Ford is making a big push into the street performance market with the F-150 and Maverick Lobos. These two models are attempting to bring back some of the magic that used to define Ford SVT offerings in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But can these two successfully replicate the triumphs of the past? Or are these Lobos rapidly approaching a figurative dead-end?

2025 Maverick Lobo channels the wolf spirit

Lobo translates to “wolf ” in Spanish and it’s easy to see this animalistic side of the Maverick when you get a chance to admire its lines. The core styling is shared with other Maverick models and it benefits from a refresh the whole lineup received for the 2025 model year. The Lobo takes it up a notch with a blacked out grille and blacked out accents.

The Lobo also has 19-inch “turbofan” wheels but while they are a blend of style and function, they are also the most controversial part of the truck. We suspect some buyers will swap them out for the optional $100 sport wheels. A wider body kit and a slightly lowered suspension enhance the Maverick further with the company saying the truck can handle autocross courses with ease.

We weren’t able to sit inside the display truck Ford had on hand at the Woodward Dream Cruise, but a quick peek in the windows revealed Ford designers took their inspiration from street graffiti with the seats getting Grabber Blue stitching and Electric Lime stitching.

Performance comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 250 hp and is paired with a Lobo exclusive seven-speed automatic that’s borrowed from a European market Focus ST.

2025 Ford F-150 Lobo feels half empty

With the spunky Maverick Lobo doing its best to add some spice to the Maverick lineup, it’s a pity that the bigger F-150 Lobo feels like a half empty glass of your favorite beverage. Like the Maverick, the F-150’s transformation into a Lobo focuses mainly on styling with the rig starting life as an STX model before it gets the full blackout treatment.

That includes a 10-piece ground effects kit with the blacked out front grille and the 22-inch wheels being exclusive to the F-150 Lobo. A dual layered light bar and tweaked taillights are part of the package. The interior also gets styling upgrades too.

Performance hardware is the culprit

So what’s the problem you might be asking? It comes down to performance with the F-150 Lobo not doing quite enough to raise the needle in that regard. All Lobos come with a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 and while you get the primal eight-cylinder soundtrack, you don’t get any extra power with the engine retaining its 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque ratings.

As a result, the Lobo is mostly show and very little substance a shame since the Lobo can be considered a spiritual successor to the F-150 SVT Lightning. That model balanced fun and style with the truck blending bold looks with the new at the time Ford GT’s 5.4 liter supercharged V8. This powerful engine helped draw crowds and gave the Lightning a distinct aura.

That feels missing from the Lobo which is a shame since the truck has the looks that can draw customers in but some might be disappointed by the lack of a more powerful version of the 5.0-liter to fit its tougher image. Ford still has the Raptor lineup for those wanting more power but not everyone wants a trail-ready beast and some prefer to stick to the streets for their fun driving needs.

How much?

Pricing for the Lobo lineup depends on the model you pick with a Maverick Lobo starting at $35,930 before taxes and fees. The key thing you should check out is the equipment packages with the Maverick Lobo offering two the base 402A and uplevel 702A packages. The phoned-in named aside, the packages play a role in shaping the Lobo’s personality, the 402A package is pretty straightforward and gives you the essentials but the 702A treatment lumps on more luxury features and will add an extra $5,495 to the sticker price.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lobo is not a formal model but is instead an optional package on the F-150 STX with those trucks starting at $57,800. The Lobo package itself adds $4,695 to the prcie of an STX and buyers can only equip it to SuperCrew models that have the 5.5-foot bed installed. This causes the truck to go over $60,000 when fully optioned and the lack of any discernible performance boost in the V8 can make some buyers ponder if they are willing to fork over the extra cash for one or not.

However, we think that with demand still strong in the pickup segment, the Maverick and F-150 Lobo models will find plenty of takers. It remains to be seen if a Lobo version of the Ranger will come to dealers or not. It would help balance out the lineup and perhaps channel some of the cred created by the SLP Ranger Thunderbolt (the closest the Ranger came to being a true street truck in the 1990s.)

However, sales cannibalization is a concern and Ford wouldn’t want to see the Maverick lose sales due to internal sales cannibalization.