- Ford has revealed the Maverick Lobo, a long-awaited street-truck variant of the compact pickup truck.
- The Lobo drops 0.5 inch up front and 1.1 inch in the rear, while the truck nabs its brakes from the Focus ST and twin-clutch drive unit from the Bronco Sport.
- Power is unchanged from the 238-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but the engine is now mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Pricing starts at $36,595.
Ford’s compact pickup truck earned its first facelift yesterday, adding new standard technology and improving the hybrid powertrain along with updating the look. Now, the Blue Oval brand is adding a new Maverick to the lineup with the introduction of the Maverick Lobo street truck.
We first spotted the Lobo testing almost a year ago at about the same time the company trademarked the name. Changes to turn the Maverick into a street truck include dropping the ride height and improving handling.
Unfortunately, those hoping the Lobo would feature a rough and rowdy powertrain will be disappointed to learn that’s not the case. The Lobo retains the standard truck’s reasonably fun 2.0-liter four-cylinder—though the setup has been detuned for 2025 and now produces 238 horsepower (down from 250).
The eight-speed automatic transmission is gone and the seven-speed auto from the European Focus ST hatchback takes its place, with unique calibration for the Lobo. A set of paddle shifters add to the transmission’s sporty flavor. Cooling duties are helped by the inclusion of the 4K towing package’s upgraded oil cooler and transmission coolers.
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Further upgrades are focused on handling, with the Lobo borrowing parts from the rest of Ford’s lineup. The steering rack for the Lobo was lifted from the European Kuga model, while the dual-piston brake calipers come from the Focus ST.
The suspension setup is unique to the Lobo. It drops the truck 0.5 inch up front and 1.1 inch at the rear, bringing the roof down 0.8 inch. The top mounts are borrowed from the Mustang Mach-E, and the monotube rear dampers come from the Maverick Tremor, though the whole setup is tuned specially for the Lobo.
The biggest performance shift will come from the torque vectoring and reduced stability control, which are activated through a new Lobo drive mode. The Lobo mode is intended for closed courses, and it makes uses of the twin-clutch rear drive unit, which the truck picked up from the Bronco Sport. The increased torque to the outside wheel and reduced traction control should help the Lobo get sideways—when conditions allow, of course.
There are a handful of visual changes too. The Lobo comes standard on a set of 19-inch wheels that recall the OZ Racing rollers used on Ford rally specials such as the the Escort RS Cosworth. Like every 2025 Maverick trim, the Lobo gets a unique fascia. The bumpers and rocker panels are painted to match the body color, and contrast with the black roof. Inside, the Lobo uses Grabber Blue and Electric Lime stitching, with a matching overprint on the seats that Ford says is inspired by street culture.
Order books for the Maverick Lobo are open now, with deliveries expected to start in early 2025. The street variant will be available in two trims. The standard version starts at $36,595, and the High version that starts at $42,090 adds more features such as a heated steering wheel and seats and a spray-in bedliner.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
