Are these Ford custom EV builds dope or nope?
Ford teamed up with aftermarket builders and parts makers to deliver three custom EV builds – one Mustang Mach-E and two F-150 Lightnings – at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
The automaker wanted to highlight how Ford EV drivers can personalize their rides with Ford Performance Parts and Ford Licensed Accessories. Electrek writer Scooter Doll and I put in our two cents below, but we want to hear from you. Tell us in the comments – are these custom EV builds hot or not?
Mustang Mach-e: True Mustang Persona
- Builder: Dom Tucci Design (Tucci Hot Rods)/Kay Automotive Graphics
- Specs: Shadow Black GT, Extended Range Battery
This dual-motor, AWD 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is widened with a custom lift-gate spoiler. It features fender arches with Tucci-made 3D-printed fender flares, vacuum-formed transparent wheel covers (see main photo), and a 3D-printed front lip. A Kay Automotive custom graphics wrap brings the style.
The Tucci vehicle wears Ford Accessories sill plates, door emblems, and a GT badged tailgate. The cabin sports a Ford Accessories 140-degree dash cam, two Recaro seats, racing harnesses with custom harness bar, and custom-painted trim accents.
What Scooter thinks: That body kit magically transforms this already low-riding crossover SUV into something even sportier, and I’m here for it. Usually not a body/kit mod person at all, but it works here. What doesn’t work is that brown paint. Why not make this thing bright orange or completely blacked out and try to get it into the 20th Fast and Furious movie? This is dope.
What Michelle thinks: I’m with Scooter on this one. Body kit is amazing and then … brown. Kind of anti-climactic. Why not a nod to the Mustang’s iconic history with Poppy Red? That would look gorgeous. I am totally down with the Recaro seats. The Mach-e GT can apparently go from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, so that seat and a racing harness would be useful, lol. Cool that they used 3D printing. This is a moderate dope from me.
F-150 Lightning: Swiss Army Knife
- Builder: Tjin Edition/Thule
- Specs: Extended Range Battery, all-wheel drive, SuperCrew, Lariat
The Tjin Edition F-150 Lightning packs solar charging, a portable air compressor, a fridge, console vault, Recaro front and rear seats, and Thule cargo accessories. It’s also got two Super73 e-bikes mounted on the back. Ford says it’s perfect “for a weekend getaway, off-roading adventure, or tailgating with family and friends.”
What Scooter thinks: This looks like the F-150 Lightning dressed up as a Rivian for Halloween. Those look like Lotus racing seats in there. And those wheels? Love the creativity here, but this one is a nope for me.
What Michelle thinks: This custom F-150 has all the accessories you need for outdoor fun. You had me at solar, Ford. If the US National Park Service and a lowrider had a baby, then this is what it would look like. If you were offroading, wouldn’t the bottom scrape the ground? Afraid this is also a nope for me.
F-150 Lightning: Race Support
- Builder: Real Truck/Motor City Solutions
- Specs: 131 kWh Extended Range Battery, AWD, SuperCrew, XLT, Iconic Silver
Real Truck’s Race Support F-150 Lightning is equipped with an air compressor, leveling kit, off-road recovery boards, and Recaro seats, along with a fully mobile toolbox and welding equipment. Ford says that “this F-150 Lightning pickup is equally at home on the road and at a Baja race as a support vehicle.”
It comes with a Retrax bed cover featuring a rail system, crossbars, and extra Raptor wheels. It’s got a custom underbody skid plate, and the Kay Automotive graphics wrap is inspired by Ford Bronco Desert Racer livery.
What Scooter thinks: This is a bit better. Definitely more of a rally sport racing vibe. Not my personal style but well executed in my opinion. I really like the paint design but, personally, would swap out the blue and red with some other colors. Still dope, though.
What Michelle thinks: I’d want this in my Hot Wheels collection so I could fix my racing cars. You gotta be prepared when you’re age 5.
In all seriousness, you get form and function with this race support F-150. These should go into production. Also, I like the red tow hooks – they really pop. Were Recaro seats a requirement for these Ford custom EVs? Hmmm. It gets a dope from me.
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If you’re considering going electric, May will be a great time to score a deal on an EV lease. Automakers are slashing lease prices on some of the most popular EVs to move inventory – here are four standouts.
Nissan Ariya SUV
The Nissan Ariya SUV has an MSRP of $41,805. Its lease term is 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing and a mileage allowance of 10,000 a year. Monthly payment? A sweet $129!
Nissan cut the 2025 Ariya Engage’s price by $144 in April, so it now has an effective monthly cost of $251 – that’s seriously affordable for an electric SUV. If you’re already a Nissan driver, then you’re going to get an even better deal, because Nissan is offering a $1,000 loyalty discount on the Ariya, which brings its effective cost down to $224 per month.
CarsDirect, which sniffed out this deal, thinks this Ariya deal will be in place until Memorial Day, so take advantage of tariff-free pricing while you can.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Nissan Ariya in stock. –trusted affiliate copy
Honda Prologue SUV
The Honda Prologue SUV has an MSRP of $48,850. Its lease term is 36 months, with $1,399 due at signing and a mileage allowance of 10,000 a year. The monthly payment on the Prologue is $239.
The 2024 Honda Prologue has up to $18,800 in rebates, and the price includes a $1,000 lease loyalty discount or conquest offer. In California and other ZEV states, the EX has an effective cost of just $278 per month; in other parts of the US, pricing will be around $30 higher. This offer ends July 7.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Honda Prologue in stock. –trusted affiliate copy
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 has an MSRP of $43,880. Its best lease term is 24 months, with $1,044 due at signing and a mileage allowance of 10,000 a year. The monthly payment on the Model 3 is $349.
The 2025 Tesla Model 3 still has the $7,500 federal government EV rebate. Several months ago, Tesla reduced the amount due at signing on all Model 3s. And for those who want to lease a Long Range Model 3, the effective cost can be as low as $393 per month.
You can lease the Model 3 for 36 months, but the folks at CarsDirect found that the better deal will be had on 24-month leases. They compared the Model 3’s MSRP to the 2025 Lexus IS 300 F Sport’s MSRP, which is nearly identical, and the Model 3 was around 30% cheaper to lease.
Acura ZDX
The 2024 Acura ZDX has an MSRP of $65,850. Its best lease term is 36 months, with $4,699 due at signing and a mileage allowance of 7,500 a year. The monthly payment on the ZDX is $299.
The 2024 ZDX is Acura’s cheapest vehicle to lease because it features up to $29,450 in lease cash. However, the best deal is limited to California and ZEV states. If you cash in on a loyalty discount or conquest cash, the effective cost is $430 per month. This offer runs til June 30.
Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Acura ZDX in stock. –trusted affiliate copy
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Ford (F) reported its first-quarter earnings, beating Wall Street’s revenue and EPS expectations. However, with Trump’s auto tariffs, Ford is suspending full-year guidance. Here’s a breakdown of Ford’s Q1 2025 earnings
Ford Q1 2025 earnings preview
After crosstown rival General Motors cut its full-year financial guidance last week, investors are waiting to see if Ford will follow suit.
Ford’s previous 2025 forecast called for EBIT of $7 billion to $8.5 billion and capital expenditures between $8 billion and $9 billion.
The biggest threat is Trump’s new auto tariffs, which include a 25% duty on imported vehicles and many parts. Since Ford builds a greater percentage of vehicles in the US than any other major automaker, outside of Tesla, it isn’t expected to see as big of an impact.
CEO Jim Farley called it “an opportunity for Ford,” during an interview with CNN last week, saying the company has a “different footprint, a different exposure for tariffs.”
Ford imports around 21% of the vehicles it sells in the US, while GM imports around 46%. According to Estimize, Wall St expects Ford to post Q1 EPS of $0.0 on revenue of $38.02 billion.
The company reports earnings for each of its three business units, Ford Blue (gas-powered vehicles), Model e (electric vehicles), and Ford Pro (commercial and software business).
In the fourth quarter, Ford’s EV unit (Model e) lost another $1.4 billion while Pro and Blue each reported an adjusted EBIT of $1.6 billion.
Financial breakdown
Ford beat Wall Street estimates, reporting first-quarter revenue of $40.7 billion with an adjusted EPS of 0.49.
- Q1 2025 Revenue: $40.7 billion vs $38.02 billion expected.
- Q1 2025 Adjusted EPS: $0.49 vs $0.0 expected.
The company posted adjusted EBIT of $1 billion, down 63% from Q1 2024. Ford said its first-quarter EBIT suffered a nearly $200 million hit from added tariff costs, primarily in Ford Blue and Ford Pro.
Ford Pro generated an EBIT of $1.3 billion, Ford Blue $96 million, and Ford Model e reported an EBIT loss of $849 million.
For Model e, the company is focused on improving gross margins and “exercising a disciplined approach to investments in battery facilities and next-generation products.” Although still a nearly $1 billion loss, it’s still a $500 million improvement from Q1 2024.
Ford said higher Model e revenue was driven by new EVs launching in Europe, like the electric Explorer and Capri.
The company said its “Power Promise” promotion, which includes a free home charger and several other benefits, has helped drive demand in the US.
Although it’s tracking within its previous full-year adjusted EBIT guidance of between $7 billion and $8.5 billion, Ford is suspending full-year guidance due to the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Ford estimates the full-year gross cost of tariffs to be around $2.5 billion. It expects a tariff-related net adverse adjusted EBIT impact of about $1.5 billion for the full year 2025.
Ford also extended its “From America, For America” campaign last week. The promo includes employee pricing on most 2024 and 2025 models and now runs through July 4.
Check back for more info from Ford’s first quarter conference call. Ford is also hosting its annual meeting on Thursday, May 8, where we should learn more about its EV plans and how it will navigate the new tariffs.
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