Ford F-150 Lightning trademarked for Australia

Ford Australia has filed six new F-150 related trademarks with IP Australia, suggesting it’s planning a major expansion for its upcoming full-size pick-up range – and the local release of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning.

All six applications were filed on May 11 exclusively under Class 12 (motor vehicles, automobiles and parts thereof) and refer either to specific variants (XLT, FX4, Lariat, F-150 Tremor and F-150 Lightning) or powertrains (PowerBoost).

Ford Australia has already confirmed it will launch the new F-150 in mid-2023 in both XLT and Lariat guises, but these trademark applications are our best indication yet it intends to expand the range beyond that with the addition of four further variants including the ground-breaking F-150 Lightning, which could become the first battery-electric full-size pick-up available Down Under.

A local introduction for the all-electric load-lugger has long been rumoured, and Ford Australia confirmed it is studying both the electric Lightning and other variants of the latest F-150 including the high-performance Raptor in March.

Ford Australia chief Andrew Birkic said at the time that a range expansion would depend heavily on the success of Ford’s new Melbourne-based right-hand drive remanufacturing program with RMA Automotive.

“We will always have an open mind and look at other opportunities, but right now we are very, very dedicated to ensuring that we deliver a very quality remanufactured product [initial XLT and Lariats],” he said after confirming the F-150 for local release next year.

Ford Australia’s first electrified model will be the Escape PHEV plug-in hybrid medium SUV, which finally arrives this week, and its first all-electric model will be the E-Transit large commercial van later this year.

But it has also promised to sell five electrified models by the end of 2024, by which time the smaller E-Transit Custom van has also been confirmed for release, with other possibilities including a plugless hybrid version of the Escape, the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, and mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and even full-electric versions of the new Ranger ute and Everest SUV.

The inclusion of a battery-electric powertrain within the local F-150 range could increase the chances of a hybrid version making it across the pond too, as reflected by the ‘PowerBoost’ filing.

PowerBoost is the name bestowed upon the F-150’s 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain, which develops 320kW of power and 773Nm of torque – 22kW/95Nm more than the twin-turbo petrol EcoBoost V6 that’s set to be offered here from launch.

In the States, both the XLT and Lariat grades can be had with the PowerBoost powertrain, which bodes well for its chances here.

As for the remaining variants, the F-150 Tremor is a stalwart within the North American line-up and serves as the range’s most adventurous mainstream offering; wearing 33-inch General Grabber rubber and riding on a bespoke off-road suspension set-up, not to mention the toughened-up aesthetics.

In Australia, the F-150 Tremor would square off against the Chevrolet Silverado Trail Boss and likely appeal to those seeking something bigger but perhaps a little more relaxed than a Ford Ranger Raptor.

Meantime the FX4 has traditionally been a limited-edition F-150 (and Ranger) based on the volume-selling XLT grade, offering buyers a little extra joie de vivre in the styling department.

Catch is the FX4 doesn’t currently feature in the North American F-150 line-up – but it did last year so interested parties could reasonably expect to see it remerge in the US for the 2023 model year.

The Ford F-150 Lightning was already a smash-hit before first shipments to US customers began this week, with the entire production run of almost 200,000 MY22 vehicles all spoken for well before reservations closed in December.

Ford is yet to announce details of the MY23 F-150 Lightning, but latest reports from the US suggest the North American order book will open around mid-2022 before production commences on October 10.

Ford Australia has traditionally declined to comment on trademark applications and patent filings, in the past saying they “aren't necessarily an indication of new branding, badging or product plans”.

Nevertheless, we’ve asked Ford if it can shed some light on these new submissions and will update this article if we get any answers.

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