Imagine doing burnouts in an electrified Ford Mustang. Sounds like a fantasy? Not quite. Ford has announced that its iconic pony car is going hybrid. It’s going to be just one of 13 new global electrified (hybrid or pure electric) that the company is planning to launch in the next five years.
The move comes as Ford is shifting itself from a traditional automaker into an “auto and mobility company”. With more customers becoming interested in electrified vehicles, Ford sees this as an opportunity to provide more choices that offer greater efficiency, capability, and power.
“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’s electric vehicle plans cover a variety of products all offering a range of at least 300 miles (483 kilometers). It will also encompass the carmaker’s line-up from commercial vehicles, trucks, SUVs, and yes, even performance vehicles.
Seven global electrified vehicles were announced by Fields:
- An all-new fully electric small SUV, coming by 2020, engineered to deliver an estimated range of at least 300 miles, to be built at the Flat Rock plant and sold in North America, Europe and Asia (it sounds like the next-generation EcoSport).
- A high-volume autonomous vehicle designed for commercial ride hailing or ride sharing, starting in North America. The hybrid vehicle will debut in 2021 and will be built at the Flat Rock plant
- A hybrid version of the best-selling F-150 pickup available by 2020 and sold in North America and the Middle East. The F-150 Hybrid, built at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, will offer powerful towing and payload capacity and operate as a mobile generator
- A hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque. The Mustang Hybrid, built at the Flat Rock Plant, debuts in 2020 and will be available in the North America to start
- A Transit Custom plug-in hybrid available in 2019 in Europe engineered to help reduce operating costs in even the most congested streets
- Two new, pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles. One of the two new hybrid police vehicles will be built in Chicago, and both will be upfitted with their police gear at Ford’s dedicated police vehicle modification center in Chicago
In order to supply the foreseen demand for these new vehicles, Ford is investing US$ 700 million to expand its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. Apart from building the Mustang and Lincoln Continental, it will be home to some autonomous and electric vehicles.
Ford has been extensively studying how past and current EV owners use their vehicles. The company has sold more than 520,000 electrified vehicles in North America since 2005 and 560,000 globally.
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