Ford has a rich back catalogue of performance-oriented utes, but it’s never done an ST pickup.
The could change with the Maverick, according to a new report from Ford Authority.
Ford Maverick marketing manager Trevor Scott told Ford Authority the Blue Oval is keeping a close eye on the enthusiast chatter about a Maverick ST.
“We’ll continue to monitor that to see if there is an opportunity,” Mr Scott said.
The Maverick could be turned into a performance car without too much trouble. It’s built on the same bones as the Focus hatchback, which is offered in ST guise with a turbocharged 2.3-litre engine and manual transmission.
With a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine with 206kW of power and 420Nm of torque sent exclusively to the front wheels, the Focus ST engine would offer a healthy power boost compared to the standard Maverick.
The base Maverick packs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine packing 120kW of power and 210Nm of torque, mated with an electric motor making 94kW and 235Nm.
Combined, the Maverick hybrid has 143kW of power and an undisclosed peak torque output.
Also offered is a non-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo petrol four making 186kW of power and 373Nm of torque. It’s front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and can tow up to 1814kg with the rights options boxes ticked.
Ford’s back catalogue of hot utes is as diverse as it is impressive.
In Australia, the Falcon ute evolved from a family and hay hauler into a V8 tyre-fryer, while Ford USA has turned the humble F-150 into a Baja-ready Raptor.
