The idea for the Ford F-150 Lightning didn’t even come from the company that produces them, yet, it has taken home an award. The Ford-F-150 Lightning has won a North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) award for 2023. While the truck maintains its best selling truck claim to fame, the blue oval company can now add one more award to its shelves. There was a pool of nearly 50 vehicles (47), only three were crowned winners. The F-150 Lightning received the most votes out of any category, handedly out-voting the 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2.
Some key contributing factors to the F-150 Lightning’s rise above its competitors include its upgraded storage features, and the likeness and similarity it shares with its gas powered predecessor making it more aftermarket friendly, something we’ve already seen taken advantage of with the first lifted Lightning last year. One of the judges, Karl Brauer, of Forbes and iSeeCars.com mentioned that the F-150 Lightning offers a “wide range of applications” for both traditional truck users and those new to the segment. According to some early order data, many F-150 Lightning owners will also be first time EV owners and Ford patrons.
The other winners included an Acura Integra for car of the year, and the Kia EV6 won utility vehicle of the year. According to the NACTOY website, the judges panel, which is composed of automotive journalists in every medium from both the United States, and Canada, the judges test drive, evaluate and research these vehicles over an entire year. This seemingly strenuous process is done so as to come up with the best results possible.
The vehicles are filtered down through three rounds going from 47 vehicles, to 26 vehicles to nine vehicles before the three winners are selected and presented at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, in a joint press conference with the Detroit Area Dealers Association (DADA) and Automotive Press Association (APA).
Image copyright Steven Pham, Muscle Cars & Trucks
