Back in 1992, the Ford F-Series XLT Lariat "Nite" truck offered standard 5.0-liter V-8 power with a blacked-out appearance package that included deep-dish forged aluminum wheels, a darkened grille, and body stripes over a black paint job.
Times have certainly changed over 30 years, and the so-called Nite truck is dramatically different this time around. Ford has introduced the F-150 Lightning Platinum Black Edition for the 2024 model year all-electric pickup truck, with a matte wrap finish and gloss black accents that ironically make the shadowy truck stand out in a crowd.
If we go back further than 1992, there's a famous (but almost certainly apocryphal) quote from Henry Ford about painting all cars black, which Ford has referenced in its marketing of this new dark edition of the F-150 Lightning. While Ford's desire for black cars was intended to simplify production, this new Platinum Black Edition is engineered to be fairly easy to produce, limited to just 2,000 units for one model year with production set to begin in early 2024. It's Ford's first-ever production wrapped pickup truck, sporting a dark and cool monochromatic appearance.
The list of blacked-out bits is extensive: It sits on 22-inch matte black wheels and black lug nuts; there's Black Ford Oval badging and all-black U.S. flag badging exclusive to this model; power-deployable running boards with Agate Black gloss accents; a soft-shell black tonneau cover for the bed; a distinctive smoked signature light bar; reflective black-on-black Lightning badging; an Agate Black gloss roof that blends in with the glass roof panel; "Lightning" graphics on roof glass above passenger seating; Agate Black door handles; Luxe black premium Nirvana leather seating surfaces; and an Aluminum plate in both frunk and driver door with limited edition numbering.
Pricing
Additionally, when the Platinum Black Edition goes on sale in early 2024, Ford will also roll out a new update to all F-150 Lightning owners that will now allow them to use the Pro Power Onboard system with 9.6 kW of exportable power when the truck is switched off, with an improved user interface for clearer understanding of the truck's available power levels. The updates will also introduce Walk Away Locking for the Lightning, allowing the customer to lock the vehicle with a passive key or authorized phone device.
The Platinum Black Edition is built on the standard Platinum trim of the F-150 Lightning, which starts at $93,990. The regular Platinum trim is good for up to 300 miles of EPA-estimated range, manages 8,500 pounds towing capacity, sports a 12-inch touchscreen, and is available with BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance. The Platinum Black Edition is priced at $99,990.
Source: Truck Trend