TFL Truck has finally released the drag race they’ve been teasing over the last couple of days. The brand new F-150 Lightning, Ford’s all-electric pickup, takes on a Ram TRX. And just to make things interesting, the Rivian R1T and a regular F-150 with a hybrid motor have also been lined up.
To make America give up its V8 gasoline addiction, Ford has done the unthinkable. The F-150 Lightning looks quite similar to a normal pickup truck, minus the blocked-off grille. However, underneath its streamlined body, you will find two electric motors, one for each axle.
The total system output for this extended-range model is 580 hp. There’s also a regular model with just 452 hp, but both made 775 pound-feet of torque. And for the record, the long-range model is supposed to get 320 miles per charge except on the Platinum trim level which gets only 300 miles.
The first rival to face the new Lightning is its own brother, the hybrid F-150. It’s quite similar in shape but uses a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 and an electric motor to power itself. The total system output is only 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque. That might not sound like much, but we’ve seen this hybrid do well even against a Raptor. It’s claimed 0 to 60 mph time is 5.3 seconds, and don’t forget the EV is heavier, by about 1,100 lbs according to TFL.
The Lightning demolishes its brother in the 1/4-mile drag race with a time of about 13 seconds. That, to me, is a clear indication that it’s also quicker than a Raptor, which does its 1320-foot sprint in about 13.9 seconds.
TRX vs Lightning: the big race
Let’s be honest here, the big race is against the Ram TRX. It represents the very best of what a stock full-sized performance truck can do. Its iconic supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine holds the crown, at least until the Raptor R arrives with Shelby GT500 powertrains (rumors say 725-750 hp).
The big supercharger strapped to this Mopar monster truck helps it produce 702 horsepower and 750 lb-ft of torque. This might not have batteries to pull around, but it’s not like the Ram is a featherweight. It also relies on a gearbox where the Lightning just puts power down directly, and those off-road tires might not be the best for these conditions.
The results? Another victory for the Ford F-150 Lightning, with the Ram finishing the 1/4-mile race in 13.69 seconds. And finally, we have the all-electric truck race featuring the Rivian. Everybody should know that the R1T is going to win.
Where the Ford only has two electric motors, this has four, one for each wheel. Boasting 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque in a relatively small chassis, this thing is built to handle and go fast. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 3 seconds, it can keep up with good sports cars, but the Lightning put up a good fight.
