Factory-built off-road racing inspired trucks are all the rage right now. The Ford F-150 Raptor R, and the Ram 1500’s RHO and TRX variants are all incredible super trucks. And the latest Tundra TRD Pro and Silverado ZR2 are no slouches. But there’s a big hole in the market for a street performance pickup truck. The Ford Maverick Lobo had fans howling, and it looks like Ford’s doubling down on the name with the upcoming F-150 Lobo. But even U.S. Ford fans may not know the origins of the name.

What’s in a name? The Ford F-150 Lobo

Ford trademarked “F-150 Lobo” in the U.S. in August 2023. The Maverick Lobo dropped for the 2025 model year. But the Blue Oval has been selling Lobos for years. In Mexico, the F-150 is called the “Lobo” (except for the XLT trim level, which is the F-150 XLT). The branding is apparently aimed at younger buyers. And it may make sense in a country where “F-150” doesn’t have nearly the iconic status.

“Lobo” is of course Spanish for wolf. It comes into Spanish from the Latin “Lupus.” (Scientists still refer to the wolf by its Latin classification “Canis lupus”). The Maverick Lobo just sounded cool, and enough U.S. buyers know some Spanish that it got some extra street cred. And it’ll have a sibling rival soon with the F-150 Lobo.

Ford Authority spotted some F-150 Lobo test mules on the roads of Michigan. They both have six-spoke 22-inch rims wrapped in Bridgestone Alenza AS02 275/50R22 tires. Those will be unique to the Lobo. They also have some kind of chin spoiler and low side skirts for better aerodynamics. But they aren’t all bark. One has a single tailpipe and one has dual pipes. So we may see a Lobo with multiple engine options for some real bite. Only one has an XLT badge, so we may see the F-150 Lobo as a package available on multiple trim levels.