[bwiren13]

Okay, I'd bet I'm not the first one to have this idea, but I couldn't find a relevant thread so I'm starting one here...

I'm going to start this off by saying I may never actually buy one of these, but I come from the Ford tuning scene (FocusFanatics) and I am excited about the Maverick nonetheless. Why? Mainly because of the following:

1. It is based on a unibody "car-esque" platform (C2 to be exact, shared with the Escape and the Bronco Sport)
2. It is powered by an optional 2.0L EcoBoost plant that has been refined over the previous decade.

The cool thing about the Maverick being a unibody "mini truck", is that it is opening up a WHOLE new breed of aftermarket. However, since the Mav (I'm gonna start calling it that for short, maybe that's already a thing lol) is based on a lot of pre-existing major components, there is actually a shockingly large aftermarket already. Some people look at it and think "oh no, the car scene is dying, now we have hybrid mini trucks, what's next?!" But I look at it this way: Underneath its skin, this thing is strikingly similar to a hatchback in terms of framework. The rear suspension is literally cloned from the Euro-spec Fiesta ST. This shows that Ford is building the "fun-factor" into the Maverick from the get-go, but also showcases the ability for improvement.

Obviously I haven't seen one of these in person yet, but I have learned a lot about its drivetrain and suspension, and there is a surprising amount of stuff you can change as soon as the Maverick hits your driveway. I'm going to put together an extensive list of things I would like to see done with these trucks, and elaborate on each topic, based on my research/personal experience modifying my Focus and other Ford vehicles. Here goes:

~~~bwiren13's Preliminary Ford Maverick Modification List~~~
I am not responsible for damage incurred upon your vehicle or yourself. Some of these mods may not be road-legal; you are solely responsible for determining that factor. Safety and environment come first.

Powertrain/Performance: The obvious first step. The Maverick comes in either a 2.5L Atkinson-based hybrid (FWD only), or a 2.0L EcoBoost (FWD or AWD). For performance purposes, we're going to ignore the hybrid model and look at the EcoBoost.

• Physical/"Bolt-on" Mods:
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost has been around for a WHILE. There are a plethora of possible and pre-existing mods for this engine in a transversely-mounted setup. These include intercoolers, turbo upgrades, cold air intakes, catless or performance catted downpipe upgrades, and obviously custom exhausts can be made at any shop, but we'll have to wait for companies like Borla etc. to make bolt-on kits.
  • Performance upgrades like these will open up LOTS of potential for big power after tuning. We all know that these EcoBoost engines are stout right from the get-go, and they LOVE boost. Hence the name, obviously.
• Tuning:
  • A PCM tune is likely not far down the road, as there are already tons of companies like 5-Star, Unleashed, Livernois, Mountune, Cobb, etc tuning these engines via SCT or proprietary flashers. I expect that the 8-speed transmission will be simple enough to figure out in Ford's firmware, and hopefully some substantial performance gains can be made via tune alone.
  • Typically, on an otherwise-stock 2.0 Eco, a tune will put you around 300hp/350lb-ft at the crank, which should get you to 60mph in around 6 seconds (assuming the Maverick will weigh about the same as an AWD 2.0 EcoBoost Fusion, same drivetrain). With the amount of bolt-ons that are already available, the possibilities are endless.
• Engine Swaps:
  • These are a lot simpler than you'd think. The 2.0 EcoBoost is externally identical to the 2.3L EcoBoost found in the Mustang, Ranger, Focus RS, Explorer and more(?). What this means: these engines are EVERYWHERE, and you should have no trouble finding them for dirt-cheap in scrapyards or online in the near future.
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost computer and harness should work plug-n-play with the 2.3 motor. Obviously tuning will be required to keep boost safe and under control, but other than that it should be a quick way to get a massive bump in power output that shouldn't fry the AWD system (or FWD, if you so choose).
  • I would love to see performance brands like Hennessey make a Maverick performance variant (like the VelociRaptor), featuring a 2.3L EcoBoost swap and other off-road goodies.
• Powertrain Swaps:
  • Disappointed to hear that the Mav will not be offered in RWD? Well, the Bronco Sport (same platform) has a twin-clutch, rear-biased AWD system that features GOAT modes, etc... Not saying it'd be a simple swap, but I wouldn't rule this out as a possibility.
  • Might also look at wrecked Rangers and look into converting the Mav to a longitudinally (traditionally) mounted engine setup with RWD, maybe even lower it. A "Muscle Maverick", if you will.
  • I'd also like to see somebody swap a manual transmission into one of these. A FWD model would probably be best, but I know you can bolt a 6-speed "MMT6" box from a Focus ST right up to any EcoBoost. If you go the longitudinally-mounted route, try the EcoBoost Mustang's MT82 unit. The rest should be relatively straightforward, I'd assume the Focus ST or the Fiesta ST pedal cluster should bolt in with little-to-no modification required. A manual mini-truck. Cool! (also does the Bronco Sport come in a manual?? Can't remember, but that might be easier if so).
• Powertrain Upgrades:
  • Trans coolers, diff coolers, transfer case breather/coolers, keep those vital fluids from turning into Slushee!
  • Probably best for an FX4 variant that will be taken off-road. Obviously this truck has yet to prove its off-road worth, so these mods may or may not apply. Too early to tell yet. I'm not aware that any of these exist at the moment, but wouldn't be tough to fab up.

Suspension and Handling: To our advantage, albeit oddly, the Maverick has lots of hot-hatch underpinnings. Fiesta ST suspension. Focus ST powerplant. List goes on. We're going to need to get our hands on these trucks so we can compare parts and fitments between Ford models, but I bet there's aftermarket stuff out there for the Fiesta/Focus that will bolt right on. That's just the Ford way.

• Suspension:
  • I would imagine, since the rear suspension is pretty much from a Fiesta (although likely considerably different in track width), that the front struts are similar as well. I'm probably wrong, but someone should get some pictures of the Maverick's front struts posted so we can visually compare them to Fiesta units.
  • Where you want to go with suspension on your Maverick depends on your preferences and needs. If you want to slam it, and the Fiesta suspension fits, pick up some coilovers for a Fiesta ST and get busy! If you need more ground clearance, I believe there is actually a lift spacer kit available for the Fiesta as well, so I'd try that route first, but they are easy to fab up too. That mod in particular, I am certain we will soon see on the aftermarket.
• Sway Bars:
  • For stability, since the Mav likely has a unique track width to the Fiesta, sway bars will either have to be custom-made, or adapted from the likes of the Bronco Sport or maybe Ranger. I'm sure they'll be similar, and if so, that helps in case there are never any aftermarket ones made for the Maverick specifically.
  • Bushings are largely universal in design, and already widely available from the likes of Energy Suspension and Prothane. All you need is a general idea of what the bushings look like, and the diameter of the bar.
• Strut Brace:
  • Since this is a unibody car at heart, there's gonna be strut tower flex. This probably won't concern you for most applications, but if you're lowering your Maverick to be a street truck, or lifting it for Baja racing or just off-roading prowess, a strut brace will be instrumental in providing chassis strength and rigidity. Expect to see these on the aftermarket probably pretty soon. Hopefully I don't eat those words, as this would be a good upgrade for some. At least they're easy-peezy to fab up.
• Braking:
  • Someone is going to have to take a closer look than I can from the Internet, but depending on the robustness of the standard Maverick brakes, there may be some bolt-on alternatives if you need more "stop". First place I'd look is the Bronco Sport, specifically the Badlands edition, which I believe has upgraded brakes. Maybe the Explorer or the Ranger too?
• Other Unibody Reinforcements:
  • For those seeking extreme strength from their unibody trucks, the addition of bolt-on crossmembers underneath the unibody, as well as frame rail reinforcements will not only stiffen things up a bit, but will provide a little extra weight where traction is needed (if installed rearwards on the vehicle). Not a huge truck guy so I am not 100% on how that works for you off-roaders out there, but I assume the same principles from performance/track cars apply.

Appearance: There are many aspects of the Maverick that I really like, such as the boxy design and pretty much the whole rear-end. However, I can't be the only one who took one look at the front and immediately felt sad. It's just not an aggressive look at all. Maybe that's not important to you, but it points to the fact that not everyone has the same taste. So make your Maverick truly yours! There's a lot you can do cosmetically. Here are some of my ideas:

• Wheels:
  • Right off the bat, ALL of the available wheels elicit a soft-edged, city-oriented, "grocery-getter" vibe. And that's pretty much what Ford's marketing the Maverick as, but if you're modifying it in any way, clearly you see the potential here. I'm not sure, but I'd bet money that the bolt pattern is 5x108, since Ford uses that on everything. It's also the Bronco's bolt pattern, so that's a solid bet.
  • Because Ford uses 5x108 for EVERYTHING, you can easily pick up some cooler-looking wheels/takeoffs from a Bronco Sport, Explorer, Mustang, Fusion, Ranger, you name it. There's also a plethora of aftermarket wheels in this configuration, so fret not. Any direction you want to go, you pretty much already can.
• Trim:
  • Personally, I'm not a huge fan of chrome, or that chintzy silver-painted plastic trim that's on everything nowadays. I always tend to go for the gloss-black look on trim pieces, some prefer matte-black or grey, whatever you want.
  • Plasti-Dip is a great way to find out what you want to do, as it's temporary and easy to remove and change. Just mask off your trim piece/panel, spray on like spray paint, X-Acto around the edges when it dries and then just peel the excess off from around the panel, and voila. You can leave it on and hope it stays nice, or peel it right off and start over.
  • If you know what you want and are going for a permanent solution, you can either paint it or wrap it. Lots of vinyl wrap shops do trim, or you can do it yourself for less. It's not very hard.
• Lighting:
  • Ughhhh...the headlights. They're just not that great-looking, point-blank (my opinion). I could deal with them, but they just make the truck look like it ate too many nachos, rather than athletic and capable.
  • Hopefully someone makes cooler-looking aftermarket units (Morimoto, etc).
  • Maybe slightly tint the top portion only?
  • Tint the turn signals? Bonus points if you black out the 'bar' that goes across the grille, in which the turn signals are inlaid. Would look cool all blacked out.
  • Taillights aren't too bad...are they STILL halogen? It's 2021! (I literally don't know, they just look halogen in the pictures. I may be wrong). Maybe there are higher trim levels with LED units that can be swapped over? If not, aftermarket units will have to do.
  • Tint the taillights (I must stipulate, ONLY with taillight-specific material like LuxeAuto's, which has a special pattern that allows almost all emitted light to pass through, but still looks smoked). Easy enough to do yourself.
• Body Decals:
  • Not my personal preference, but I'm sure there's some of you out there who think a black stripe down the side with "M A V E R I C K" cut out of it would look pretty neat, or something to that likeness. Just putting it out here.
• Window Tint:
  • Also depends on personal preference, I for one would go 20% all around and do a 15% visor strip across the windshield. It's just nice to have privacy, and makes any car look sleeker. Obviously check your local laws, and don't tint so dark that you can't see at night.

That is just about all I could exhaustively think of at the moment, though I'm sure there's stuff I haven't covered. If so, leave a reply!

Looking forward to seeing what kind of stuff you guys do with your Mavericks.

Cheers!

 

[NinjaFinch]

What I want to know is what the electronic architecture's gonna look like. If I can enable cruise control on an XL using a laptop and nothing more than a new steering wheel switch pack, I've lost pretty much every reason to spend $5k extra on an XLT.

That, and it'd be neat seeing what kind of neat-yet-insignificant tricks our trucks are capable of. Like if ACC can be added by bolting on the radar block and tapping some CAN lines.

 

[Primrose]

Okay, I'd bet I'm not the first one to have this idea, but I couldn't find a relevant thread so I'm starting one here...

View attachment 408

I'm going to start this off by saying I may never actually buy one of these, but I come from the Ford tuning scene (FocusFanatics) and I am excited about the Maverick nonetheless. Why? Mainly because of the following:

1. It is based on a unibody "car-esque" platform (C2 to be exact, shared with the Escape and the Bronco Sport)
2. It is powered by an optional 2.0L EcoBoost plant that has been refined over the previous decade.

The cool thing about the Maverick being a unibody "mini truck", is that it is opening up a WHOLE new breed of aftermarket. However, since the Mav (I'm gonna start calling it that for short, maybe that's already a thing lol) is based on a lot of pre-existing major components, there is actually a shockingly large aftermarket already. Some people look at it and think "oh no, the car scene is dying, now we have hybrid mini trucks, what's next?!" But I look at it this way: Underneath its skin, this thing is strikingly similar to a hatchback in terms of framework. The rear suspension is literally cloned from the Euro-spec Fiesta ST. This shows that Ford is building the "fun-factor" into the Maverick from the get-go, but also showcases the ability for improvement.

Obviously I haven't seen one of these in person yet, but I have learned a lot about its drivetrain and suspension, and there is a surprising amount of stuff you can change as soon as the Maverick hits your driveway. I'm going to put together an extensive list of things I would like to see done with these trucks, and elaborate on each topic, based on my research/personal experience modifying my Focus and other Ford vehicles. Here goes:

~~~bwiren13's Preliminary Ford Maverick Modification List~~~
I am not responsible for damage incurred upon your vehicle or yourself. Some of these mods may not be road-legal; you are solely responsible for determining that factor. Safety and environment come first.

Powertrain/Performance: The obvious first step. The Maverick comes in either a 2.5L Atkinson-based hybrid (FWD only), or a 2.0L EcoBoost (FWD or AWD). For performance purposes, we're going to ignore the hybrid model and look at the EcoBoost.

• Physical/"Bolt-on" Mods:
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost has been around for a WHILE. There are a plethora of possible and pre-existing mods for this engine in a transversely-mounted setup. These include intercoolers, turbo upgrades, cold air intakes, catless or performance catted downpipe upgrades, and obviously custom exhausts can be made at any shop, but we'll have to wait for companies like Borla etc. to make bolt-on kits.
  • Performance upgrades like these will open up LOTS of potential for big power after tuning. We all know that these EcoBoost engines are stout right from the get-go, and they LOVE boost. Hence the name, obviously.
• Tuning:
  • A PCM tune is likely not far down the road, as there are already tons of companies like 5-Star, Unleashed, Livernois, Mountune, Cobb, etc tuning these engines via SCT or proprietary flashers. I expect that the 8-speed transmission will be simple enough to figure out in Ford's firmware, and hopefully some substantial performance gains can be made via tune alone.
  • Typically, on an otherwise-stock 2.0 Eco, a tune will put you around 300hp/350lb-ft at the crank, which should get you to 60mph in around 6 seconds (assuming the Maverick will weigh about the same as an AWD 2.0 EcoBoost Fusion, same drivetrain). With the amount of bolt-ons that are already available, the possibilities are endless.
• Engine Swaps:
  • These are a lot simpler than you'd think. The 2.0 EcoBoost is externally identical to the 2.3L EcoBoost found in the Mustang, Ranger, Focus RS, Explorer and more(?). What this means: these engines are EVERYWHERE, and you should have no trouble finding them for dirt-cheap in scrapyards or online in the near future.
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost computer and harness should work plug-n-play with the 2.3 motor. Obviously tuning will be required to keep boost safe and under control, but other than that it should be a quick way to get a massive bump in power output that shouldn't fry the AWD system (or FWD, if you so choose).
  • I would love to see performance brands like Hennessey make a Maverick performance variant (like the VelociRaptor), featuring a 2.3L EcoBoost swap and other off-road goodies.
• Powertrain Swaps:
  • Disappointed to hear that the Mav will not be offered in RWD? Well, the Bronco Sport (same platform) has a twin-clutch, rear-biased AWD system that features GOAT modes, etc... Not saying it'd be a simple swap, but I wouldn't rule this out as a possibility.
  • Might also look at wrecked Rangers and look into converting the Mav to a longitudinally (traditionally) mounted engine setup with RWD, maybe even lower it. A "Muscle Maverick", if you will.
  • I'd also like to see somebody swap a manual transmission into one of these. A FWD model would probably be best, but I know you can bolt a 6-speed "MMT6" box from a Focus ST right up to any EcoBoost. If you go the longitudinally-mounted route, try the EcoBoost Mustang's MT82 unit. The rest should be relatively straightforward, I'd assume the Focus ST or the Fiesta ST pedal cluster should bolt in with little-to-no modification required. A manual mini-truck. Cool! (also does the Bronco Sport come in a manual?? Can't remember, but that might be easier if so).
• Powertrain Upgrades:
  • Trans coolers, diff coolers, transfer case breather/coolers, keep those vital fluids from turning into Slushee!
  • Probably best for an FX4 variant that will be taken off-road. Obviously this truck has yet to prove its off-road worth, so these mods may or may not apply. Too early to tell yet. I'm not aware that any of these exist at the moment, but wouldn't be tough to fab up.

Suspension and Handling: To our advantage, albeit oddly, the Maverick has lots of hot-hatch underpinnings. Fiesta ST suspension. Focus ST powerplant. List goes on. We're going to need to get our hands on these trucks so we can compare parts and fitments between Ford models, but I bet there's aftermarket stuff out there for the Fiesta/Focus that will bolt right on. That's just the Ford way.

• Suspension:
  • I would imagine, since the rear suspension is pretty much from a Fiesta (although likely considerably different in track width), that the front struts are similar as well. I'm probably wrong, but someone should get some pictures of the Maverick's front struts posted so we can visually compare them to Fiesta units.
  • Where you want to go with suspension on your Maverick depends on your preferences and needs. If you want to slam it, and the Fiesta suspension fits, pick up some coilovers for a Fiesta ST and get busy! If you need more ground clearance, I believe there is actually a lift spacer kit available for the Fiesta as well, so I'd try that route first, but they are easy to fab up too. That mod in particular, I am certain we will soon see on the aftermarket.
• Sway Bars:
  • For stability, since the Mav likely has a unique track width to the Fiesta, sway bars will either have to be custom-made, or adapted from the likes of the Bronco Sport or maybe Ranger. I'm sure they'll be similar, and if so, that helps in case there are never any aftermarket ones made for the Maverick specifically.
  • Bushings are largely universal in design, and already widely available from the likes of Energy Suspension and Prothane. All you need is a general idea of what the bushings look like, and the diameter of the bar.
• Strut Brace:
  • Since this is a unibody car at heart, there's gonna be strut tower flex. This probably won't concern you for most applications, but if you're lowering your Maverick to be a street truck, or lifting it for Baja racing or just off-roading prowess, a strut brace will be instrumental in providing chassis strength and rigidity. Expect to see these on the aftermarket probably pretty soon. Hopefully I don't eat those words, as this would be a good upgrade for some. At least they're easy-peezy to fab up.
• Braking:
  • Someone is going to have to take a closer look than I can from the Internet, but depending on the robustness of the standard Maverick brakes, there may be some bolt-on alternatives if you need more "stop". First place I'd look is the Bronco Sport, specifically the Badlands edition, which I believe has upgraded brakes. Maybe the Explorer or the Ranger too?
• Other Unibody Reinforcements:
  • For those seeking extreme strength from their unibody trucks, the addition of bolt-on crossmembers underneath the unibody, as well as frame rail reinforcements will not only stiffen things up a bit, but will provide a little extra weight where traction is needed (if installed rearwards on the vehicle). Not a huge truck guy so I am not 100% on how that works for you off-roaders out there, but I assume the same principles from performance/track cars apply.

Appearance: There are many aspects of the Maverick that I really like, such as the boxy design and pretty much the whole rear-end. However, I can't be the only one who took one look at the front and immediately felt sad. It's just not an aggressive look at all. Maybe that's not important to you, but it points to the fact that not everyone has the same taste. So make your Maverick truly yours! There's a lot you can do cosmetically. Here are some of my ideas:

• Wheels:
  • Right off the bat, ALL of the available wheels elicit a soft-edged, city-oriented, "grocery-getter" vibe. And that's pretty much what Ford's marketing the Maverick as, but if you're modifying it in any way, clearly you see the potential here. I'm not sure, but I'd bet money that the bolt pattern is 5x108, since Ford uses that on everything. It's also the Bronco's bolt pattern, so that's a solid bet.
  • Because Ford uses 5x108 for EVERYTHING, you can easily pick up some cooler-looking wheels/takeoffs from a Bronco Sport, Explorer, Mustang, Fusion, Ranger, you name it. There's also a plethora of aftermarket wheels in this configuration, so fret not. Any direction you want to go, you pretty much already can.
• Trim:
  • Personally, I'm not a huge fan of chrome, or that chintzy silver-painted plastic trim that's on everything nowadays. I always tend to go for the gloss-black look on trim pieces, some prefer matte-black or grey, whatever you want.
  • Plasti-Dip is a great way to find out what you want to do, as it's temporary and easy to remove and change. Just mask off your trim piece/panel, spray on like spray paint, X-Acto around the edges when it dries and then just peel the excess off from around the panel, and voila. You can leave it on and hope it stays nice, or peel it right off and start over.
  • If you know what you want and are going for a permanent solution, you can either paint it or wrap it. Lots of vinyl wrap shops do trim, or you can do it yourself for less. It's not very hard.
• Lighting:
  • Ughhhh...the headlights. They're just not that great-looking, point-blank (my opinion). I could deal with them, but they just make the truck look like it ate too many nachos, rather than athletic and capable.
  • Hopefully someone makes cooler-looking aftermarket units (Morimoto, etc).
  • Maybe slightly tint the top portion only?
  • Tint the turn signals? Bonus points if you black out the 'bar' that goes across the grille, in which the turn signals are inlaid. Would look cool all blacked out.
  • Taillights aren't too bad...are they STILL halogen? It's 2021! (I literally don't know, they just look halogen in the pictures. I may be wrong). Maybe there are higher trim levels with LED units that can be swapped over? If not, aftermarket units will have to do.
  • Tint the taillights (I must stipulate, ONLY with taillight-specific material like LuxeAuto's, which has a special pattern that allows almost all emitted light to pass through, but still looks smoked). Easy enough to do yourself.
• Body Decals:
  • Not my personal preference, but I'm sure there's some of you out there who think a black stripe down the side with "M A V E R I C K" cut out of it would look pretty neat, or something to that likeness. Just putting it out here.
• Window Tint:
  • Also depends on personal preference, I for one would go 20% all around and do a 15% visor strip across the windshield. It's just nice to have privacy, and makes any car look sleeker. Obviously check your local laws, and don't tint so dark that you can't see at night.

That is just about all I could exhaustively think of at the moment, though I'm sure there's stuff I haven't covered. If so, leave a reply!

Looking forward to seeing what kind of stuff you guys do with your Mavericks.

Cheers!

Great list @bwiren13! I'd add under "Body Decals" that PPF would be something to consider. Nothing worse than getting a brand new car and having the paint start to chip from stuff on the road.

Do you have any recommendations on bolt-on mods for the 2.0 EcoBoost?

 

[bwiren13]

What I want to know is what the electronic architecture's gonna look like. If I can enable cruise control on an XL using a laptop and nothing more than a new steering wheel switch pack, I've lost pretty much every reason to spend $5k extra on an XLT.

That, and it'd be neat seeing what kind of neat-yet-insignificant tricks our trucks are capable of. Like if ACC can be added by bolting on the radar block and tapping some CAN lines.

I'd assume it won't be much different (if at all) than anything else Ford produces. Expect to see CAN-BUS architecture like the rest, I believe the new vehicles have Hi/Med/Lo speed buses, for critical/monitoring/infotainment purposes respectively. Should be able to edit parameters via ELM327 as soon as ForScan extends support (which may take months or years, depending on when they get to it). Hopefully it will have Central Config like most Fords these days, makes enabling features like Cruise Control a lot easier as you only need to change one parameter instead of hunting down all relevant codes in the different modules to make it work.

Great list @bwiren13! I'd add under "Body Decals" that PPF would be something to consider. Nothing worse than getting a brand new car and having the paint start to chip from stuff on the road.

Do you have any recommendations on bolt-on mods for the 2.0 EcoBoost?

Having seen Doug Demuro's review on the Mav (sticking with that nickname, I like it!), I was checking out his in-depth engine bay footage, and there appears to be tons of lateral clearance. So I would guess that most any bolt-on for the 2.0 Eco found in other Ford vehicles would easily, well, bolt right on! Lots of people with naturally-aspirated cars like to start by adding an intake or an exhaust, because it makes it sound cooler. With forced induction, i.e. EcoBoost, it's a little different. Adding an intake first, for example, might be your gut instinct, but you won't notice much of a noise difference, maybe just a little more turbo "swish". It won't add any more power however.

The first move any EcoBoost owner should make is getting a tune. If anyone reading this is interested, I would STRONGLY suggest contacting one of the companies on my list above, and asking if they will let you be their "guinea pig" for a tune. You will likely be able to get the tune for a steep discount or no cost at all, you will also likely be able to put your truck on a dyno and see what it really makes, and obviously you will also pave the way for the rest of us to buy a tune sooner. At this point there is little-to-no risk involved in "guinea-pigging" your truck, because these companies have been tuning the 2.0 EcoBoost for years and years. They just need to check out the PCM tune architecture/strategies that Ford uses on the Maverick, and then pretty much load up an already-stable 2.0 EB tune from another 2.0 EB vehicle. Also keep in mind that there is no way for Ford to really verify that you tuned the vehicle, so it legally cannot void your warranty. Of course there's always risk involved, but it really is not as bad as you think, and I guarantee you will not regret tuning your EcoBoost truck!

Once you're past the tuning stage (which again, should be the first step on a turbo car), THEN adding bolt-ons (and updating your tune to account for them!!) makes a lot more sense. After tune, I'd do an intake to help air flow more freely. On a Focus ST with this engine, with only an intake and their custom tune, Livernois Motorsports was able to add +38whp and a staggering +123wtq (dyno sheet)!!! I would imagine those two mods will be more than enough for most people. "Horsepower" is a relative measurement of 'go fast' that an engine produces, but it is mathematically a function of the torque the engine produces. Torque is what "twists" the wheels, and shoves you back in your seat. And I bet that 400 ft-lbs of it going through an 8-speed auto to all four wheels in a compact truck will be MORE than enough to force you to grin every time you step on the gas

If you want to see what I'm talking about, check out the difference between these two 0-60 pulls, captured in otherwise-identical 2.0 EcoBoost AWD Escapes:

• Stock
• Unleashed 93oct. tune, Intake, Cat-back exhaust, 1-step-colder spark plugs

I clocked 7.54sec stock, vs this guy's 5.73sec with just basic bolt-ons and stock turbo! That's probably about what you can expect from the Maverick with the same mods, since they're essentially the same platform. Pretty solid performance improvement I'd say. Would definitely help those who look to tow a small trailer, or who will be transporting a substantial payload around. But it'll also just be a kick in the pants whenever you feel like it too

 

[Barefootdan]

Following because this is my first truck coming from the tuner scene (brz, sti, 280z, Miata, etc.). Glad to see the mini truck genre is coming back. I think it looks great in the OP photo. Such a versatile platform.

 

[Primrose]

I'd assume it won't be much different (if at all) than anything else Ford produces. Expect to see CAN-BUS architecture like the rest, I believe the new vehicles have Hi/Med/Lo speed buses, for critical/monitoring/infotainment purposes respectively. Should be able to edit parameters via ELM327 as soon as ForScan extends support (which may take months or years, depending on when they get to it). Hopefully it will have Central Config like most Fords these days, makes enabling features like Cruise Control a lot easier as you only need to change one parameter instead of hunting down all relevant codes in the different modules to make it work.


Having seen Doug Demuro's review on the Mav (sticking with that nickname, I like it!), I was checking out his in-depth engine bay footage, and there appears to be tons of lateral clearance. So I would guess that most any bolt-on for the 2.0 Eco found in other Ford vehicles would easily, well, bolt right on! Lots of people with naturally-aspirated cars like to start by adding an intake or an exhaust, because it makes it sound cooler. With forced induction, i.e. EcoBoost, it's a little different. Adding an intake first, for example, might be your gut instinct, but you won't notice much of a noise difference, maybe just a little more turbo "swish". It won't add any more power however.

The first move any EcoBoost owner should make is getting a tune. If anyone reading this is interested, I would STRONGLY suggest contacting one of the companies on my list above, and asking if they will let you be their "guinea pig" for a tune. You will likely be able to get the tune for a steep discount or no cost at all, you will also likely be able to put your truck on a dyno and see what it really makes, and obviously you will also pave the way for the rest of us to buy a tune sooner. At this point there is little-to-no risk involved in "guinea-pigging" your truck, because these companies have been tuning the 2.0 EcoBoost for years and years. They just need to check out the PCM tune architecture/strategies that Ford uses on the Maverick, and then pretty much load up an already-stable 2.0 EB tune from another 2.0 EB vehicle. Also keep in mind that there is no way for Ford to really verify that you tuned the vehicle, so it legally cannot void your warranty. Of course there's always risk involved, but it really is not as bad as you think, and I guarantee you will not regret tuning your EcoBoost truck!

Once you're past the tuning stage (which again, should be the first step on a turbo car), THEN adding bolt-ons (and updating your tune to account for them!!) makes a lot more sense. After tune, I'd do an intake to help air flow more freely. On a Focus ST with this engine, with only an intake and their custom tune, Livernois Motorsports was able to add +38whp and a staggering +123wtq (dyno sheet)!!! I would imagine those two mods will be more than enough for most people. "Horsepower" is a relative measurement of 'go fast' that an engine produces, but it is mathematically a function of the torque the engine produces. Torque is what "twists" the wheels, and shoves you back in your seat. And I bet that 400 ft-lbs of it going through an 8-speed auto to all four wheels in a compact truck will be MORE than enough to force you to grin every time you step on the gas

If you want to see what I'm talking about, check out the difference between these two 0-60 pulls, captured in otherwise-identical 2.0 EcoBoost AWD Escapes:

• Stock
• Unleashed 93oct. tune, Intake, Cat-back exhaust, 1-step-colder spark plugs

I clocked 7.54sec stock, vs this guy's 5.73sec with just basic bolt-ons and stock turbo! That's probably about what you can expect from the Maverick with the same mods, since they're essentially the same platform. Pretty solid performance improvement I'd say. Would definitely help those who look to tow a small trailer, or who will be transporting a substantial payload around. But it'll also just be a kick in the pants whenever you feel like it too

I never thought I'd see the day where Escapes are doing 5.73 second pulls lol. Thanks a lot for explaining that @bwiren13!

I'm going through the list again and it's got me wondering about lowering how easy it might be to lower the Maverick. I can see a lot of people giving it the lowrider treatment. I imagine it would be easier on the EcoSport models than the hybrids.

Have you had any experience with lowering trucks? Any recommendations?

 

[Primrose]

Following because this is my first truck coming from the tuner scene (brz, sti, 280z, Miata, etc.). Glad to see the mini truck genre is coming back. I think it looks great in the OP photo. Such a versatile platform.

Welcome to the forum @Barefootdan! Have you given any thought on which Maverick trim you want to get and what you might want to do with it?

 

[bwiren13]

Following because this is my first truck coming from the tuner scene (brz, sti, 280z, Miata, etc.). Glad to see the mini truck genre is coming back. I think it looks great in the OP photo. Such a versatile platform.

Awesome! And thanks, I just hastily edited it in Mac Preview before posting bc I thought it needed a photo lmao

I never thought I'd see the day where Escapes are doing 5.73 second pulls lol. Thanks a lot for explaining that @bwiren13!

I'm going through the list again and it's got me wondering about lowering how easy it might be to lower the Maverick. I can see a lot of people giving it the lowrider treatment. I imagine it would be easier on the EcoSport models than the hybrids.

Have you had any experience with lowering trucks? Any recommendations?

Haven't lowered any trucks in my day, but have tons of experience with MacPherson strut/independent rear suspension setups, which is pretty clearly what the Maverick will have. It isn't a truck-style suspension since it is obviously a unibody vehicle. As I rambled about in the list, I really hope that the Maverick's suspension componentry is close or identical to the Fiesta's or the Focus's, because that will simply allow anyone to buy some Fiesta coilovers and drop it 2+ inches out of the box. Good coilover setups will have integrated camber adjustments, so you can do that to your liking, or if not you can just grab a set of standard camber plates for a Fiesta so that you can maintain stock alignment. Then go get it aligned and you're good to go. Only concern is the obvious difference in weight between the Fiesta and the Maverick, so we shall see what becomes available first. At least it'd be fun to try

On another note, I am sure that lowering springs will start becoming available once the Maverick goes on sale. Usually you can find them on CarID or similar aftermarket parts websites. Just want to make sure you upgrade to suitable dampers as well, the stockers aren't going to be matched to the lowering springs' rates. If you were to do this, a) they would ride like crap, b) they wouldn't last very long after that, and c) they are designed for stock ride height, so you are reducing your available travel by lowering the vehicle and retaining them, which is insanely dangerous. Proper dampers or coilovers have adjusted travel ranges, so while the vehicle rides lower, in actuality you don't really lose a ton of usable travel unless you're absolutely slammed.

[Also a P.S.A. to anyone reading this btw, NEVER cut your springs to lower your vehicle.]

 

[Barefootdan]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! I placed an order for an Oxford White Lariat with the 2.0t and AWD. Lariat Luxury package and the FX4 package. Can’t wait!

 

[bwiren13]

I crudely Photoshopped together some more concept pics...this is personally the direction I'd go cosmetically with my (currently hypothetical) '22 Maverick XLT FX4 EcoBoost AWD (in 'Alto Blue', and wow that is a mouthful)... Introducing the Muscle 'Mav:

My goal would be for it to be spec'd just as shown, possibly in Lariat FX4 trim though, for a classier interior. Would start performance mods off 'slow', i.e. 3" intake, 67mm Mustang throttle body upgrade, 3" exhaust, 93oct. tune, colder spark plugs, performance catted downpipe, BOV, and potentially a slightly larger intercooler. Would be targeting a reliable 300whp/380wtq for daily driving. For handling, I'd likely be on coilovers and would beef up the rear sway bar for starters. Wheels are 21's off of an Edge ST, would bolt straight on. Custom tuner-style (appropriate for this truck) rear bumper-exit 4" exhaust tip.

As the build progresses I could build the trans up, add engine/trans/diff oil coolers, go big turbo, retune, swap in 6AN braided oil return lines, big intercooler, solid boost pipes, polyurethane engine/trans mounts, etc... would be targeting 400whp/500wtq. That is probably as much power as I'd throw at a Ford AWD system. There's so much more you could do if money was no object, like a full Focus RS drivetrain swap, target 650hp/680tq, etc...

I'd be pretty happy with my black-on-blue 300whp mini truck

 

[Barefootdan]

Love that concept!
Couple questions about the drivetrain. Sorry if any of these are unknown at this time but it seems like Ford is pulling from their parts bin on this.
Is the awd setup a dynamic or all time awd?
Does it only send power to rear when slip is detected up front?
Do we know how much power can be sent to the rear?
The ecoboost 2.0t has been tried and true in the focus ST platform, how does the 8 speed hold up?
Totally understandable that the transmission may not be “quick” since that’s not the goal of this platform, but how does the 8 speed behave?

 

[bwiren13]

Love that concept!
Couple questions about the drivetrain. Sorry if any of these are unknown at this time but it seems like Ford is pulling from their parts bin on this.
Is the awd setup a dynamic or all time awd?
Does it only send power to rear when slip is detected up front?
Do we know how much power can be sent to the rear?
The ecoboost 2.0t has been tried and true in the focus ST platform, how does the 8 speed hold up?
Totally understandable that the transmission may not be “quick” since that’s not the goal of this platform, but how does the 8 speed behave?

Yeah I agree about the parts-bin comment haha, that's what got me excited about this truck. Initially I actually didn't like it but it's really growing on me now that I know there is pedigree and potential under the hood.

The Maverick FWD model will 3 have selectable drive modes standard: Normal, Sport, and Snow. Ford promises that the FX4 model will have more drive modes...which leads me to assume that the AWD system will be at least an "intelligent" one. I would not be surprised if the FX4 comes with either G.O.A.T. modes (like the Bronco), and features the twin-clutch lockable center diff. That would really kick ass. For street use though, I'd still be OK with a standard AWD system...just a little bit more wary of chucking big turbo power through it.

I'm not 100% on the power split between front and rear on Ford's latest AWD system, i.e. the system I expect to see in this, and which is currently sold in the Bronco Sport. It appears to me to be a rear-biased setup, and like I said, it has a twin clutch center diff, so there's hope. I am pretty sure it shares a lot with the Focus RS of old (big sad). I do know that Ford's legacy "standard" AWD systems (sans-drive modes, like what you'd see in a 2.0 EcoBoost Fusion AWD or something) is just a 'slip-then-grip' system with a 60% front bias (so 40% to the rear, and only when front slips or under wide open throttle). Not sure how the incoming AWD will behave, but if it wears the FX4 badge, I'm sure Ford will make it good.

As for the transmission, I assume this is the same 8-speed auto that they are putting in the Bronco Sport. It's probably going to be an identical powertrain altogether (one can only hope). Ford's latest transverse 8-speed auto is a derivative of their first 8-speed auto, found in the recent Edge ST. THAT transmission was a total nightmare to drive, and totally killed the buzz around the Edge ST once people actually started driving it. I anticipate that Ford will use whatever updated version of it is shipping in the Bronco Sport though, and based on my limited research, it seems to be a LOT better. With proper trans tuning I'm sure it will scoot pretty good.

 

[fordfan]

Yeah I agree about the parts-bin comment haha, that's what got me excited about this truck. Initially I actually didn't like it but it's really growing on me now that I know there is pedigree and potential under the hood.

The Maverick FWD model will 3 have selectable drive modes standard: Normal, Sport, and Snow. Ford promises that the FX4 model will have more drive modes...which leads me to assume that the AWD system will be at least an "intelligent" one. I would not be surprised if the FX4 comes with either G.O.A.T. modes (like the Bronco), and features the twin-clutch lockable center diff. That would really kick ass. For street use though, I'd still be OK with a standard AWD system...just a little bit more wary of chucking big turbo power through it.

I'm not 100% on the power split between front and rear on Ford's latest AWD system, i.e. the system I expect to see in this, and which is currently sold in the Bronco Sport. It appears to me to be a rear-biased setup, and like I said, it has a twin clutch center diff, so there's hope. I am pretty sure it shares a lot with the Focus RS of old (big sad). I do know that Ford's legacy "standard" AWD systems (sans-drive modes, like what you'd see in a 2.0 EcoBoost Fusion AWD or something) is just a 'slip-then-grip' system with a 60% front bias (so 40% to the rear, and only when front slips or under wide open throttle). Not sure how the incoming AWD will behave, but if it wears the FX4 badge, I'm sure Ford will make it good.

As for the transmission, I assume this is the same 8-speed auto that they are putting in the Bronco Sport. It's probably going to be an identical powertrain altogether (one can only hope). Ford's latest transverse 8-speed auto is a derivative of their first 8-speed auto, found in the recent Edge ST. THAT transmission was a total nightmare to drive, and totally killed the buzz around the Edge ST once people actually started driving it. I anticipate that Ford will use whatever updated version of it is shipping in the Bronco Sport though, and based on my limited research, it seems to be a LOT better. With proper trans tuning I'm sure it will scoot pretty good.

Performance should increase even more if Ford launches the Maverick EV.

"But it appears that CEO Jim Farley has even bigger plans for the pickup, including a possible future Ford Maverick EV and a whole family of other variants.

“The electrification of the industry is a big change, and I think it wasn’t clear until we launched Lightning and Mach-E that Ford was going to be a winner in this new electric reality,” Farley said. “Now investors are betting on Ford, and what they’re telling me is, ‘The strategy is attractive, Go execute it, Farley."

Ford Maverick EV, Other Variants Could Spawn Entire Family

A Ford Maverick EV and other variants could spawn an entirely new family in FoMoCo's lineup, according to CEO Jim Farley.

fordauthority.com

 

[bwiren13]

@Barefootdan, I just did a 'Build & Price' on a Lariat FX4, and read the fine print on the FX4's AWD system...looks like the FX4 package adds only two drive modes to the mix, so in total you will have:

• Normal
• Sport
• Snow
• Sand
• Mud and Ruts

This leads me to believe that it is probably a very basic AWD system, and I would not raise my hopes as far as rear-wheel bias goes. This makes sense, as FWD bias is more efficient, and Ford's gotta hit that MPG rating somehow. Expect a 60% front wheel bias and 40% rear bias. Be pleasantly surprised if it ends up being fancier than that

 

[TitoTheElephant]

Okay, I'd bet I'm not the first one to have this idea, but I couldn't find a relevant thread so I'm starting one here...

View attachment 408

I'm going to start this off by saying I may never actually buy one of these, but I come from the Ford tuning scene (FocusFanatics) and I am excited about the Maverick nonetheless. Why? Mainly because of the following:

1. It is based on a unibody "car-esque" platform (C2 to be exact, shared with the Escape and the Bronco Sport)
2. It is powered by an optional 2.0L EcoBoost plant that has been refined over the previous decade.

The cool thing about the Maverick being a unibody "mini truck", is that it is opening up a WHOLE new breed of aftermarket. However, since the Mav (I'm gonna start calling it that for short, maybe that's already a thing lol) is based on a lot of pre-existing major components, there is actually a shockingly large aftermarket already. Some people look at it and think "oh no, the car scene is dying, now we have hybrid mini trucks, what's next?!" But I look at it this way: Underneath its skin, this thing is strikingly similar to a hatchback in terms of framework. The rear suspension is literally cloned from the Euro-spec Fiesta ST. This shows that Ford is building the "fun-factor" into the Maverick from the get-go, but also showcases the ability for improvement.

Obviously I haven't seen one of these in person yet, but I have learned a lot about its drivetrain and suspension, and there is a surprising amount of stuff you can change as soon as the Maverick hits your driveway. I'm going to put together an extensive list of things I would like to see done with these trucks, and elaborate on each topic, based on my research/personal experience modifying my Focus and other Ford vehicles. Here goes:

~~~bwiren13's Preliminary Ford Maverick Modification List~~~
I am not responsible for damage incurred upon your vehicle or yourself. Some of these mods may not be road-legal; you are solely responsible for determining that factor. Safety and environment come first.

Powertrain/Performance: The obvious first step. The Maverick comes in either a 2.5L Atkinson-based hybrid (FWD only), or a 2.0L EcoBoost (FWD or AWD). For performance purposes, we're going to ignore the hybrid model and look at the EcoBoost.

• Physical/"Bolt-on" Mods:
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost has been around for a WHILE. There are a plethora of possible and pre-existing mods for this engine in a transversely-mounted setup. These include intercoolers, turbo upgrades, cold air intakes, catless or performance catted downpipe upgrades, and obviously custom exhausts can be made at any shop, but we'll have to wait for companies like Borla etc. to make bolt-on kits.
  • Performance upgrades like these will open up LOTS of potential for big power after tuning. We all know that these EcoBoost engines are stout right from the get-go, and they LOVE boost. Hence the name, obviously.
• Tuning:
  • A PCM tune is likely not far down the road, as there are already tons of companies like 5-Star, Unleashed, Livernois, Mountune, Cobb, etc tuning these engines via SCT or proprietary flashers. I expect that the 8-speed transmission will be simple enough to figure out in Ford's firmware, and hopefully some substantial performance gains can be made via tune alone.
  • Typically, on an otherwise-stock 2.0 Eco, a tune will put you around 300hp/350lb-ft at the crank, which should get you to 60mph in around 6 seconds (assuming the Maverick will weigh about the same as an AWD 2.0 EcoBoost Fusion, same drivetrain). With the amount of bolt-ons that are already available, the possibilities are endless.
• Engine Swaps:
  • These are a lot simpler than you'd think. The 2.0 EcoBoost is externally identical to the 2.3L EcoBoost found in the Mustang, Ranger, Focus RS, Explorer and more(?). What this means: these engines are EVERYWHERE, and you should have no trouble finding them for dirt-cheap in scrapyards or online in the near future.
  • The 2.0 EcoBoost computer and harness should work plug-n-play with the 2.3 motor. Obviously tuning will be required to keep boost safe and under control, but other than that it should be a quick way to get a massive bump in power output that shouldn't fry the AWD system (or FWD, if you so choose).
  • I would love to see performance brands like Hennessey make a Maverick performance variant (like the VelociRaptor), featuring a 2.3L EcoBoost swap and other off-road goodies.
• Powertrain Swaps:
  • Disappointed to hear that the Mav will not be offered in RWD? Well, the Bronco Sport (same platform) has a twin-clutch, rear-biased AWD system that features GOAT modes, etc... Not saying it'd be a simple swap, but I wouldn't rule this out as a possibility.
  • Might also look at wrecked Rangers and look into converting the Mav to a longitudinally (traditionally) mounted engine setup with RWD, maybe even lower it. A "Muscle Maverick", if you will.
  • I'd also like to see somebody swap a manual transmission into one of these. A FWD model would probably be best, but I know you can bolt a 6-speed "MMT6" box from a Focus ST right up to any EcoBoost. If you go the longitudinally-mounted route, try the EcoBoost Mustang's MT82 unit. The rest should be relatively straightforward, I'd assume the Focus ST or the Fiesta ST pedal cluster should bolt in with little-to-no modification required. A manual mini-truck. Cool! (also does the Bronco Sport come in a manual?? Can't remember, but that might be easier if so).
• Powertrain Upgrades:
  • Trans coolers, diff coolers, transfer case breather/coolers, keep those vital fluids from turning into Slushee!
  • Probably best for an FX4 variant that will be taken off-road. Obviously this truck has yet to prove its off-road worth, so these mods may or may not apply. Too early to tell yet. I'm not aware that any of these exist at the moment, but wouldn't be tough to fab up.

Suspension and Handling: To our advantage, albeit oddly, the Maverick has lots of hot-hatch underpinnings. Fiesta ST suspension. Focus ST powerplant. List goes on. We're going to need to get our hands on these trucks so we can compare parts and fitments between Ford models, but I bet there's aftermarket stuff out there for the Fiesta/Focus that will bolt right on. That's just the Ford way.

• Suspension:
  • I would imagine, since the rear suspension is pretty much from a Fiesta (although likely considerably different in track width), that the front struts are similar as well. I'm probably wrong, but someone should get some pictures of the Maverick's front struts posted so we can visually compare them to Fiesta units.
  • Where you want to go with suspension on your Maverick depends on your preferences and needs. If you want to slam it, and the Fiesta suspension fits, pick up some coilovers for a Fiesta ST and get busy! If you need more ground clearance, I believe there is actually a lift spacer kit available for the Fiesta as well, so I'd try that route first, but they are easy to fab up too. That mod in particular, I am certain we will soon see on the aftermarket.
• Sway Bars:
  • For stability, since the Mav likely has a unique track width to the Fiesta, sway bars will either have to be custom-made, or adapted from the likes of the Bronco Sport or maybe Ranger. I'm sure they'll be similar, and if so, that helps in case there are never any aftermarket ones made for the Maverick specifically.
  • Bushings are largely universal in design, and already widely available from the likes of Energy Suspension and Prothane. All you need is a general idea of what the bushings look like, and the diameter of the bar.
• Strut Brace:
  • Since this is a unibody car at heart, there's gonna be strut tower flex. This probably won't concern you for most applications, but if you're lowering your Maverick to be a street truck, or lifting it for Baja racing or just off-roading prowess, a strut brace will be instrumental in providing chassis strength and rigidity. Expect to see these on the aftermarket probably pretty soon. Hopefully I don't eat those words, as this would be a good upgrade for some. At least they're easy-peezy to fab up.
• Braking:
  • Someone is going to have to take a closer look than I can from the Internet, but depending on the robustness of the standard Maverick brakes, there may be some bolt-on alternatives if you need more "stop". First place I'd look is the Bronco Sport, specifically the Badlands edition, which I believe has upgraded brakes. Maybe the Explorer or the Ranger too?
• Other Unibody Reinforcements:
  • For those seeking extreme strength from their unibody trucks, the addition of bolt-on crossmembers underneath the unibody, as well as frame rail reinforcements will not only stiffen things up a bit, but will provide a little extra weight where traction is needed (if installed rearwards on the vehicle). Not a huge truck guy so I am not 100% on how that works for you off-roaders out there, but I assume the same principles from performance/track cars apply.

Appearance: There are many aspects of the Maverick that I really like, such as the boxy design and pretty much the whole rear-end. However, I can't be the only one who took one look at the front and immediately felt sad. It's just not an aggressive look at all. Maybe that's not important to you, but it points to the fact that not everyone has the same taste. So make your Maverick truly yours! There's a lot you can do cosmetically. Here are some of my ideas:

• Wheels:
  • Right off the bat, ALL of the available wheels elicit a soft-edged, city-oriented, "grocery-getter" vibe. And that's pretty much what Ford's marketing the Maverick as, but if you're modifying it in any way, clearly you see the potential here. I'm not sure, but I'd bet money that the bolt pattern is 5x108, since Ford uses that on everything. It's also the Bronco's bolt pattern, so that's a solid bet.
  • Because Ford uses 5x108 for EVERYTHING, you can easily pick up some cooler-looking wheels/takeoffs from a Bronco Sport, Explorer, Mustang, Fusion, Ranger, you name it. There's also a plethora of aftermarket wheels in this configuration, so fret not. Any direction you want to go, you pretty much already can.
• Trim:
  • Personally, I'm not a huge fan of chrome, or that chintzy silver-painted plastic trim that's on everything nowadays. I always tend to go for the gloss-black look on trim pieces, some prefer matte-black or grey, whatever you want.
  • Plasti-Dip is a great way to find out what you want to do, as it's temporary and easy to remove and change. Just mask off your trim piece/panel, spray on like spray paint, X-Acto around the edges when it dries and then just peel the excess off from around the panel, and voila. You can leave it on and hope it stays nice, or peel it right off and start over.
  • If you know what you want and are going for a permanent solution, you can either paint it or wrap it. Lots of vinyl wrap shops do trim, or you can do it yourself for less. It's not very hard.
• Lighting:
  • Ughhhh...the headlights. They're just not that great-looking, point-blank (my opinion). I could deal with them, but they just make the truck look like it ate too many nachos, rather than athletic and capable.
  • Hopefully someone makes cooler-looking aftermarket units (Morimoto, etc).
  • Maybe slightly tint the top portion only?
  • Tint the turn signals? Bonus points if you black out the 'bar' that goes across the grille, in which the turn signals are inlaid. Would look cool all blacked out.
  • Taillights aren't too bad...are they STILL halogen? It's 2021! (I literally don't know, they just look halogen in the pictures. I may be wrong). Maybe there are higher trim levels with LED units that can be swapped over? If not, aftermarket units will have to do.
  • Tint the taillights (I must stipulate, ONLY with taillight-specific material like LuxeAuto's, which has a special pattern that allows almost all emitted light to pass through, but still looks smoked). Easy enough to do yourself.
• Body Decals:
  • Not my personal preference, but I'm sure there's some of you out there who think a black stripe down the side with "M A V E R I C K" cut out of it would look pretty neat, or something to that likeness. Just putting it out here.
• Window Tint:
  • Also depends on personal preference, I for one would go 20% all around and do a 15% visor strip across the windshield. It's just nice to have privacy, and makes any car look sleeker. Obviously check your local laws, and don't tint so dark that you can't see at night.

That is just about all I could exhaustively think of at the moment, though I'm sure there's stuff I haven't covered. If so, leave a reply!

Looking forward to seeing what kind of stuff you guys do with your Mavericks.

Cheers!

Love this thread. Question for you pros. I really like the maverick. But the wife would prefer a hybrid model. Do you guys think I can have just as much fun with a hybrid as far as mods and performance go?

 

[bwiren13]

Love this thread. Question for you pros. I really like the maverick. But the wife would prefer a hybrid model. Do you guys think I can have just as much fun with a hybrid as far as mods and performance go?

No. FWD only, CVT transmission, Atkinson-cycle motor, and no turbo. No feasible way to “tune” a hybrid, and besides even if you could, you would be defeating the purpose for which it was designed, and it would still be slow. I’m sure the hybrid will be perfectly fine to drive, and you get the same handling as the EcoBoost, but it certainly isn’t a 2.0 Turbo. However it gets double the gas mileage, so you really have to pick your battles.

 

[Jack]

I’ve been looking at lifts for the current bronco sport and found someone making a 2inch lift and fitting different tires and wheels. That’s sorta my plan so far. Oh and maybe a tune.

 

[TitoTheElephant]

No. FWD only, CVT transmission, Atkinson-cycle motor, and no turbo. No feasible way to “tune” a hybrid, and besides even if you could, you would be defeating the purpose for which it was designed, and it would still be slow. I’m sure the hybrid will be perfectly fine to drive, and you get the same handling as the EcoBoost, but it certainly isn’t a 2.0 Turbo. However it gets double the gas mileage, so you really have to pick your battles.

Well it seems like im.going to make the wife angry in the near future lol however I won't be getting the AWD. I'll pretty much be getting just the 2.0 liter ecoboost on the xlt and a few minor cosmetic add ons. I feel like if I add the AWD package, I might as well get a more expensive truck..but idk, I'm super undecisive. So many great configuration options and I told the wife I wouldn't spend more than 25k. Lol although it's looking closer to 27-28. Uh oh

 

[TitoTheElephant]

I’ve been looking at lifts for the current bronco sport and found someone making a 2inch lift and fitting different tires and wheels. That’s sorta my plan so far. Oh and maybe a tune.

Agreed. I see these guys want to lower. I want to lift it and put some beefy wheels on it. That sounds like a fun truck! And I prefer that look. I like the rendering a few post above with the alto blue and things blacked out. But I would lift instead of Lower

 

[bwiren13]

Well it seems like im.going to make the wife angry in the near future lol however I won't be getting the AWD. I'll pretty much be getting just the 2.0 liter ecoboost on the xlt and a few minor cosmetic add ons. I feel like if I add the AWD package, I might as well get a more expensive truck..but idk, I'm super undecisive. So many great configuration options and I told the wife I wouldn't spend more than 25k. Lol although it's looking closer to 27-28. Uh oh

Try starting with the XL model and adding options you like. The AWD drivetrain only adds $800, that seems like a deal to me! The XL EcoBoost AWD with all the specs I wanted comes out to $26,000. You can always change the steel wheels out later, but it gets the options you’ll want. Plus even a sunroof.