Video: Could your next track car be a Ford Maverick Lobo?

Really, I'm just thankful the Maverick Lobo exists. It just feels like it totally came out of left field.

Get it with AWD and the 4k tow package, and Ford might sell you an upgrade package that will up the output to 300hp and (IIRC) 315 pound feet of torque.

There's really only one thing that frustrates me about JG's comments- the trans.

Everything else is kind of a combination of cost/utility and image compromises.  And, while debatable, have costs and compromises to them all.  (Personally, I think leaning toward image means higher sales price, so that's ok)

But the trans and it's being kind of lost really gets me.  That, specifically, tells me that the managers who run that calibration program are still really clueless.  There are people that I have worked with that really knew how to calibrate a trans to run really, really well- being both fast AND smooth, and added the feature of being timed really well.  The highlight was some development work we did on the EB MKS almost 20 years ago- back when "hill mode" was first being implemented.  The guy doing the work tuned it so very well that we were running up and down mountains with really sharp and well timed downshifts and accurate and robust upshifts.  

All of JG's trans issues are in the programming and calibration of the trans- not the actual transmission.  And it *should* have a mode that may be hard to get into, but once there, it works as someone on the track would really like.  The fact that it doesn't have it screams of lazy managers.  I know that it being available means that it has to be factored into the emissions and fuel economy cycles- but that's why you make it hard to get into by a very intentional process- so that the weight on all of the cycles is minimal (and lets be clear here, it's just FE, and only the first two shifts of a drive cycle have any significant effect on emissions- which can be modified in other ways).  

Sorry about the rant, but I've had real issues with Ford trans management (the people) for a really long time.  I learned the issues really early, and saw their bad influence on the Mustang, Mustang Cobra, Aston V12 DB7, DB9 twin clutch, and really bad with the DSC for the Focus and Fiesta.  Let alone crappy shifting on other products.  Those guys really let me and other powertrain calibrators down.

In reply to alfadriver :

+10000

Ford's current automatic control schemes are really doing a disservice to a lot of the products they're putting them in. We had the same issues with the automatic Dark Horse we had as well. There's no reason that 8HPs should be so good and performance-friendly and these things be so frustrating. 

I street drove this for a couple hours, and I have to say I liked it as a street vehicle. As something to take on track though, it definitely seemed to be lacking. 

The Lincoln MKZ is a tarted up Ford fusion, that offers the same 2 .0 liter engine as the Maverick... 

In 2017 the Lincoln MKZ started offering a 3.0 TT that produced 400 horsepower with torque vectoring all-wheel drive. 

It seems to me that configuration should fit in a Maverick!!

Lobo Loco!

I was daydreaming the other day about a Maverick Thunder (in reference to the cancelled 2000s Expedition Thunder) which would essentially be all the Dark Horse Mustang running gear stuffed into a Maverick with a Tremec 6 speed, AWD, and airbags for the rear. I would bye that immediately.

Its an 8F35 that skips a gear.  That trans AND the programming is E36 M3.  At least its expensive to repair!

Its my main gripe with most Ford FWD stuff.

I've toyed around with a mini truck as my next fun car. It should have the headroom I need. The Maverick Lobo was considered, but it still seems a bit big for fun stuff. My search continues.

However, from the times I've driven a Maverick on the street, I've enjoyed them.

John Welsh said:

Lobo Loco!

Giving you a like just for this.