The Tremor is the first time the EcoBoost 3.5 has been available in a short wheelbase truck.

The F-150 has been the number one vehicle sold in the United States for 36 years straight. This volume seller has continued to get better through the years. For a small fraction of that sales leading time Ford even offered a high performance version that we all remember as the Lightning. That truck bowed in 2004 and SVT has lately been focused on the Raptor truck, which has been it’s own runaway success.

At a press event this week, Ford unveiled the F-150 Tremor sport truck. The result of a behind the scenes skunk-works type effort, the Tremor brings several firsts to the current generation F-150. While it is not a Lightning replacement, it is a great starting point.

The Tremor will be available in regular cab, short bed configuration only. It features special custom style leather buckets with alcantara inserts, as well as a flow-trough center console. Both previously unavailable in standard cab F-150’s.

Power comes from the 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine, also previously unavailable in this cab and bed configuration. The only gearing option is 4.10, and an electronic locking rear differential ensures the truck can hook up. The truck is also available in either two wheel or four wheel drive, coming with either the FX4 or FX2 appearance package.

The blacked out three bar grille, HID headlamps, and black 20-inch six-spoke wheels also lend to the truck’s aggressive appearance.

The Tremor project was the work of a Ford engineer, who had made it a sort of side or pet project. After a few examples were built and tested, the marketing department decided this truck would nicely fill a niche missing from the current F-150 lineup. Make no mistake, with 0-60 times rumored to be in the seven-second zone this truck is still a few ticks short of the Lightning on acceleration, but likely worlds ahead in fuel economy. The suspension is also standard F-150, so it lacks the Lightning’s stance and handling prowess. However we think once aftermarket companies like Livernois Motorsport get their hands on this truck, some simple tuning and bolt-on modifications will definitely have the Tremor shaking things up when it goes on sale later this summer. Check out the gallery below for more images from the reveal.