the world's fastest production pickup in a test last winter. Ford was eager to regain the crown, but has decided to deed the performance pickup-truck market over to Dodge and its 500-horse SRT-10, and to a lesser extent, Chevrolet, though the heavy all-wheel-drive Silverado SS is not in the same category.
The Lightning debuted in 1993, with a 240-horsepower version of Ford's 5.8-liter V-8. Cobby and not that attractive, it was only a mild success, and was dropped in 1995. The F-150's redesign led to a handsome new Lightning for 1999, featuring a 360-horsepower supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. A handful of 2004 Lightnings, not much changed from that 1999 model except for a horsepower bump to 380, remain on dealer lots. Base price: $33,560.
Apparently, cost played a leading role in the decision, as the expense involved in developing and certifying a proper V8, and massaging the new-for-2004 F-150's chassis, was deemed prohibitive. Also, the next-generation Lightning's fuel mileage would likely continue to detract from Ford's Corporate Average Fuel Economy totals: The current Lightning is rated at 12 mpg city, 16 mpg highway.
Even so, this news will not be popular with Lightning loyalists, such as Mike Philpot of Heathrow, Florida, who paid full sticker price for his Lightning in July, 1999. "My '99 Lightning has been a fantastic vehicle," he says. "It has about 54,000 miles on it, and it runs better than new. Never any problems. I bought an extended warranty from Ford, but I could have saved myself the money. It has it all: good looks, comfort, good handling and, of course, all that incredible power. Hardly a day goes by without at least one positive comment on it from someone.
"Hopefully, Ford will change its mind. If they want to keep the F-150 the most popular truck in the world with all the competition that it has now, they had better continue with their halo vehicle."
Posted Date: 10/20/04
Ford has pulled the plug on the next-generation F-150 Lightning SVT pickup truck, instead putting all SVT's eggs into one basket - the SVT Cobra Mustang, due in 2006 as an '07 model.
"It's a business decision," said Alan Hall, SVT spokesman. The official line is that the Lightning has been "postponed," and not killed, but if it is revived, it will be 2008 or later before we see one. SVT has gone from three vehicles in 2004 - the Lightning, the Cobra Mustang and the SVT Focus - to none in 2005.
Ford had already shown a concept version of the next-generation Lightning in 2003. The concept had a supercharged V-8 engine with more than 500 horsepower, in answer to the Dodge Ram SRT-10, which eclipsed the Lightning as the world's fastest production pickup in a test last winter. Ford was eager to regain the crown, but has decided to deed the performance pickup-truck market over to Dodge and its 500-horse SRT-10, and to a lesser extent, Chevrolet, though the heavy all-wheel-drive Silverado SS is not in the same category.
The Lightning debuted in 1993, with a 240-horsepower version of Ford's 5.8-liter V-8. Cobby and not that attractive, it was only a mild success, and was dropped in 1995. The F-150's redesign led to a handsome new Lightning for 1999, featuring a 360-horsepower supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. A handful of 2004 Lightnings, not much changed from that 1999 model except for a horsepower bump to 380, remain on dealer lots. Base price: $33,560.
Apparently, cost played a leading role in the decision, as the expense involved in developing and certifying a proper V8, and massaging the new-for-2004 F-150's chassis, was deemed prohibitive. Also, the next-generation Lightning's fuel mileage would likely continue to detract from Ford's Corporate Average Fuel Economy totals: The current Lightning is rated at 12 mpg city, 16 mpg highway.
Even so, this news will not be popular with Lightning loyalists, such as Mike Philpot of Heathrow, Florida, who paid full sticker price for his Lightning in July, 1999. "My '99 Lightning has been a fantastic vehicle," he says. "It has about 54,000 miles on it, and it runs better than new. Never any problems. I bought an extended warranty from Ford, but I could have saved myself the money. It has it all: good looks, comfort, good handling and, of course, all that incredible power. Hardly a day goes by without at least one positive comment on it from someone.
"Hopefully, Ford will change its mind. If they want to keep the F-150 the most popular truck in the world with all the competition that it has now, they had better continue with their halo vehicle."
10-22-2004, 12:47 PM
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10-24-2004, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Chaptorial
I still don't get the appeal of these things.
10-24-2004, 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Chaptorial
This was the one that was gonna have the shot of cold air from the a/c as a performance feature?
I still don't get the appeal of these things.
I still don't get the appeal of these things.
They are damn fast Chap. With under $1,000 you've got a 12 second pickup.
10-24-2004, 07:27 PM
#6
Race Director
Yeah i know how fast they can be however the bed is totally unusable and there's no 4wd. Its useless.
I can think of plenty of other cars i'd rather have that go "fast." YMMV
I can think of plenty of other cars i'd rather have that go "fast." YMMV
10-25-2004, 09:39 AM
#7
Mazda3 and Honda Civic in
Originally Posted by Chaptorial
Yeah i know how fast they can be however the bed is totally unusable and there's no 4wd. Its useless.
I can think of plenty of other cars i'd rather have that go "fast." YMMV
I can think of plenty of other cars i'd rather have that go "fast." YMMV
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10-25-2004, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by gdubb
useless in only your part of the country, down here there can be used like any other truck
The bed is good sized and not everyone needs 4WD in the South.
10-25-2004, 10:57 AM
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Sure its not a "Super Duty" but if you just need to haul things around it gets the job done. Its payload is like that of an SUV, just with a pickup bed instead of folded down seats 
10-26-2004, 05:24 PM
#14
Pit Stop?
Originally Posted by gavriil
That I was not expecting to hear from Ford. How can the Cobra make more economic/financial sense than the Lightning?
10-26-2004, 10:10 PM
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I've seen more Lightnings than Cobras. I traded in my '01 CL Type-S for an '03 Lightning. I can't say a bad thing about it. I've been extremely happy with it. It has the blend of utility and a shitload of performance. I wonder how much the value of my Lightning will rise.
11-01-2004, 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Minch00
I see far more Cobras than Lightnings
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