Maverick Lobo Autocross Testing & Handling Upgrades

[Maverick123]

This is exactly what I thought would be pretty standard fare by now, especially on performance vehicles.

I often get in, and put on seatbelt, and Cinch it up Snug against me. I wish I could 'lock' it in that position.

I'll have to try this trick that DMS advised.
The problem is, my seating position is all the way back, and 'almost' all the way down.
But I'll see what I can figure out.

Recline the seatback - tighten the lap belt - jerk the shoulder belt forward to lock the inertia reel - straighten the seatback

Usually works

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[colinl]

The problem is, my seating position is all the way back, and 'almost' all the way down.

when you're all the way back, the seat doesn't go terribly far back but that's still pretty reclined. are you like 6'8 or something?

generally, the schroth rallye 4 is legal in SCCA stock classes when anchored to rear seatbelt mounts: https://www.schrothracing.com/item/rallye-4-asm/

 

[DMS]

Same.
Not sure if I mentioned it in this thread, but have noticed the same problem.

Sorta like they just threw an otherwise 8 speed into the Lobo, removed a gear and reprogramming it to skip a gear..and called it a 7 speed...

This also effects 0-60 negatively.
And the turbo-lag is compounded as a result when you're otherwise slightly too fast for 2nd, but need more RPMs than 3rd..

I feel like there was no further attempt to fix the gap between these gears, as it would have required more parts, and labor to replace/install said proper gears.

If the Lobo didn't feel like such a half-ass attempt and was properly purpose built by the Ford Performance team, instead of by the Financing team, it could be really great.
Or, if it just had a 6MT, it wouldn't be an issue at all..then the Driver is the problem.

In my opinion, Ford would be better off marketing this truck as a sport package rather than promoting it as something you can take the track. It’s missing several key features that are essential for track/AutoX use:

• Ride height is too tall for most organizations to approve
• Factory tires are poorly suited for anything performance driving related
• Seats lack proper bolstering for high-speed cornering
• ESC and transmission tuning tend to interfere during aggressive driving

It has potential, but these issues need to be addressed to meet the marketing of "tearing it up at the track"

 

[Chops]

In my opinion, Ford would be better off marketing this truck as a sport package rather than promoting it as something you can take the track. It’s missing several key features that are essential for track/AutoX use…

Agree 100%.

The Lobo & the “Lobo Mode” (as is) are not suited for the track -but very well suited for enjoyable “weekend” spirited driving

Edit - I do hope you continue to lower your times at the track & keep the forum informed.​

 

[DMS]

I haven't been out to Stratotech in ages, I honestly thought it was being sold for redevelopment but I'm glad to see that didn't happen.

You're putting in some great work with all this testing, logging and detailing changes!

It was reopened ~ 2022 for rentals only. I started organizing & running events there shortly after. The land is still for sale, but is highly overpriced. Hence why it hasn't sold & been redeveloped... yet.

Info on the events I run: www.racewithdms.ca

You're always free to come check it out.

 

[NIKwithoutaC]

In my opinion, Ford would be better off marketing this truck as a sport package rather than promoting it as something you can take the track. It’s missing several key features that are essential for track/AutoX use:

• Ride height is too tall for most organizations to approve
• Factory tires are poorly suited for anything performance driving related
• Seats lack proper bolstering for high-speed cornering
• ESC and transmission tuning tend to interfere during aggressive driving

It has potential, but these issues need to be addressed to meet the marketing of "tearing it up at the track"

It's pretty obvious to me that the Lobo was the brainchild of some some folks in Ford management that when, probably after a few beers, realized they could take the Tremor rear axle and parts-bin it into a street truck. It's a pretty neat idea for what it is, but the marketing definitely oversold it a bit.

 

[colinl]

In my opinion, Ford would be better off marketing this truck as a sport package rather than promoting it as something you can take the track. It’s missing several key features that are essential for track/AutoX use:

• Ride height is too tall for most organizations to approve
• Factory tires are poorly suited for anything performance driving related
• Seats lack proper bolstering for high-speed cornering
• ESC and transmission tuning tend to interfere during aggressive driving

It has potential, but these issues need to be addressed to meet the marketing of "tearing it up at the track"

fair, but even if it had 50 more horsepower and 1 additional inch lowering, it isn't going to turn a truck into a sport sedan.

it is the first year of a very different package, and it is a meaningful improvement over the regular ecoboost AWD, except for tires. I'm guessing they considered something even better and more expensive, and decided against it due to cost.

 

[Blinky]

It was reopened ~ 2022 for rentals only. I started organizing & running events there shortly after. The land is still for sale, but is highly overpriced. Hence why it hasn't sold & been redeveloped... yet.

Info on the events I run: www.racewithdms.ca

You're always free to come check it out.

If spectators are welcome I'll try to make it out some time, unfortunately I don't have my Fiesta ST any more or I'd love to do some laps in the lil buggy.

 

[shadow_munk]

I'm glad to have this version of the Lobo even if it's not full "sports truck". Coming from a Miata I like having handling over speed and this is probably the most practical handling focused vehicle we got today. It can do some towing and has a spare tire lol, maybe it's my old man in me

 

[NIKwithoutaC]

(...) and decided against it due to cost.

Exactly this. While I would have liked to see the Lobo be a little more radical, you see a lot of complaints about the price tag. Ford probably knew a more expensive Lobo would have a very small market.

 

[Maverick123]

Saw this post by Glen Baker LLC in an unrelated thread, and figured the info might be useful for those who are new to track days and want to have fun with their Lobo.
The headrests on 25+ Mavericks are pretty far forward and can't be adjusted forwards or backwards. That can make it REAL uncomfortable if you're wearing a helmet because your head gets pushed even further forward, craning your neck.
Easy solution is to remove the headrests and turn them 180 degrees so the "front" is now facing backwards.
It's an old trick I've used a few times and it should make things more comfortable. Just don't forget to turn them back the right way before leaving the track!

 

[r0tax]

Exactly this. While I would have liked to see the Lobo be a little more radical, you see a lot of complaints about the price tag. Ford probably knew a more expensive Lobo would have a very small market.

It seems weird to me. They have the XL and XLT maverics for "cheaper options" ...

If they are making a "track" or "performance" focused version, i and others would pay for more performance, and a properly configured vehicle if thats the purpose. They already have this Recipe for "ST" and "RS" models.. You pay more for the ST/RS features and performance. If you don't need that. You buy an XL/XLT or whatever.

I don't think a Lobo buyer is even considering an XL model... Maybe I would now, knowing what I know after buying and owning a Lobo..but I'd rather the Lobo be a bit more wild and would pay for it.. esp the manual Trans and bolstered seats.

 

[NIKwithoutaC]

It seems weird to me. They have the XL and XLT maverics for "cheaper options" ...

If they are making a "track" or "performance" focused version, i and others would pay for more performance, and a properly configured vehicle if thats the purpose. They already have this Recipe for "ST" and "RS" models.. You pay more for the ST/RS features and performance. If you don't need that. You buy an XL/XLT or whatever.

I don't think a Lobo buyer is even considering an XL model... Maybe I would now, knowing what I know after buying and owning a Lobo..but I'd rather the Lobo be a bit more wild and would pay for it.. esp the manual Trans and bolstered seats.

I'd be willing to bet that if we ever get a more radical version of the Maverick, it'll be a "Raptor" variant. Needlessly expensive, high performance off road trucks sell like hot cakes, while street trucks are definitely more niche. I'd love Ford to prove me wrong, though.

As a side note- I would happily ignore all of the Lobo's shortcomings if it had a manual transmission option. I've almost got myself talked into cross-shopping a Tacoma because you can still get it with a manual. Sadly, I'd be willing to bet that Ford didn't design any of the Maverick architecture with a manual transmission in mind, so it's probably something we'll never see.

 

[DMS]

Update

Track season has officially wrapped up in my area, and what a season it’s been! Since picking up the truck in early August, I managed to hit 13 events — and made steady progress at every single one.

Early on, just going from stock to a few basic mods made a huge difference. After that, it was all about learning how to drive the truck properly and finding its rhythm. Each event I crept further up the results list — from near the bottom early on, to mid-pack after the mods, and finally cracking the top 10 overall at the last event of the year.

The truck definitely turned heads everywhere it went. It quickly became the “one not to get beat by” for a lot of drivers. Every event, people were taking pictures and videos, amazed at how quick it moved through the course. Let’s just say… a few egos were bruised along the way.

Mods / Setup
Aside from what’s already listed in the first post, nothing major has changed. Honestly, with the small upgrades I’ve done, the truck feels really well-balanced. There’s not much left on the market that would make a big difference — aside from better tires and a proper seat.

Driving Notes / What I’ve Learned
A big chunk of my improvement came from just figuring out how to drive this thing effectively. It has a few quirks that require adapting your driving style:

• Left-foot braking is key. You need to keep a bit of throttle applied at all times. If you come completely off, there’s a noticeable hesitation before power comes back in on corner exit. It’s not too bad on sweepers, but in tight autocross turns it really shows.
• Leave it in automatic mode. I tried running in manual mode vs. full auto, and the truck consistently put down faster times in auto.
• Launch around 2,500 RPM. That seemed to be the sweet spot — strong off the line without beating on the drivetrain.
• Drive it aggressively. To really take advantage of the torque vectoring, you’ve got to stay in it. The extra camber and larger rear sway bar made a noticeable difference in stability and corner exit grip.
• Go easy on the brakes. The electronic brake boost is pretty sensitive — I was braking with about 40% less pressure than I would in other cars. Anything more would start to lock up the tires.

With the season wrapped up and only about 1.5 seconds off being truly “competitive,” I’m already looking forward to next year. A simple tire upgrade should be all it takes to close that gap — and maybe hurt a few more egos in the process.

 

[Ben2023L]

Maverick Lobo Autocross Testing & Handling Upgrades


Backstory:

I've been involved in Autocross and Time Attack events since 2018—competing, running clubs, and for the last three years, running my own series.

I had been struggling to find a vehicle that could haul gear, tow a small cargo trailer, and still be fun to drive.

Enter the damn-near-perfect vehicle for the job: The Lobo!

I purchased it two weeks ago and have already done some testing to figure out what modifications it needs to handle better—while still being a comfortable daily driver.

The good news? It's actually fairly well-sorted in stock form and only needs a few basic upgrades to make this little truck handle like a sports sedan.

AutoX Testing:

In stock form, I took it to one of my own events—StratoCross—which is an AutoX held on an oversized go-kart track called Stratotech Raceway.

With the truck having only 200 miles on it, I kept the acceleration tame. I just wanted to do a few runs to see how it behaves at the limit and where it needs improvement.


First impressions:

• The stock tires are awful. Just light braking into the first corner caused them to lock up instantly, with ABS going crazy.
• The stock seats have almost no bolstering. Braking and turning right had me slamming into the door panel; a sharp left and I was bashing my knee off the dash and leaning over the center console.

This is going to be an abusive relationship.

After a few events, I can confidently say: the truck, in stock form, is surprisingly well-sorted for what it is—except for the tires and seats. It turns decently, has some off-throttle rotation, and enough torque to pull out of corners. The traction/stability control is a bit too intrusive in Lobo mode, which is crucial for AutoX.

I did learn that if you press & hold the ESC OFF button for ~5 seconds you can further disable it!

The main issues are:

• Dialing out the inherent understeer
• Improving how it transitions
• Better braking

Swapping to proper tires will solve most of these issues. A few minor suspension tweaks should make it easier to carry more speed through corners & transition faster.

The Goal:

I set a baseline time against the top driver in my area. On average, the Lobo was 7.5 seconds slower over a 50 second course than a stock but properly-prepared Civic Type R for AutoX.

My goal: make a few basic modifications to bring it into mid-pack territory in overall results—just enough to annoy your average Corvette or FRS/BRZ driver.

To do that, I need to cut about 4 seconds. Totally doable!

Mod List Plan:

• Better Tires
• Better Seat
• Stiffer Rear Sway Bar
• Lowering Springs
• Performance Alignment

Better Tires:

This is the biggest factor—80% of the performance gains will come from better tires.

Since I’m sticking with the stock 19x7.5" rims for the rest of this season, my options are limited. To maintain stock diameter, the best tires I found were a few UHP-rated summer tires, but none are ideal AutoX tires.

I went with Firestone Indy 500s in 245/50/19. They're far from great, but good enough to help me close that 4-second gap—and they’re cheap.

Next season, I’ll upgrade to lightweight 20” wheels and proper 200TW tires, once sizes are back in stock. That alone should knock off another 1.5–2 seconds.

Seat:

The stock seats are unacceptable for any spirited driving. You flop around during transitions, and as grip increases, the problem gets worse. It's hard to drive with precision when you're all tensed up trying to stay up right.

I'm currently looking for a comfortable, bolt-in solution. A Focus ST seat swap might be the way to go.

Rear Sway Bar:

Most OEM setups are tuned to understeer for safety, and the Maverick is no exception. For AWD vehicles, it’s common to run the stiffest rear sway bar available to improve rotation.

I went with the Goodwin Racing rear bar

Springs:

One issue with the Maverick is its height-to-track-width ratio. Some AutoX events require a 1:1 ratio. The truck sits at ~65" tall with a ~63.5" track width—about 1.5" off the requirement.

As a daily driver, I still want a comfortable ride. Lowering springs are a simple fix that also improve handling.

I bought a Goodwin Racing spring + sway bar package. The spring rates are only slightly stiffer than stock, so they still work well with the OEM shocks.

Note: Even with these springs, I’m still ~½” too tall for the 1:1 rule. However, most organizations should still allow it. If needed, H&R Super Sports might get you within spec.

(In my region, they go by overall width, not track width—so it's allowed in stock form.)

Alignment:

Lowering gave me about:

• -1.0° front camber
• -1.3° rear camber

But the front still needs more camber to reduce understeer & the toe needs to be zeroed out to help it turn in better.

I installed Eibach camber bolts to get the front camber close to -2.5°—the usual max for a daily without excessive tire wear.

I'll be setting:

• Front toe: 0° (from factory toe-in)
• Rear toe: 0° (from factory toe-in)
• Front Camber -2.5°
• Rear Camber -1.3°

Upcoming Testing:

I have a few more AutoX events lined up. We’ll see how close I can get to knocking off that 4-second gap with these basic mods!

*Update- The Changes listed knocked off more than 4 seconds!

Autocross Classing Issue:

If your local club uses SCCA classing, the Maverick technically doesn't meet the height-to-track-width requirement and won't be classed.

However, I entered it into G Street Touring without issue.

TL;DR: How to Make Your Maverick Handle Like a Sports Sedan

• Replace stock tires with UHP summer tires or better
• Install a stiffer rear sway bar
• Lower with sport springs
• Install front camber bolts and set camber to -2.5°
• Set front & rear toe to 0°
• Replace the front seat!

Updates

How-To Write Ups
•How to install Camber Bolts
•How To Set Toe to 0°
•How to turn off AdvancedTrac ESC

How is the Goodwin? I hear it’s better constructed than the Steeda one. I got the steeda one and was still impressed with the difference in improved handling - wonder what your goodwin is like on their lowest setting. I Had a bit of an issue with clearance on the new bar and the drive shaft/ RDU shield; but I worked it out by shifting the bushings up.

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