2023-11-02 14:56:28
A year following transforming the front of his Mustang Mach-E into an intimidating Halloween candy dispensary, director of product design Ryan McManus is stepping things up this year with his new F-150 Lightning.
McManus is taking full advantage of the Pro Power Onboard, as well as all the available plugs in the truck’s Mega Power Frunk, for a spooky new Halloween creation.
While reusing the teeth he made last year, McManus also turns on a television that shows an “otherworldly” looped video of swirling fog and a red thunderstorm.
Smoke, enhanced by a strobe light, billows from the trunk while eight-foot-long inflatable tentacles extend from the side and rear windows. McManus has even added lighting effects to the underside of the truck that will flash with the music playing inside the truck.
“What I loved was that (the truck) basically became a canvas for creativity,” McManus said. “I knew I might do a lot of different things that I mightn’t do if I just opened the trunk (of another vehicle). “It’s the truck bed that allows that capability.”
His second rodeo
Like last year’s creation, McManus wanted to transform the F-150 Lightning’s face into a mouth, but he wanted his latest version to look more creature-like. That will help differentiate his truck from the more traditional decorations he sees in his Halloween-crazed neighborhood.
The trick: put the monster in the truck
“I wanted to do something a little sci-fi and otherworldly, especially with the amount of power I can get out of the front and back of the truck,” McManus said. “I’m using the F-150 Lightning and special effects this way to make it look very alive and not static: it’s a monster truck.”
The creation made its debut at a trunk-or-treat event at the Massachusetts school where McManus’s wife teaches. He plans to use a slightly modified version in his Halloween-crazed neighborhood on October 31. Halloween gatherings also offer McManus the opportunity to discuss Ford products with friends and neighbors.
The gift: be proud of Ford
“I love being able to show Ford stuff,” he said. “It’s part of the pleasure of the job. Besides the fun of having a trunk or a treat, I will be able to talk to the parents regarding the truck. Many parents have never seen an electric truck before and some people may not recognize it when they see it on the street.
This will definitely open up a lot of conversations. “I’ll talk regarding what we’re doing at Ford and why we’re so excited regarding these things.”
Last year was the first time McManus participated in a trunk-or-treat event, and the frunk of his Mach-E was a topic of conversation. He hopes his new display will get others thinking regarding the countless ways they might use an F-150 Lightning. And to make it even more authentic, he even created a fake patent application for his concept.
“It was definitely a highlight last year because people hadn’t seen it yet and it started a discussion with parents,” he said, noting that much of the public conversation regarding electric vehicles is around charging and focuses less in its added capabilities. “This should get people excited regarding the possibilities of what the truck can do.”
Typically, McManus and his family use the frunk to carry their children’s sports equipment and grocery shopping. The truck’s zone lighting also comes in handy when soccer fields need a little extra light to continue practice following dark.
You also use Pro Power Onboard to power lawn care equipment and charge your child’s go-kart. The USB ports on the frunk also lend themselves to charging your phone in an emergency.
“There are all these little features that we designed and incorporated,” said McManus, who has had the truck, his first truck, since July. “We’re still just scratching the surface.”
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