Official: Electrified Ford Mustang, F-150 & Transit Set For Launch By 2020 Next To Fully Electric SUV


Ford officially confirmed today details on seven out of the 13 global electrified models scheduled for launch in the next five years, including the Mustang Hybrid, the F-150 Hybrid and the Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid.

Next to the new electrified versions of existing models, Ford will also launch a fully electric SUV with an expected range of ‘at least 300 miles’ for customers globally.

Ford said that the all-electric SUV will be produced at the Flat Rock plant and sold in North America, Europe and Asia, without revealing further details. 

Perhaps the most anticipated model in Ford’s major EV push will be the hybrid version of the Mustang; the company says that the electrified version will offer ‘V8 power and even more low-end torque’. The official debut is set for 2020, with the car to be initially available only in North America.

As for the F-150 Hybrid, Ford plans for it to enter the North America and Middle East markets by 2020. The company says that the final production version will offer powerful towing and payload capacity, while its electrified powertrain will allow it to operate as a mobile generator. 

The Transit Custom is also destined to get a plug-in hybrid variant by 2019 in Europe, planning to offer reduced operating costs, even in the heaviest of traffic jams. Ford says that they are going to offer two new pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles. 

 Ford’s global range of utility models will become the brand's first hybrid vehicles to combine an EcoBoost petrol engine with electric power, which will further improve their fuel economy and overall performance. The company’s plan includes a high-volume, autonomous vehicle as well, set to debut in 2021 in North America, designed for ride-hailing or ride-sharing.

The Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan is going to be expanded as part of a $700million investment, in order to become eligible for the production of high-tech autonomous and electric vehicles. The expansion will also create 700 direct new jobs. 

This move is just a part of Ford’s $4.5billion investment in electrified vehicles, which aims to turn the whole brand into an ‘auto and mobility’ company. “As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles, services and solutions that make people’s lives better,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years.”

Ford also said it’s cancelling plans for a new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and that the next-generation Focus will be produced at the existing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico in order to improve the company’s profitability and to make way for two new products at the Michigan plants, safeguarding approximately 3,500 US jobs.

 The company also continues their development work on wireless charging for electric vehicles. The goal is to make charging as easy as pulling into a parking spot and never forget to recharge.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu
Read more