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Ford's F-150 Lightning electric truck has a big mother frunk

Ford's Mega Power Frunk sounds funny, but it can hold up to 400 pounds and comes with enough power outlets to keep the party going all night long.

Ford reintroduced its fabled F-150 Lightning truck on Wednesday after a two-decade hiatus -- this time, with a powerful twist. Instead of a fire-breathing V8 under the hood, this new new truck delivers up to 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque via all-electric powertrain. This zero-emissions pickup isn't just about straight-line speed: It should also be a capable off-roader and a surprisingly versatile family hauler.

Because there's no internal-combustion powerplant slung between the front fenders, engineers have been able to convert this space into a very useful, lockable, shockingly large weather-tight storage area. The Lightning's front trunk, or Mega Power Frunk in Ford's amusing parlance, can support 400 pounds and clocks in at 400 liters (about 14 cubic feet). That makes it roughly one cube larger than the trunk of a Toyota Corolla sedan. Accordingly, it's roomy enough to hold eight satchels of premixed concrete, two golf bags or plenty of other stuff.

This looks to be an ideal place to store messy or dirty items, the Lightning's Mega Power Frunk is washable and has drain outlets, so hosing it out shouldn't be a problem if your hiking boots leave mud streaks everywhere. Access to this space is super easy, too. You can open the frunk six ways -- from the key fob to a grille-mounted button to the exterior keypad, just to name a few. Accommodating owners of different heights and the garages they may park in, the hood (Is it still a hood?) height is adjustable so you don't smack the thing on a low ceiling, which is a thoughtful touch.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Mega Power Frunk - versatility
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2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Mega Power Frunk - versatility

The Mega Power Frunk is the perfect place to stash valuable items out of the elements and away from prying eyes.

Nick Miotke/Nate Reed/Roadshow

Along with innumerable forms of competitive sportsball, tailgating is one of America's favorite pastimes, and future Lightning owners will be able to host two parties at once with one truck. The bed, which is identical to other F-150s, remains a great place for a traditional outdoor gathering. But the frunk is wonderful, too: This space is fitted with power ports aplenty -- four 120-volt household sockets and two USB outlets -- to keep the party going.

Aside from golf bags, luggage, building materials or even snacks and entertainment while tailgating, the Mega Power Frunk is also a great place to stash your groceries. Normally these would go in the truck's back seat, where they can spill everywhere and make a terrible mess if you don't drive carefully (or get kicked by your kids' feet). But the frunk, with its versatile divider and cargo net, will be a much better place to put weekly vittles so you don't end up with oranges under the seats or a cottage cheese spill. Of course, since it's lockable, the Mega Power Frunk is just as great for stashing valuable items away from both prying eyes and the elements.

In addition to the Mega Power Frunk, there's lots to talk about with the F-150 Lightning, from its Intelligent Backup Power system, which can run your entire home during a blackout, to dozens of other little niceties that we detail in an up-close look at this all-electric pickup

Craving more 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning news? We've got you covered:

Craig Cole Former reviews editor
Craig brought 15 years of automotive journalism experience to the Cars team. A lifelong resident of Michigan, he's as happy with a wrench or welding gun in hand as he is in front of the camera or behind a keyboard. When not hosting videos or cranking out features and reviews, he's probably out in the garage working on one of his project cars. He's fully restored a 1936 Ford V8 sedan and then turned to resurrecting another flathead-powered relic, a '51 Ford Crestliner. Craig has been a proud member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
Craig Cole
Craig brought 15 years of automotive journalism experience to the Cars team. A lifelong resident of Michigan, he's as happy with a wrench or welding gun in hand as he is in front of the camera or behind a keyboard. When not hosting videos or cranking out features and reviews, he's probably out in the garage working on one of his project cars. He's fully restored a 1936 Ford V8 sedan and then turned to resurrecting another flathead-powered relic, a '51 Ford Crestliner. Craig has been a proud member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).

Article updated on May 20, 2021 at 4:41 AM PDT

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Craig Cole Former reviews editor
Craig brought 15 years of automotive journalism experience to the Cars team. A lifelong resident of Michigan, he's as happy with a wrench or welding gun in hand as he is in front of the camera or behind a keyboard. When not hosting videos or cranking out features and reviews, he's probably out in the garage working on one of his project cars. He's fully restored a 1936 Ford V8 sedan and then turned to resurrecting another flathead-powered relic, a '51 Ford Crestliner. Craig has been a proud member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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