A look back at the SVT Lightning Bolt Ranger

Ford's Special Vehicles Team has been known for producing several awesome rides, enhancing quite a few performance vehicles and some not exactly performance vehicles.

One that got lost in the shuffle was a prototype V-8 Ranger that unfortunately never saw the light of day. The Lightning Bolt started life as a regular cab flareside Ranger and was the brainchild of Dave Dempster, an SVT Powertrain Systems engineer. Dempster's goal was to build a small pickup "that would get your full attention on those occasions when the accelerator pedal might get exercised aggressively." Well by all appearances he succeeded.

Using many off the shelf pieces to simplify fabrication challenges and keep the costs down, the Lightning Bolt was a beast. In place of the stock 2.5-liter I-4 engine rests a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 transplanted from a 2002 SVT F-150 Lightning. This two-valve SOHC pumps out 380 horsepower at 4750 rpm and is backed by a 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission. Surprisingly the big modular motor fit the engine bay pretty well. The swap included the fabrication of new engine mounts, a new air intake, two-inch exhaust headers, and a three-inch stainless-steel dual exhaust system.

The battery was relocated from under the hood to the bed, and the large HVAC plenum was replaced with a smaller unit from an E-Series Ford van. Torque output is 450 pound-feet at 3250 rpm--more than enough to twist the stock frame into a pretzel.

To counter these forces, the SVT engineers boxed both framerails and added cross-braces. This meant replacing the production plastic fuel tank with a fuel cell mounted in the bed (filled through a Bullitt Mustang aluminum fuel door mounted inside the bed).

In the front SVT fitted SVT Lightning front springs, lower control arms, and steering knuckles were fitted to the Ranger's front end, then dropped two inches so the engine would fit under the stock hood. The Bolt uses a production Lightning rearend that's been narrowed almost 11 inches and fitted with 3.73:1 gears. The spring perches also have been relocated inboard to accommodate the massive 345/35ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport tires on widened 18x12.5-inch Lightning wheels (stock wheels are 9.5 inches wide). Up front, the rolling stock is 235/40ZR18s on narrowed 18x8.0-inch Lightning wheels.

To be sure the modified Ranger has adequate stopping abilities, SVT engineers fitted Lightning brake components all around.

In the 1/4 mile Dempster's little truck ran consistent 13.60's at 108 mph.

There are scores of enthusiasts that have converted Rangers and S-10's to V-8 power. It's unfortunate that we haven't seen a hot truck like this be produced by Ford or Chevrolet. And with gas prices in the stratosphere and the Ranger seemingly dying a slow death, it's unlikely we'll see it anytime soon.

Ford to continue building small cars, announces new models

Image by Getty Images via Daylife
In spite of potentially dropping gas prices, Ford CEO Alan Mullaly recently told FOX Business Network that Ford will not shift it's focus away from increasing production on small cars. Mullaly said that Ford's previous plan to focus on large vehicles was not the right business plan. "No, I think the dye is cast," Mullaly said. "It really starts with a point of view about the future and a couple of points of view for Ford. We clearly focused on big SUVs and trucks in the United States and we focused on dynamite cars and smaller vehicles around the world. That's not a balanced plan."
Despite rumors to the contrary, Ford will not abandon it large car and truck division altogether. "We've been the preferred industry leader in trucks and SUVs for 33 years," he said. "These are wonderful vehicles. Even though the market is down substantially, there's going to be a market for large trucks and SUVs. We're going to continue to invest the appropriate amount and maintain our leadership." Having said this, Ford won't ignore the trends altogether. It is already planning on retooling two of it's U.S. plants and one Mexico plant to build small cars instead of trucks and SUV's.
Ford also recently dropped some information on some of it's future product. They weren't kidding about a total overhaul in the next couple of years...
2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ Refreshed versions of these midsize sedans are expected to launch in early 2009. Fusion and Milan will also be offered as hybrids, with fuel economy that's promised to top that of the Toyota Camry hybrid. 2010 Ford Mustang A revised form of the pony car, already being previewed to enthusiasts across the country, will hit dealers in early 2009. We're expecting a debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. 2010 Ford Taurus A thoroughly restyled Taurus sedan will launch in the middle of 2009. Ford plans on offering its EcoBoost technology (turbocharged engines with direct-injection) in the new car. 2010 European Ford Fiesta and Focus We knew the cars would (finally) make their way to the U.S. for 2010, and Ford has now revealed they'll arrive in both four- and five-door models. There's no word on whether a three-door Focus, especially in RS trim, would make its way stateside. 2010 Lincoln crossover Ford claims its luxury division will receive a seven-passenger crossover halfway through 2009. Given the vehicle's description and the hint that it'll receive the EcoBoost powertrain, we're expecting a Lincoln version of the Ford Flex. Time will tell if styling from the MKT concept transitions into production. 2010 "Small Cars" We've precious little detail on what Ford is planning here, but the company claims it will launch a new small car as a Mercury in 2010, alongside another small vehicle with roots in Europe. The latter is described as a "whitespace" entry, suggesting it may be a unique offering in our market. 2010 Ford Explorer The ubiquitous Explorer will abandon the traditional body-on-frame structure for unibody construction in 2010. Given that, and the promise of an EcoBoost motor and a six-speed automatic, we're expecting it to be similar in concept to the Explorer America concept shown at the 2008 Detroit show. Ford claims the changes will help the model return a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy. Along with the new products come a number of changes to Ford's assembly plants. The automaker already revealed its intention to switch factories from building slow-selling full-size trucks to small cars, so these revelations aren't earth shattering. Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Michigan, may have to revise its name. Presently home to the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, the factory will be retooled starting in December of 2008 to build the 2010 European Focus for the North American market. Production for both the Expedition and Navigator will move to the truck plant in Louisville, Kentucky, although a line in the same facility will also be responsible for assembling the 2010 Focus. Ford's factory in Cuautitlan, Mexico, will build the 2010 Fiesta for North America instead of its present product, the F-Series trucks. Expecting further declines in the full-size truck segment, Ford has extended the life of the Ford Ranger by two years, giving the plant in St. Paul, Minnesota, an extra two years of work.