Ford’s F-150 Lightning is Rich with Accolades
Photo Source: Ford
The 2023 Truck of the Year competition filled the entire spectrum of trucks this year, ranging from traditional internal combustion trucks to brand-new fully electric and hybrid pickup trucks. The overall scope of automobiles present at the competition indicates that the understanding of mobility and how the automotive realm is approached are both advancing at a rapid speed. In late 2021, the Ford Maverick lost out against the Rivian R1T for the 2022 MotorTrend Truck of the Year award.
This year, however, had an ending of a different kind, as Ford seized the opportunity and, more specifically, the Ford F-150 Lightning, which just took the win for the 2023 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. Such success establishes a classic precedent, not because it is the first time an electric vehicle has been granted the distinction, but because the F-150 Lightning is the first electric truck to win unanimously among the judges. To bolster the importance, it is only the second time in the history of the “Of the Year” competitions held by MotorTrend that an electric vehicle has won categorically.
As a matter of fact, “The F-150 Lightning and its nearly instant torque with ride and handling make it without a doubt the best truck Ford has ever made. If that feels like a bold statement, consider that amongst our judges, the F-150 Lightning won Truck of the Year by unanimous decision–the first EV truck to convince all judges across the board,” Ed Loh, MotorTrend group head of editorial, has enthusiastically asserted. When looking at the numbers, it is not hard to believe that the brand’s F-150 Lightning has surpassed all notions of victory. For example, by achieving 2,062 sales in November, the automobile has earned the title of America’s best-selling electric truck. Also, since the vehicle first launched in May, sales have accumulated to 13,258. Ford has become the Number 2 electric vehicle brand in the United States year to date, thanks primarily to the success of the F-150 Lightning.
The Secret to Triumph with MotorTrend
There are six distinct areas that trucks need to dominate for them to claim MotorTrend’s Truck of the Year: efficiency, the performance of the intended function, engineering excellence, value, advancement in design, and safety. Every truck is appraised on various terrains, from the open road during prolonged street turns, saddled with a payload for towing tests up Davis Dam’s steep slope and a brutal off-road dirt course.
The all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning made its mark by being a truck that is both ardently different and exceptionally well-known to groups of F-series fans. It showed in two trims: a standard Pro and a Platinum trim, which boasted an extended-range battery. The F-150 Lightning Platinum had the most noticeable horsepower at 580 ponies and tied with its far less expensive Pro as the outstanding torque winner with 775 lb-ft of torque.
Awards Keep on Coming
Ford already plans to deliver 150,000 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks annually by the end of 2023, so the MotorTrend Truck of the Year award is just the beginning for this brand. Indeed, Ford continues to expand within the electric vehicle segment, with a conquest rate of more than 60%. The 2023 MotorTrend Truck of the Year is just one of the many awards endowed upon the F-150 Lightning. Others include the 2023 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award, TIME Top 200 Invention of 2022, and the 2022 Altair Enlighten Award, to mention some.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is bursting with potential, and at Sunrise Ford, we have a multitude of new trucks now available. We are ecstatic for you to take a look at our current inventory, and if you require any assistance, we have a trained service team standing by to help you with financial advice to make paying for a vehicle simpler.