Don’t be fooled: F-150 Lightning no closer to Ford Australia showrooms

A right-hand drive version of the electric Ford F-150 Lightning has been spied in Australia, but it appears to be the work of a third party.

A pair of photos shared on X by user wynchil show an F-150 Lightning XLT in the Brisbane suburb of Morningside.

However, Ford Australia says it isn’t responsible for bringing this vehicle in, indicating this is a grey import vehicle.

“Ford Australia has not re-manufactured any F-150 Lightnings to right-hand drive and does not have any on fleet. We are focused on beginning customer deliveries of F-150 XLT and Lariat next month,” a Ford Australia spokesperson told CarExpert.

We have contacted various right-hand drive conversion companies within Queensland and will update this article accordingly.

The Lightning is on the Department of Infrastructure’s Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register, which means it can be privately imported.

The spied model appears to be an XLT, which starts at US$54,995 (AU$85,007).

Ford Australia confirmed earlier this year the F-150 Lightning is still on its wish list for our market, but hasn’t confirmed any plans to bring the vehicle here.

Hi there! While the F-150 Lightning is an extremely exciting and significant vehicle for Ford as we progress toward a zero-emissions & digitally connected future, we have no news to share about any plans to bring F-150 Lightning to Australia at this stage. Kind (1/2)

— Ford Australia (@FordAustralia) August 26, 2022

Over in the United States the F-150 Lightning comes with the choice of a standard dual-motor drivetrain across the Pro, XLT and Lariat variants and an extended range dual-motor powertrain on the XLT, Lariat and Platinum.

The standard battery dual-motor powertrain produces 337kW of power and 1050Nm of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 386km.

The extended battery dual-motor powertrain produces 433kW of power and 1050Nm of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 483km-515km depending on the variant.

Ford Australia has already committed to the petrol powered F-150, with its first shipment of utes arriving into Australia in mid-August 2023.

The petrol-powered F-150 will be powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine. The EcoBoost engine makes 298kW of power and 678Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels through a four-wheel drive system.

The XLT variants have a part-time four-wheel drive system with 2H, 4H, and 4L modes, whereas the Lariat variants have a full-time four-wheel drive system with a 4A mode.

MORE: Everything Ford F-150