Test Drive of the 2025 Maverick Lobo

[fordvideoguy]

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[malicoreon]

Thanks for posting this. I haven't seen a Lobo out in the wild here in southern Ohio yet but they look good in pictures and videos.

 

[dalola]

lol...says he won't waste time on another walk-around...spends a third of the video doing a walk-around.....

We love you Tim, but don't quit your sales job...

 

[Bob The Builder]

I'd like to know more about the Lobo driving mode. I wonder if the engine still lugs down in that mode. No, not ready to trade up for a lobo, but it does look good for sure.

 

[enjoitheride]

I just want to know how easy adding the LOBO fogs will be on a 2025 Hybrid AWD. I wouldn’t mind those with factory switch.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I just want to know how easy adding the LOBO fogs will be on a 2025 Hybrid AWD. I wouldn’t mind those with factory switch.

I am guessing "not easy," as in "more difficult than the 2024 hybrids," unless you are going to replace the lower fascia outright -if that's even a thing. On the 2022-2024, that whole front bumper and grille piece is one assembly. XLT vs Lobo:

I'm positive Diode Dynamics are working on a 2025+ kit that will be pretty easy, but it will be based on their LEDs and nothing to do with the Lobo OEMs.

 

[pa4ul]

lobo driving mode is fun. you can pretty easily get the truck sideways and it handles corners very well. You will have to shift north of 4k as the shiftlogic wont let you shift before.

 

[colinl]

I'd like to know more about the Lobo driving mode. I wonder if the engine still lugs down in that mode. No, not ready to trade up for a lobo, but it does look good for sure.

This is all it says in the 2025 owner's manual:

Lobo Drive Mode
This mode increases accelerator pedal responsiveness. Traction and stability controls are set to their least invasive settings for optimal vehicle control. The system delays transmission shifting to maximize low end torque. Use this mode for Spirited closed course driving.

Note: Four-wheel drive (4WD) is the default four-wheel drive mode.
Note: This mode is for closed course use only and is not for use on public roads. This feature disables brake over accelerator systems.

the first note I take to mean that it's enabling 4WD lock. if a Lobo owner could confirm that would be awesome. the reason this matters is that when not using 4WD lock, a Lobo or Tremor (the only 2 trim levels with this feature) will quickly de-energize the clutch packs in the PTU and go back to essentially FWD. even though the clutch packs engage extremely quickly when throttle is applied or slippage detected, going to FWD could cause weird handling in some scenarios such as engine braking. it will handle and perform better locked into 4WD. (and yes, I know that some people don't even consider a system truly 4WD unless it has a low speed transfer case, which the Maverick doesn't... but Ford labeled it '4WD lock' instead of 'AWD lock' so here we are.)

the second note means you can drive with 2 feet. offroad mode disables brake over accelerator, also. when it's enabled, engine power will be cut and you'll get a warning on the driver's instrument panel if you try to apply much gas and brake at the same time. however, Lobo and Offroad modes allow it, so that you can drive with 2 feet for autocross, high performance driving events, technical offroad (especially rock crawling) and so on.

what else does it do? from the marketing event last summer, Ford engineers said that Lobo mode increases active yaw control and can reduce understeer enough to slightly oversteer.

I am not sure if anyone has been able to add drive modes in the 2025 yet. the MY22-24 mud/ruts and sand modes are gone, now replaced with 'offroad' mode that is available on the Tremor and XLT FX4. one would presume that since it works on FX4, you could enable offroad drive mode in Forscan and it would work normally on any 2025 Maverick.

*however*

since Lobo drive mode is doing things that require the liquid-cooled locking PTU and the active yaw control RDU, I would not be surprised if it gave errors and did not work at all if you add the mode to any Maverick besides a Tremor. and, until someone tries, we really don't know if it would even work on a 2025 Tremor, I'm just giving data and speculation that it *might*.

 

[Fcnrwy]

I am guessing "not easy," as in "more difficult than the 2024 hybrids," unless you are going to replace the lower fascia outright -if that's even a thing. On the 2022-2024, that whole front bumper and grille piece is one assembly. XLT vs Lobo:

Lariat Bumper/Grille/Lower Fascia 2022

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