Although not as popular as they were in the mid-to-late 20th century, street trucks remain a beloved subset of the massive pickup truck market. Many automakers released street truck versions of their most famous nameplates well into the 2000s, including the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, Dodge Ram SRT-10, and Chevrolet SSR. However, these straight-from-the-factory street trucks fell out of favor due to a low return on investment. This left truck enthusiasts who wanted a high-flying street truck, but didn’t have the means or time to customize a vehicle themselves, out in the cold.
But now, Ford has returned to the street truck game. The 2025 Ford F-150 lineup includes the Lobo, touted as a full-size sport truck that delivers massive performance and classic street aesthetics. It’s built on the F-Series platform, which has been America’s best-selling truck for nearly half a century because of its versatile nature and tough design.
Is the Ford F-150 Lobo the truck you should be drooling over? I decided to take a closer look at the F-150 Lobo and see what it brings to the table for street rod enthusiasts and urban truck owners who enjoy stylin’ and profilin’.
Revving Up the Basics: A Street Truck Primer
Many people reading this article are already familiar with street trucks, but I know others’ first reaction to the news of this pickup was, “What’s the big deal?” For them, here’s a quick background. Street trucks are modified pickup trucks expressly made for rolling around town with big performance and style. Unlike a classic work truck, a street truck (or sport truck) isn’t for getting down and dirty—it’s for getting attention with fast straight-line speeds and sharp designs inside and out.
Street trucks are especially fashionable in Southern California and the greater American Southwest, capitalizing on the region’s traditional larger-than-life car culture. The two most common types of street trucks are “lowriders,” which are customized to have a low ride height, and “mini trucks” that pack a lot into a small vehicle, making them easily maneuverable in crowded urban areas. Each is known for its deliciously bright paint, trim, and interior, and they often include performance modifications like bigger engines and exhaust systems.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the Ford F-150 Lobo isn’t the Blue Oval’s first swing at a factory street truck—even under the F-Series banner. From 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2004, the SVT Lightning was a special edition available for the F-150. In particular, the second generation is legendary in truck circles. Powertrain mods, such as a supercharged 5.4L V8 engine, a heavy-duty four-speed transmission, and upgraded cooling, were complemented by Monroe Formula GP shocks and oversized anti-roll bars. Ford also lowered the front, raised the rear, added Euro-style taillights, and more for an aggressive appearance that matched the underpinnings.
The 2025 F-150 Lobo is the SVT Lightning’s spiritual successor. Street culture is enjoying a renaissance in the 2020s, and a rising demand for eye-catching urban trucks has come with it. Ford is trying to tap into this. Ford sells the F-150 in Mexico as the Lobo, which is Spanish for “Wolf,” and brought the name stateside for its newest street rod truck (it also has a new Ford Maverick Lobo, but this is more of an “autocross” truck than a true street truck).
Unleashing the Wolf: What Does the Ford F-150 Lobo Offer?
Now that you know some of the backstory, it’s time to see whether the F-150 Lobo howls as advertised. The truck is based on the F-150 STX, a streamlined sporty trim level. That said, there are notable differences between the STX and the Lobo. Here’s what you can expect from the new street truck:
- Ford’s 5.0L V8 engine is standard, generating 400 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque to give you considerably more power than the base 2.7L twin-turbo V6 on the F-150 STX.
- A redesigned suspension sits two inches lower than a standard F-150, flattening the stance for better drivability on city roads.
- A 10-piece aero body kit includes a cowl hood, plus special lower and upper grilles with white accent lighting for nighttime style.
- While 4WD with a two-speed transfer case is standard, drivers can activate RWD mode to enjoy a sportier driving experience and smoke some rubber.
- Massive 22-inch black aluminum wheels make a visual statement, although you may want to consider upgrading from the factory all-season tires for improved grip and handling.
- Most exterior accents that would be chrome or body color on a regular F-150 are black, keeping with the street truck aesthetic.
- The SuperCrew Cab is standard, ensuring plenty of space for up to five adults.
- The tailgate and fenders have no badging for a clean, unbranded canvas in whichever of the five paint colors you choose.
Street trucks were never intended to provide top-of-the-line hauling, but the F-150 Lobo has solid capabilities on this front. It has an advertised towing capacity of 7,900 lbs and a maximum payload of 1,450 lbs, so your F-150 Lobo can do some work when you’re not showing it off. It also has the base sport-style features and amenities of the F-150 STX, such as LED headlamps, color-coordinated carpet floor mats, and a 12-inch touchscreen.
Finally, Ford intends the F-150 Lobo to be a foundation for further modification, much like an ordinary F-150. You can easily add OEM accessories like exhaust tips, side steps, high-performance air intakes, and more to outfit your ride.
Spotting the Gaps: Is Anything Missing From the F-150 Lobo?
Unfortunately, I do have a few nits to pick with this street rod. Ford has six different engines available for the 2026 F-150, and three of them are more powerful than the 5.0L V8 in the Lobo. It seems odd that a factory street truck would not be available with the most power possible. I’d like to see Ford offer another engine option from its extensive collection, such as the 450 hp High Output 3.5L EcoBoost V6 from the F-150 Raptor or the 430 hp PowerBoost twin-turbo hybrid.
The suspension updates are somewhat lacking as well, with nothing obvious beyond the lowering kit. More performance-oriented updates, such as the high-end shocks of the F-150 SVT Lightning, would be welcome. You can also only get this truck with the short 5.5-foot cargo bed, which may not be an issue for some owners, but it is a shame for people who want the added utility of a longer bed.
Another thing worth noting is that the Ford F-150 Lobo won’t be cheap. In fact, it starts at nearly $60,000, which includes adding the required V8 engine and SuperCrew cab. That’s a lot for almost anyone.
The Final Roar: The Verdict
Now for the moment of truth. If I had to give an answer, I’d say that no, the F-150 Lobo isn’t the ultimate street truck—but it’s also more than just a glorified add-on package. The 2025 Ford F-150 Lobo is a solid, if pricey, starting point for a street-inspired pickup. With a few tweaks and improvements in future model years, it could well be a good-to-go street truck straight from the dealership. I’ll keep an eye on what Ford does with the Lobo from here, especially whether it continues to develop the package or makes it a one-off.
