14 easy-to-miss details that set the F-150 Lightning apart from Ford's gas pickups

Tim LevinSep 26, 2021, 18:46 IST

The Ford F-150 Lightning.Tim Levin/Insider

I got to check out Ford's upcoming electric pickup truck: the F-150 Lightning.
It looks a lot like a gas-powered F-150, but with some key differences.
The Lightning has a front trunk, a new hood, a giant touchscreen, and power outlets galore.

Across a crowded parking lot, you might mistake the upcoming F-150 Lightning for just another gas-drinking Ford truck.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

But once you dig deeper, the traits that set apart Ford's electric pickup become clearer.

The Ford F-150 Lightning. Tim Levin/Insider

Up front, you've got a textured black panel instead of a grille - a tell-tale sign that there's no engine under that hood.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The headlights and taillights have been redesigned with a more angular look.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The Lightning also gets an LED light bar spanning the entire width of the truck in front.

The Ford F-150 Lightning. Tim Levin/Insider

There's a matching LED strip running across the rear.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Lightning badging can be found on the sides of the bed…

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Along with a more subtle logo out back.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The charging port is under this little door on the front fender.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Ford redesigned the front fenders, hood, bed sides, and running boards for aerodynamics and to fit the new lights and charging door.

The Ford F-150 Lightning. Tim Levin/Insider

But that's pretty much it for exterior changes.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Under the hood, the F-150 Lightning has a roomy front trunk dubbed the Mega Power Frunk.

The Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk. Tim Levin/Insider

It has a handful of power outlets…

The Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk. Tim Levin/Insider

An extra storage cubby under the floor…

The Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk. Tim Levin/Insider

… And a removable panel you can use as a storage divider.

The Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk. Tim Levin/Insider

Stepping inside the Lightning, you can't help but notice the 15.5-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

It's just like the one in the Mustang Mach-E EV and has an actual volume knob embedded in it.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Other than that, the cab is pretty much the same as a conventional F-150.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The Lightning has all the options you can get in Ford's other trucks, like a fold-out work surface and seats that recline 180 degrees.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

That's one of the most notable features of the Lightning - just how much it shares with the F-150s people are already familiar with.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Ford went through a lot of trouble to give the Lightning's bed the exact same dimensions as other F-150s, despite the giant battery hidden underneath the floor.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

That way, F-150 owners can use their existing racks and other accessories on their new EV.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The Lightning's tailgate has the same built-in work surface found in other 2021 F-150s.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

It also has the same tie-down points that double as bottle openers on either side of the tailgate.

The Ford F-150 Lightning. Tim Levin/Insider

The preproduction Lightning I checked out also had an optional step that folds out from the tailgate.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

The EV's bed does have one thing you won't find in other pickups (except the hybrid F-150): 7.2 kilowatts of power available through several outlets.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Preproduction of the F-150 Lightning started in September and deliveries are set to begin in Spring 2022.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

Pricing starts at around $40,000 for a basic work truck but can stretch to $90,000 for a Lightning with a bigger battery and all the bells and whistles.

The Ford F-150 Lightning Tim Levin/Insider

I finally got TSA PreCheck and it was so easy I can't believe everyone doesn't have it

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14 easy-to-miss details that set the F-150 Lightning apart from Ford's gas pickups

Across a crowded parking lot, you might mistake the upcoming F-150 Lightning for just another gas-drinking Ford truck.

But once you dig deeper, the traits that set apart Ford's electric pickup become clearer.

Up front, you've got a textured black panel instead of a grille - a tell-tale sign that there's no engine under that hood.

The headlights and taillights have been redesigned with a more angular look.

The Lightning also gets an LED light bar spanning the entire width of the truck in front.

There's a matching LED strip running across the rear.

Lightning badging can be found on the sides of the bed…

Along with a more subtle logo out back.

The charging port is under this little door on the front fender.

Ford redesigned the front fenders, hood, bed sides, and running boards for aerodynamics and to fit the new lights and charging door.

But that's pretty much it for exterior changes.

Under the hood, the F-150 Lightning has a roomy front trunk dubbed the Mega Power Frunk.

It has a handful of power outlets…

An extra storage cubby under the floor…

… And a removable panel you can use as a storage divider.

Stepping inside the Lightning, you can't help but notice the 15.5-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard.

It's just like the one in the Mustang Mach-E EV and has an actual volume knob embedded in it.

Other than that, the cab is pretty much the same as a conventional F-150.

The Lightning has all the options you can get in Ford's other trucks, like a fold-out work surface and seats that recline 180 degrees.

That's one of the most notable features of the Lightning - just how much it shares with the F-150s people are already familiar with.

Ford went through a lot of trouble to give the Lightning's bed the exact same dimensions as other F-150s, despite the giant battery hidden underneath the floor.

That way, F-150 owners can use their existing racks and other accessories on their new EV.

The Lightning's tailgate has the same built-in work surface found in other 2021 F-150s.

It also has the same tie-down points that double as bottle openers on either side of the tailgate.

The preproduction Lightning I checked out also had an optional step that folds out from the tailgate.

The EV's bed does have one thing you won't find in other pickups (except the hybrid F-150): 7.2 kilowatts of power available through several outlets.

Preproduction of the F-150 Lightning started in September and deliveries are set to begin in Spring 2022.

Pricing starts at around $40,000 for a basic work truck but can stretch to $90,000 for a Lightning with a bigger battery and all the bells and whistles.