Street trucks were always a staple of my youth. A lowered truck with a cool paintjob and a badass stereo system. Typically, they were on the smaller side, spawning the name Minitruck. There aren’t too many options for street performance trucks as the full-sized pickups have moved to luxury haulers or off-road beasts. So, it is refreshing to see this F-150 Lobo edition. Ford takes the regular F-150 and lowers it by a couple of inches. Then it adds special ground effects and trim. The wheels are good-to-go because it is wearing blacked-out 22-inchers from the factory. But here is the kicker: The F-150 Lobo interior is nice but just a step up from worktruck spec. Gentlemen in the aftermarket, start your Makitas. The project F-150 Lobo is ripe for a mutha-thumpin’ audio system and aftermarket interior modification that you will not feel bad performing because Ford gives you a perfect blank canvas to start.
Stance Works
When you sell as many F-150s as Ford does, the team that creates the truck and all its different iterations was very excited about the looks of the Lobo. I like that it looks good but it is not over the top. That is the job of the aftermarket, and we are happy to help the Lobo along. John LoPorto, the Chief Program Engineer, notes, “F-150 Lobo combines custom design elements like ground effects, front end, cowl hood, and lowered ride height. It’s ready to go right off the line, while also providing options to further customize.” Brian Bell, the Marketing Manager, says, “One of my favorite things is the front-end appearance, specifically the lighted grill bar and the matching headlights. I think that’s so unique and different; it’s really going to stand out and make the truck something truly special. I love that we’re doing this on an STX model, which makes it more affordable for people looking for a street truck. And frankly, I just like that we’re continuing to look for opportunities for customers and expanding the ‘Built Ford Tough’ spirit.” Josh Blundo, the Lead Exterior Designer, said, “One of the most impactful items we have is this 10-piece ground appearance package that sits just below the regular F-150 body. This package enabled us to achieve more sinister styling on the front end, specifically by replacing those F-150 bumper valances with that large, wide mesh grill on the lower bumper. It gives it that sinister look that the street truck community is looking for.” Finally, F-150 Brand Manager John Walawender says, “I love the swagger, the stance, and the edginess of the F-150 Lobo. There’s no mistaking the truck and its confident stance. And that unique signature light bar that runs across the center of the grille clearly identifies it as a Lobo.”
Coyote vs Wolf
Powering the F-150 Lobo is another member of the canine family, the venerable 5.0-liter Coyote V8. It sounds amazing. It puts out 400 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque with that classic V8 burble connected to two blacked-out exhaust tips. Ford also includes its two-speed automatic 4WD system. Obviously, the Lobo is not meant for off-roading, but left at stock ride height it can still go down a bumpy road without any problems. Just don’t venture too far off the trail, that is for the F-150 Raptor.
Clean Slate Inside
The thing I appreciated most about the Lobo is the simplicity of the interior, ripe for modification. You get that old-school key that needs to be inserted into the dashboard to fire up the V8 under the hood. The interior layout is simple. The large 12-inch infotainment screen is positioned so both the driver and passenger have no problems accessing the controls. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are here: Ford’s SYNC 4 system is included in the Lobo and it works great. Most of the screen real estate is dominated on the driver’s side and can display media or navigation. Meanwhile, a smaller side panel allows you to see multimedia functions not skewed toward the driver on the main screen. This means you can have a small display with navigation while the radio is up. The rear-view camera is very clear, and rear parking sensors are also standard to keep this nice-looking truck looking nice…
Audio Upgrade!
That blank canvas extends to the sound system. It was my first time hearing Ford’s standard audio system that is not the B&O system. The six-speaker system is good enough to get you going, but this truck deserves better. If you take the Lobo plunge, you need an audio system that can match the Lobo’s tough-truck looks. A good place to start would be better door speakers. Next, there are many manufacturers who make plug-and-play amplifiers/DSP that can integrate into the F-150 platform without too much wiring or time in the install bay. Finally, an under-seat subwoofer powered by its own dedicated subwoofer amplifier would deliver the bass the Lobo is missing from the factory set-up.
The Ford F-150 Lobo has the looks, sound and performance of a cool street truck. It just needs some tasteful audio upgrades, and even some interior upgrades such as an aftermarket leather upgrade to make it the ultimate show truck on Saturday night. I like the fact that Ford gives you everything you need to get going but leaves enough on the table to allow you to personalize the Lobo to your specifications. This isn’t for everyone, some folks just want a turnkey hot-rodded truck from the factory. For them, the Platinum or Raptor will fit the bill. But for those who want that stance, the only way to do it is to Get Low just as FloRida says. Get Low with Lobo… Trucks are not cheap these days, and the Lobo comes in at $62K. But if you want the canvas to build something wild and different, here is the place to start.
