The Ford Maverick pick-up has finally been revealed. Said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager, the Maverick “challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pick-up truck can be”.
In the US, the Maverick will be offered with the choice of three trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. An FX4 package is available for all-wheel-drive XLT and Lariat models. The FX4 pack features off-road drive modes and hill descent control, suspension tuning, additional underbody protection, and all-terrain tyres.
According to the Michigan manufacturer, the Maverick is the first of its kind in the US with a hybrid powertrain as standard. The Ford compact pick-up’s hybrid arrangement consists of a normally aspirated 2,5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an in-house designed and developed electric motor, linked to a continuous variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels only. Together, the internal combustion engine and electric motor produce a total power and torque output of 142 kW and 210 N.m. Ford says the hybrid Maverick can travel 805 km on a single tank of petrol.
For those wanting more capability, Ford offers the Maverick with the option of a 2,0-litre EcoBoost engine. The turbocharged petrol engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission and produces 186 kW and 376 N.m. The 2,0-litre EcoBoost model is available with the choice of two- and four-wheel drive.
Sporting familiar Ford pick-up truck styling, the Maverick’s front end is upright and squared off, and features a massive horizontal grille connecting the LED headlamps. The “surprisingly roomy” interior is straightforward and durable, Ford says. The interior features, amomg others, a centre-mounted Apple CarPlay/Android Auto-enabled eight-inch touchscreen infotainment setup. Safety systems include Ford’s Co-Pilot360 technology, which includes pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and automatic high-beam headlamps.
