Car Wearing: The Ford F-150 Lightning arrives

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Chevrolet confirms electric Corvette, Aston Martin plans its first EV, and we drive the Subaru Solterra. But first:

First Ford F-150 Lightning Rolls Off Dearborn Assembly Line

This week the first Ford F-150 Lightning rolled off the assembly line at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, with Executive Chairman Bill Ford drawing a parallel to one other well-known milestone in automotive history.
"Today we celebrate the Model T moment for the 21st Century at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center," said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. "The stunning anticipation for F-150 Lightning is a credit to the work of our Ford engineers and designers, and the UAW team members who are building these trucks with pride."
The F-150 Lightning is indeed seen as the single most consequential vehicle launch for Ford this decade, being the first truly affordable electric pickup from one of the big three automakers, with the Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer arguably targeting somewhat different demographics and pocket books.

The Lightning will offer quite a bit of versatility for lifestyle buyers and work truck buyers alike.

Perhaps the greatest testament to the model's importance is the fact that Ford currently has 200,000 reservations for the truck, and is taking steps to boost the annual output. In fact, the automaker has already had to shut the retail orders for 2022 models due to so much demand for the truck.
Depending on trim, F-150 Lightning should offer prospective buyers quite a bit of variety based on how they plan to use the truck. While the base Pro trim will already offer plenty of capability—with an AWD dual-motor layout and 426 hp on tap, along with a 230-mile range—the extended-range 320-mile battery and even more powerful motors on offer in the XLT, Lariat, and Platinum trim levels will allow buyers to pick and choose the amount of power and luxuries they want. The entire menu of the Lightning stretches quite a bit in terms of price and features, so it's entirely possible to spend more on the Lightning than on a Rivian R1T, if desired.

Read on to learn more about the launch of the F-150 Lightning.

Here's What the Subaru Solterra Will Offer

The Solterra shares a platform with Toyota and Lexus models, but it should still stand out on its own.

Speaking of new EVs arriving shortly, Subaru revealed trim and pricing details of its Solterra crossover this week, just ahead of its arrival in dealerships. The brand's first mass-market EV, the Solterra will share much with its Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ 450e siblings, but will offer AWD as a standard item across the range of three trim levels.
It should still stand find ways to stand out from its siblings and offer a distinct experience those who have been with the brand should find familiar.

The Solterra features Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver assist features, as well as the automaker's X-Mode for off-road conditions. All versions of the Solterra will serve up 215 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, and all will feature a new Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
In the base Premium trim, the Solterra will start at $46,220, prior to the application of any state or federal rebates. But the price range doesn't stretch all that far north of that mark, with the top Touring trim starting at $53,220. So it won't take much over the base price to get a few more goodies for the interior, which is a rarity in the current EV market.
But what about the driving experience itself?
Read our review of the Solterra, and check out the trim and pricing details for this new EV.

The Ram EV Pickup Concept Debuts This Fall

Battery-electric pickups are picking up steam: Rivian RT1 trucks are hitting the streets, GMC is delivering Hummer EVs, and Ford is gearing up to launch its F-150 Lightning. Of course, Chevrolet isn't too far behind with its battery-electric Silverado. If you're wondering where Ram is in the mix, you aren't the only one.

Ram plans to roll out a concept version of its full-size truck this fall, with production slated for 2024. The company teased the Ram EV's concept reveal on Twitter, and the tweet also included a new graphic showing what should be the concept's signature lighting and an illuminated Ram logo.

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Lucid Will Build up to 100,000 EVs for Saudi Government

Lucid's relationship with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns 61% of the automaker, has not been the main topic of conversation regarding the start-up, which began deliveries of its long-awaited Lucid Air luxury sedan just months ago. But it's bound to get more attention in the near future, as Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance has just made a purchase commitment for 50,000 Lucid vehicles, including the Air sedan and future Lucid models, with an option to buy another 50,000 over the course of 10 years.

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