Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer had this to say; "The F-150 Lightning is a groundbreaking product that demonstrated an EV pickup can still be a great F-Series. Our next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV will be every bit as revolutionary. It delivers everything Lightning customers love — near instantaneous torque and pure electric driving. But with a high-power generator enabling an estimated range of 700+ miles, it tows like a locomotive. Heavy-duty towing and cross-country travel will be as effortless as the daily commute."

The Ford F-150 Lightning EREV is unlike any traditional hybrid. The new EREV powered by the 100% pure electric motor system that people love in regard to rapid acceleration and quiet operation but eliminating the need to stop and charge during long-distance towing.

Ford states that the F-150 Lightning has been a driving force for U.S. EV sales growth and that the next generation is Ford listening to their customers who have asked for a expansion of the F-150 Lightning's capabilities. This EREV will continue the legacy of innovation as the next generation F-150 Lightning EREV replaces the F-150 Lightning EV production at Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn.

Ford says they will release full details at a later launch date.

Interestingly, Ford not only ended F-150 Lightning production early but will have the plant closed down for several months with a statement that the employees would be laid off and then called back some time in Q1 of the 2026 calendar year. The changeover includes support for building EREV but also includes needed maintenance at the plant.

Today, Ford took the wraps off its breakthrough Universal Vehicle Platform, a new EV platform intended to bring a new level of affordability to electric vehicles.  Ford is investing $5 billion in its Louisville, KY assembly plant and the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan to bring this new platform to life. As part of this project, the Louisville plant will expand by 52,000 square feet and secure 2,200 jobs.

The first UVP product will be a 4-door electric pickup with a targeted base price of $30,000 and going on sale in 2027. Ford says it will have more passenger space than a Toyota RAV-4 and be faster than an Ecoboost Mustang while having a frunk and truck bed.

Ford is taking the inspiration for the Universal Vehicle Platform from the Model-T built over 100 years ago.  The idea is that Ford will have one platform that supports multiple body styles. While the first vehicle is a mid-size truck, the platform is destined to support sedans, crossovers, and sports cars. The platform reduces parts by 20%, uses 25% fewer fasteners, and 4,000 fewer feet of wiring than Ford's first-gen electric SUV, the Ford Mach-E.

With this new innovation, Ford is again innovating the production line as it did with the Model-T. Instead of using a single line, Ford will move to a production tree, three parallel lines move sub-assemblies down simultaneously and then joined together mid-way through. Ford is using large, single-piece aluminum castings to allow the frond and rear of the vehicle to be assembled separately. Ford predicts that this new process will speed vehicle assembly by up to 40%. Some of that savings will be redirected to quality control for a net speed increase of 15%.

The big bet Ford is making is on new prismatic LFP batteries, built in the United States.  These new batteries are cobalt-free and nickle-free, greatly increasing the sustainability of the batteries' construction.  The battery pack is structural to the vehicle, giving a lower center of gravity and greater interior space. 

The introduction of the 2025 Mustang Mach-e has kept the list of new features small, but Ford believes it has delivered big for what the EV customers want.

• Added Standard Equipment: The 2025 Mustang Mach-E^® adds a heat pump to help optimize energy consumption, especially in colder weather conditions 
• More Personalization: A Sport Appearance Package offers Mustang Mach-E GT design elements on Premium models; new colors and wheels are also available
• Enhanced BlueCruise: The latest version of hands-free highway driving, adds Automatic Lane Change, automating up to 45% of lane changes on an average drive, based on internal testing

Ford believes that their strong relationship with the Mach-e community is allowing them to deliver what the customer wants in a high quality approach that delivers the best version of the Mach-e possible while not overloading the customer with too much technology. The key features that they have been asking for per Donna Dickson, Mustang Mach-e chief engineer.

Premium and sporty without the cost is what many customers asked for, the look of a GT without the price of the GT has allowed Ford to offer a Sport Appearance Package that brings in the key styling cues from the GT at a much-reduced price point.

BlueCruise 1.5 introduces tried and true to the big blue the seamlessly performing lane change without driver input. To quote Ford: "BlueCruise 1.5 will initiate a lane change if the vehicle ahead is slower than the set speed or if a vehicle is following too closely in the passing lane. It keeps drivers engaged longer in hands-free mode and helps navigate traffic. Internal testing shows BlueCruise 1.5 automates up to 45% of driver-initiated lane changes on a typical drive."

New for 2025 is the enhanced Ford Connectivity Package that includes the following:

• Wi-Fi® Hotspot: 5G Wi-Fi keeps drivers and their family online and connected while on the road. This can be used for up to 10 personal devices and can extend up to 50 feet from the vehicle, great for camping or tailgating.  

• Apps: Access apps via the in-vehicle screen to watch YouTube or sing along to in-vehicle karaoke while parked. Occupants can also stream their favorite audio entertainment apps via Alexa.

• Maps: Access Connected Navigation to get where you need to go, including features such as EV Trip Planner, Predictive Destinations, and Route Guidance.

Ford will offer for those that wish to custom order a select one-time purchase without having to setup a plan for Ford Connectivity. The customer will then forgo the 1-year free test trial and purchase the Ford Connectivity package that is active for a minimum of seven years (nontransferable to another VIN). No additional subscription purchase will be required to maintain connectivity service beyond the seven years if the service is available.

Personalization choices are a key focus for Ford for the 2025 model year. Ford is wanting to give more personalize ways to customize their Mach-e

• Three new color options for 2025
  • Molten Magenta Metallic Tinted Clearcoat
  • Velocity Blue Metallic
  • Desert Sand
• New wheel designs including Dark Carbonized Gray wheel for the Mach-e Rally
• Mustang Mach-e GT Performance Upgrade factory option available through the FordPass app after Delivery.

2025 Mustang Mach-e goes on sale in early 2025 with a NEW Lower MSRP retail price starting at $36,495.

Honoring the original Baja Bronco from 1969, Ford is proud to offer a 21st century factory Bronco Stroppe Edition, ready to take on the Baja 1000 right off the showroom floor.

To quote Jason Hyde, Bronco brand manager: “That capability was at the core of our development process for the new Bronco Stroppe Special Edition, including Fox Internal Bypass Dampers designed for performance and improved control during high-speed desert running, a standard EcoBoost 2.7-liter V6 engine, and Baja G.O.A.T. Mode.”

The Bronco Stroppe Special Edition is available exclusively as a two-door model and has the following punch list of standard Baja 1000 worthy upgrades:

• Stabilizer bar disconnect
• High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension 3.0 (HOSS 3.0)
• 35-inch Goodyear Territory RT tires
• Frozen White Grill with Code Orange "Bronco" wordmark
• Code Orange front tow hooks and standard steel bumper
• "Stroppe Special Edition" and "Bronco" branding on the front and rear fenders
• Unique removable side steps with integrated rock rails
• 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with matte-black beadlock ring and gloss-black spoked
• Matte Black Tailgate

Goat mode is the key to your success off-road.

More details are to come as the Stroppe model gets closer to production. but you can check out the auto here in the following video:

 Check out the full details that have been released by Ford here in the Media Album.

The Stroppe edition Bronco will launch in early 2025.

For those that want Ford Bronco Baja merchandise, Ford has the following website:

Baja Bronco Collection

Ford wants to be your EV choice!

A Ford Survey was conducted from September 13th to 17th, 2024 covering a total of 2,007 respondents and highlighted the following:

• Most respondents do not understand how home charging works.
• Most respondents do not know where you would buy or how to get a home charger.
• Most respondents do not understand how you go about getting the charger installed.
• All respondents had no idea what the cost might be or if it was affordable to have a home charger installed.

To quote Ford: "Ford believes it will take more than jumbo rebates to truly break through with the estimated 19 million people in the U.S. interested in electric vehicles. It will take – you guessed it – convenience, peace of mind, and expert service. It will take a modern-day version of the friendly filling station, only this time you “fill ’er up” at home."

Ford Power Promise Anouncement today is the following,

Home is where the charge is, On-the-Road charging with confidence, Battery Confidence, Ongoing support and guidance

Ford Power Promise Fact Sheet.pdf

Ford has been focused on making public charging easier with the joining of the Tesla Supercharging station network added to the Ford BlueOval Charge Network and now they are taking this one step farther as federal rebates will not be enough for the bulk of folks looking to move over to an EV.

People loved their old Bronco's, F100, F150 pickups, SUVs and cars, but gone are the days of stopping at a gas station and having the windshield cleaned, tire pressure checked, quart of oil added if needed by a team of attendants. Now you have to pump your own gas and pay an attendant sitting behind a plexiglass wall as you get your lottery tickets and energy drinks.

People want less maintenance and easier filling up, Ford Power is going to deliver that with Home Charging and a superior experience via the BlueOval charge network.

Ford Power Promise Gives Electric Vehicle Customers New Confidence | Ford Media Center

Ford Super Duty production will expand to a third plant in Ford's Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, starting in 2026.  Ford is investing $3 billion to make the complex into a fully flexible plant capable of producing traditional ICE vehicles, hybrids, and EVs. The expansion will allow an initial additional production capacity of 100,000 units of Super Duty when brought online. That increased production will cascade to other plants in the Ford ecosystem, including Windsor, Ontario for V8 production, Sharonville, Ohio for transmissions, Rawsonville, Michigan for components, and Sterling Axle Plant in Michigan. 

By building the Super Duty at the updated fully flexible plant, Ford says they will be able to introduce multi-energy technology to the lineup, offering customers more choice for their Super Duty power. Ford says they will also build a new, yet unnamed, three-row fully electric crossover here, alongside the Super Duty. 

The opening of the updated Oakville Assembly Complex in 2026 comes a full year ahead of initial plans.

Imagine a car company taking the name of a legendary two-door pony car and putting it on a four-door electric crossover. That would never happen, right?

From Pony Car to Electric Crossover

Ford is taking the script from the Ford Mustang Mach-E to Europe, only their version is called the Capri.

The Ford Capri was a fastback coupe sold in Europe form 1968 - 1987. The model was a legendary performer, even used by police as pursuit vehicles in the UK and by the Autobahnpolizei in the German state of Nord Rhine-Westphalia where they were built. These were also sold as the Mercury Capri, though without Mercury badging, from 1970-1978.

For 2024, the Ford Capri is back, though now as a four-door crossover hatchback. The Capri is built in partnership with Volkswagen and rides on VW's MEB platform, the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.4.

Powertrain and Specs

The Capri will come either as a 282 horsepower rear-wheel drive or 335 horsepower all-wheel drive model. Both are considered "extended range" however that's where things get complicated. The 282 horsepower rear wheel drive model has a smaller battery and a European WLTP test range of 390 miles (knock 15% - 20% off that if you are translating to EPA) while the 335 all-wheel drive model has a larger battery and faster charging speed, but shorter range of 368 miles WLTP. Potentially helping range in colder climates, both trims are available with an optional heat pump HVAC system.

Interior and Premium Upgrades

Opting for the Premium model gains a buyer more than just more power. There is also an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system, ambient lighting, a hands-free tailgate, and 20-inch wheels upgraded from 19s.

Like its Mach-E distant cousin, the Capri gets a vertical tablet style center control unit for HVAC and infotainment. Unfortunately, that means that most controls are touch rather than physical buttons.

Built in Cologne, Not Coming to America

And same as Grandpap Capri, it will be built in Cologne, Germany. Current exchange rates suggest that it would be priced in the low to mid $60,000 range if sold here as an import, an unlikely scenario with the Mustang Mach-E selling well below that price.

Ford is saying the Capri won't be sold in the U.S., but we think that's a shame. If they could manufacture it here, they would sell the wheels off them at the right price point. Check out the 2024 Ford Capri photo gallery for a closer look at this forbidden fruit.

Many electric vehicle manufacturers have been aggressive with financing and lease deals lately. With new car interest rates at the highest level they have been for years, financing an electric vehicle is starting to become the most cost-effective way to get into a new vehicle. Adding fuel to that fire, Ford announced new financing incentives today for Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning. 

Mustang Mach-E

All 2023 and 2024 Mustang Mach-E models can be financed for 0% interest up to 72 months if you have excellent credit. If you prefer to lease, a new $7,500 Red Carpet lease cash bonus is available from Ford until September 30th, along with a new 24-month lease option for those with commitment issues. An additional $600 off is available until September 9th if you pick one from dealer stock.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E gained range and charging speed, now up to 320 miles on rear-wheel drive cars. If you don't mind being a year behind with ten fewer miles of range, your dealer may be motivated to slash the price of leftover 2023 Mach-Es a bit further for you with another $2,000 off when financed. However, we suspect the dealership can find room for discounts even if you lease. Remember that the Mach-E no longer qualifies for tax credits as of January 1, 2024.

F-150 Lightning

On the F-150 Lightning, 2023 models are available at the same 0% for 72 months, while 2024 models can be had for 0% for 60 months or 1.9% for 72 months, and most trims of the F-150 Lightning qualify for the $7,500 tax credit. A 24-month lease option is available; however, without the $7,500 bonus cash that the Mach-E features, it isn't a good deal. With Ford being the number two electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States behind Tesla, Tesla owners can snag an additional $1,000 conquest bonus. 

E-Transit

The Ford Transit is the most popular work van in the country, so incentives are slim.  However, if you are in the market and can find a leftover 2023 Ford E-Transit on the lots, Ford is offering 0% interest for 60 months plus $7,500 bonus cash. Just keep in mind that Ford enhanced the E-Transit for 2024 and you will be limited to a range of 126 miles rather than the 159 miles of the updated model. 

All three of Ford's current electric vehicle offerings are compatible with most of the Tesla Supercharger network, though you will need to use a complimentary Tesla adaptor provided by Ford. Ford access to the Tesla network is transparent with plug-and-go available through Ford's BlueOval charging network. 

It will be interesting to see if other manufacturers follow suit with new electric vehicle incentives of their own.

Ford is upgrading the Mustang Mach-E for 2024 with a longer range and faster charging.  The entire lineup gets an upgraded rear motor that boosts range to 320 EPA-rated miles with the extended range battery and rear wheel drive.  While that number is up 20 miles from the 300-mile range of the 2021 Mach-E extended range, Ford had already made a change to the batteries in 2023 that earned RWD extended-range models a 310-mile rating.  Standard-range rear-wheel drive models also see a 20-mile improvement over the original 2021 Mach-E. All-wheel drive models see a boost in range of 10 miles.

The new rear motor, developed by Ford, drops weight and improves torque. The performance improvements allow the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance to bolt to 60 in just 3.3 seconds with a quarter-mile time of 11.8 seconds at 114 mph. Ford claims this makes that trim of the Mach-E faster than a Tesla Model-T Performance and a Porsche Macan 4 Electric.

Speaking of the GT, the GT Performance trim is no longer a stand-alone model. In prior years, Ford offered the Mach-E in a standard GT and a GT Performance trim. Instead, the Performance Upgrade package is a software update that can be purchased with the car or purchased and enabled seamlessly later.  Previously, the GT Performance trim only boosted torque by 34 lb-ft, but this new Performance Upgrade package boosts torque by a full 100 lb-ft.   Previously, features only available on the GT Performance are now included in the GT trim and include Ford Performance front seats, MagneRide Damping system, and Brembo front brake calipers.  The Performance Upgrade software back costs $995.

Other improvements across the lineup are a simplified Infotainment system screen with new icons to make it easier to get to important information and a reconfigured settings screen because Ford said "users don't like to scroll". Wireless Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay are still standard.

Ford also improved the Fast charging speed on a DC charger. With the new updates, a standard range Mach-E will charge from 10% to 80% 5.7 minutes faster (32.2 minutes total) than the original, while an extended range battery improves charge speed by 8.8 minutes (36.2 minutes total).

Ford recently joined the Tesla Supercharging network, which added 15,000 new chargers to the Ford BlueOval network. Charging with the Tesla network is as simple as plugging in, with billing handled directly through BlueOval. For now, the Mach-E comes equipped with a CCS charge port, so owners of the Mach-E will need a free adapter from Ford to use Tesla charging stations.

Ford had recently dropped the price of the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E to just $39,895, but the 2024 model creeps up slightly to $39,995 for the Select RWD standard range. The RWD Premium starts at $43,495, and the GT starts at $53,995. The new Mustang Mach-E Rally goes on sale for $59,995. All models add a $1,895 delivery charge.

Ford was early to the electric work van market with the E-Transit and quickly become the best selling electric van on the market, not just in the U.S., but Canada and Europe as well. According to Ford, E-Transit customers have saved over 3 million gallons of gasoline since the E-Transit went on the market in 2022.

For 2024, Ford has brought several welcome changes.  The most impactful is a range increase on the low-roof model from 126 miles per charge to 159 miles per charge.  This range increase comes from a new 89 kWh battery that replaces the 68 kWh version from last year. The additional power unlocks new electric solutions for the vehicle like refrigerated delivery.  This change represents a 26 percent increase for low-roof models and up to a 32 percent increase for high-roof versions.  Electric motor performance remains the same at 266 horsepower and 317 lb.-ft of torque. The entire E-Transit lineup has Ford Pro Power available, giving 2.4 kW of power to operate a laptop, power tools, or other equipment.

In addition to the larger range, the E-Transit can now charge faster with a peak rate of 176 kW. When connected to a DC-Fast charger with greater than a 180 kW capacity, the E-Transit can take on an estimated 67 miles of range in just 15 minutes. E-Transit also now has access to the Tesla SuperCharger network when paired with a complimentary NACS to CCS charging adapter from Ford. All previous E-Transit customers from model years 2022 and newer are eligible to receive one free NACS adapter per vin.  Drivers can charge seamlessly at Tesla SuperCharger stations with plug-and-charge. Charging sessions are billed directly through Ford's existing Ford Pro Public Charging network.  Only 250 kW Tesla SuperCharger stations can be used by Ford drivers, and their locations will show in the Ford BlueOval Charging app, but with 15,000+ eligible SuperCharger locations in addition to the 13,000 DC-Fast charging plugs already available, E-Transit drivers will have no problem locating a place to charge up. To request a complimentary NACS charger, existing E-Transit owners can use the BlueOval app or visit https://ford.com/FastChargingAdapter

The E-Transit is available in van, cutaway, and chassis cab models, with hundreds of upfitters available for customization.

The enhanced range 2024 E-Transit will open for orders in a few months, with the first deliveries expected later this year.  Similar to Ford cutting prices on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, pricing of the E-Transit starts at $51,095, a $400 reduction over the 2023 model, with possible tax credits of up to $7,500 per vehicle.

Related:
Ford Offering Free Tesla Charger Adapter to Ford Lightning and Mach-E Owners
US Postal Service Buys 9,000+ Ford E-Transits
Ford EV Access to Tesla Supercharging Opens
Ford Slashes Ford Mach-E Price

Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning vehicles have nearly doubled their charging location options overnight with 15,000+ new chargers added to the Ford BlueOval Charge Network.  Last May, Ford announced they signed an agreement with Tesla for Ford EVs to gain access to Tesla Supercharger locations.  Currently, the access is limited to just the two retail EVs that Ford sells and not the commercially oriented Ford e-Transit van.  A Ford representative indicated that a future announcement for e-Transit drivers could be coming.

In addition to access to the Tesla network, Ford will begin transitioning its EVs to use the new Tesla-designed NACS plug that is backward compatible with the existing Tesla design. Ford vehicles already built and sold with the CCS plug are eligible for a complimentary NACS to CCS adapter from Ford.  Owners may register their VIN to receive their adapter in the Ford Pass app or at ford.com/FastChargingAdapter. Owners are allowed one free adapter per VIN.

Charging a Mustang Mach-E or F-150 Lightning takes just two steps.  Plug the adapter into the vehicle and plug the Supercharger cable into the plug in a simple Plug-to-Charge process.  Drivers are charged for their session directly through the BlueOval network with whatever payment method is already set up.

While 15,000+ Tesla Superchargers are available for Ford drivers' use, not every Tesla charger is compatible. Tesla Superchargers that have peak rates of 250+ kilowatts (kW) and an all-black charge cord and handle are compatible with Ford EVs.  L2 Destination chargers and 150kW stations with a silver collar on the charge plug are not compatible.

Last May, Ford was the first manufacturer to announce that they entered an agreement with Tesla to allow Ford EVs to charge at Tesla V3 SuperCharger stations and that starting in 2025, they would begin moving their vehicles to the NACS charge port.  For vehicles built in the interim, owners would be provided with an adapter to allow a CCS vehicle to accept a charge from a Tesla station.

Ford has announced that reservations for the adapter will be open soon.  Owners will be able to register their VIN to reserve one adapter per vehicle.  At present, only Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning owners are eligible for the adapters. We don't know where this leaves E-Transit customers, but we have reached out to Ford for comment. NACS to CCS1 adapters aren't yet available on the market, but several are in development. Such adapters going from CCS1 to Tesla typically run $150 - $250.

Ford also plans to continue to expand the BlueOval Charging Network of over 100,000 chargers nationwide.  Ford BlueOval allows charging on multiple charge networks through a single app.

Update: A Ford rep said that there will be a future announcement regarding Supercharger access for Ford E-Transit customers closer to launch. Updated Update: Ford E-Transit gets Enhanced Range and SuperCharger Access

Update 2: Owners may register their VIN to receive their adapter in the Ford Pass app or at ford.com/FastChargingAdapter. Owners are allowed one free adapter per VIN.

Ford has discontinued the Edge SUV, and the last one will be out the factory doors on April 26, 2024. The union representing workers reported this information while Canada's Unifor 707 broke the news to members, stating, “As communicated by the Plant Manager, the last Edge is scheduled to be built on April 26th.”

This isn't a surprise since reports came out last year that the Edge, Escape, and Transit Connect compact could be discontinued. Ford's Transit Connect is no longer available in the U.S. market. What doesn't help the Edge is the overlap in Ford's lineup, sitting alongside the three-row Ford Explorer and off-road-focused Ford Bronco. The Edge's platform mate, the Lincoln Nautilus, was dropped for a year while an all-new Lincoln Nautilus waits in the wings to arrive in dealerships later this year.

All Edge trims except the top Ford Edge ST come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic accelerate the Edge to 60 MPH in 6.6 seconds. The top-of-the-line Edge ST has a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive propels the ST to 60 MPH in 5.6 seconds. Pricing of the 2024 Ford Edge starts at $39,960 for the SE and up to $48,700 for the ST. 

Debuting in 2017, the current Edge went through the years with minimal changes. Other than evolving the Edge Sport to the Edge ST in 2019 and a bigger infotainment system in 2021, the majority of the interior remains the same. The recent trend in rugged-looking square-body SUVs makes the rounded and smooth Edge look dated.  With the Edge now gone, reports suggest the Ontario plant that builds the Edge might be updated to produce electric vehicles (EVs). A long wheelbase version on a new platform called Edge L will live on in China.

Ford unveiled the updated 2025 Ford Explorer today with a simplified engine lineup, trims, and revised exterior and interior.

Simplified Trims and Two EcoBoost Engines

Ford has cut the number of trim options from eight to four, with just the Platinum, ST, ST-Line, and Active trims available. All trims except ST come standard with the 300-horsepower 2.3-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder mated to a recalibrated 10-speed automatic. Available on the Platinum and standard on the ST is the 400-horsepower 3.0-liter Ecoboost V6. All versions come standard as rear-wheel drive with all-wheel drive optional. The hybrid option was dropped from civilian Explorers after the 2023 model year.

Exterior and Interior Refresh

Outside, the primary visual difference is an enlarged grille, all-LED headlamp and tail lamp clusters, a front skid plate, and an updated tailgate. Platinum, ST, and ST-Line buyers can select a black-painted roof option. Each trim line will receive a distinct grille.

Most of the changes in the 2025 Explorer appear on the inside. A reimagined interior has more soft material in high-touch locations. The large vertically oriented infotainment screen in some 2020-2024 models has been replaced with a more traditional, horizontally mounted unit. The dashboard has been pushed forward to give front-row occupants a more open and spacious cabin.

Ford Digital Experience and BlueCruise

The 2025 Explorer also debuts Ford's new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system. This 5G-enabled system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus has the ability to download select apps from the Google Play Store. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are built-in and designed to prioritize voice control over in-vehicle controls such as cabin temperature and entertainment selection. It can also control home automation systems. This new platform allows for over-the-air updates for the first time in Explorer.

When parked, Explorer customers can also use YouTube and Prime Video, as well as play select games available on the Google Play store. Surfing the web on the built-in Vivaldi browser app, or Google Chrome coming soon, is made easier with a Bluetooth-connected keyboard.

Buyers of ST-Line, ST, and Platinum trim Explorers come equipped with Ford's BlueCruise hardware, enabling hands-free highway driving. Lane Change Assist is included, allowing the driver to pass with the tap of the turn signal when the path is clear. New customers can activate their plan for one year at purchase or select a 90-day free trial.

Check out the 2025 Ford Explorer photo gallery for a look at the Platinum and ST trims.

Following the trend of large price jumps in the large crossover market this year (see: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2024 Chevrolet Traverse), the base price of the 2024 Explorer jumps to $41,220, a $4,360 increase over the current model.

The 2025 Ford Explorer will be in dealerships in the 2nd quarter this year.

Ford has cut the price on the Ford Mustang Mach-E EV by up to $8,100 on some trims in a move to increase sales and keep the price war with Tesla going.  Tesla has recently been aggressively lowering prices, with some models seeing as much as a 20 percent decrease. This move follows a similar price cut by Ford around this time last year that helped make the Mustang Mach-E the number two best-selling EV SUV on the market.

The Premium trim with the extended range battery sees the biggest price cut of $8,100 while the two GT trims cut $7,600 from MSRP.  The base model drops $3,100 off MSRP and moves the Mach-E base price under the $40,000 mark for the first time.

In addition to these price moves, Ford is offering a $7,500 incentive when leasing through Ford Credit on top of the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. The Mustang Mach-E only qualifies for the federal tax credit when leased do to the battery supply chain.

While these prices are only for the U.S., Ford is planning on increasing global production of the Mustang Mach-E. With these new price changes and incentives, plus Ford's move to join the Tesla Supercharging network, Ford is hoping to see a significant increase in sales.

Update:
Ford Offering Free Tesla Charger Adapter to Ford Lightning and Mach-E Owners
Ford EV Access to Tesla Supercharging Opens

It's not even the end of January and Ford is already doing recalls. Ford was the leader of recalls in 2023 with 58 recalls and 6.1 million units. With this recall of 1.8 million Explorers in the United States and 2.2 million globally, Ford has already recalled one-third of its total vehicles recalled in 2023. Earlier this month, Ford recalled the Ford EcoSport and Focus with the 1.0-liter Ecoboost engine for engine failure. This latest recall is due to trim pieces that can come off while driving. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), recall number 24V-031 is because "some of the exterior A-pillar applique trim clip attachments are not properly engaged due to improper assembly or repairs". Ford Explorers from 2011 to 2019 are affected, and those clips that "are not properly engaged" can lead to trim pieces flying off the SUV.

Although Ford states there haven't been injuries or accidents from this, there are many incident reports. Ford identified 568 Vehicle Online Questionnaire reports and 14,337 warranty reports for the A-Pillar trim detaching or missing.

The report says Ford conducted an investigation back in 2018 per the NHTSA. It was deemed to be "not an unreasonable risk to safety due to the low mass/geometry of the part with NHTSA alignment." In February of 

A Ford spokesperson stated: "Ford issued a recall Jan. 22 on certain 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles for potential A-pillar trim detachment. We expect only 5 percent of the vehicle population to be affected and encourage customers to contact their dealership for an inspection when parts are available. At that point, customers will have free access to mobile repair and pick-up-and-delivery services at participating dealerships."

Thankfully, the fix is straightforward. Ford dealers will inspect the Explorer's A-pillar trim and either repair or replace the part if it's not securely fastened. Owners will be notified at the beginning of March, and concerned customers can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and use the reference Ford recall number 24S02 for more information.

It looks like Ford has another recall. This time, Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost is in the crosshairs. It's being recalled in various 2018-2022 EcoSport SUVs and 2016-2018 Focus models with the tiny three-cylinder. This engine could suffer a loss of engine oil pressure due to a defect with the oil pump drive belt tensioner. The recall says that the belt tensioner arm may fracture because the retention caulk joint isn't strong enough to withstand engine vibrations. If this happens, the tensioner could separate from the backing plate and cause the belt to degrade by losing teeth. The tensioner could separate from the backing plate and cause the belt to degrade by losing teeth.

From this, the engine might lose oil pressure which could damage the engine. If you are driving, there may be a loss of engine and braking, which could to an accident. Ford does know of one crash allegedly similar to this issue with two injuries but no fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened up an investigation into nearly 250,000 EcoSports for reports of alleged engine failure in 2018-2021 models in September.

This engine has been under scrutiny since 2022 when NHSTA began the investigation into the Bronco. NHTSA expanded this "catastrophic engine failure probe" in 700,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter EcoBoost are found in the Ford Edge, Explorer, and F-150 along with the Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus. Total number of the affected EcoSport and Focus models is 139,790. Last year, Ford remained the automaker with the most recalls at 56, affecting 5.6 million cars. That's less than in 2022, when Ford issued 68 recalls for 8.5 million cars. 

What is not to love about off-road rally races? Speed, dirt, crazy driving, spectacular occasional crashes, lots to love if you love the planet being outside. Now Ford has decided to go green with the latest rally auto to help the planet and that is the:

As per Ford's press release, for the first time in six decades of Mustang history, the Mustang is leaving the tarmac and hitting the dirt road. Welcome to the road rally Mach-E.

At this year's rally, Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023, enthusiasts and onlookers will get a look at the first rally-inspired electric SUV from Ford. The Ford Mach-E rally will be available to order starting fall 2023 in the U.S. and Europe, then later for other markets.

Professional off-road rally driver Ott Tanak will drive this Mach-E rally edition at the Festival.

Darren Palmer, VP for Electrical Vehicle Programs had this to say: 

“Mustang Mach-E took the freedom and fun of Mustang and made it free from emissions. Now with Mustang Mach-E Rally, we’re providing our customers the freedom to venture off the asphalt and beyond the beaten path,”

Ford is ensuring right from the start that the Mach-E Rally will be ready to go from the factory to handle anything that comes your way.

For those that want to stay up on the first-ever rally-inspired, five passenger Ford Mach-R, monitor the following link: MACH-E Rally

From the inside to the outside, the MACH-E Rally is ready to tackle anything thrown at it.

Rally your world in the Mach-E Rally

 

Doug Field was a Leader at Tesla before being hired by Apple to lead their EV program. In 2021 Ford hired Mr. Field as their new CTO to lead Ford into a new future of "Subscription Services".

At the latest investor event Doug Field pointed to a pile of individual computer driven sensors and talked about how a central processor running software written by Ford will change fundamentally how people use their autos. 

In this interview with the Associated Press, Ford's CTO talked about the coming transformation to electric vehicles and the change that is happening not only to EVs but to ICE autos.

As of today in 2023, the Ford F-150 Lightning EV and all internal combustion F-series pickups now use a central computer and have software defined sensors.

Here is some of the Q&A:

Q: How far along is Ford on moving to this central computing system?

Q: As a driver, why should I care about this?

A: The car’s a robot, which means the interaction with the software includes pieces of hardware. So something like an Amazon interface where you know a delivery is coming. A one-time code opens the trunk. Doesn’t open the rest of the car. They get to drop it off. That requires an interaction between centralized software and what today is a locking-unlocking module. There also are sensors that we don’t have access to the information. An easy example is an autonomy system that’s supposed to keep you in the lane. There’s a camera. We can’t say to the customer that we’re going to give you a dash cam for free or for a subscription where it’s always running. And if we detect any kind of a bump or anything like that, you’ve got a 30-second recording. We will be able to do that. We talked a little bit about our ability to predict if the car is heading toward a failure or a wear-out situation. I want to count wiper strokes combined with how much water is coming down and where it’s being driven and how dirty it is. Maybe develop an algorithm that knows exactly when your wiper blades are wearing out.

Q: How do you come up with something that’s compelling enough to get me to part with my hard-earned money and subscribe?

A: The model is already transitioning from ‘you check a box when you buy the car’ to ‘you can get a free trial.’ You only part with your hard-earned money after you are on the road trying it and say, ‘this is pretty great.’ A big part of how I try to guide the engineers is you must earn the right to collect money. You’re going to come up with things, you’re going to try them.

Q: You’ve shown the bear cam, where a Bronco parked at a campsite recognizes a bear nearby and may honk the horn to scare it away. How important is security?

A: We are going to build a whole set of services around this. The car is the most sophisticated sensor that you have in your life, and the number of accelerometers and microphones and cameras and things on it will allow it to be not only something that protects you when you’re in the car, but it’ll actually be useful when you’re not there. Even acting as a remote sentry if there’s stuff going on outside the house.

Q: Does having a centralized computer open you more to the possibility of hacking?

A: Anything where you are allowing the car to be software-updated opens you to that possibility. You need to have an architecture where that has been really carefully thought through. And the more you go toward things like firing the airbags or controlling the steering, the more that becomes a pretty involved process to actually update your access.

Q: How long will Ford still be selling internal combustion vehicles?

A: There are a number of applications where it is going to be near impossible for an EV to perform the same mission. There will be many, many places where EVs are a slam dunk. There will be ones where it’s going to take a lot of work to get battery technologies to the point where it could serve that mission. There are ones we see now that the ICE engine needs to be a part of it. Maybe we partially electrify it, but they’ll be out there. The incremental value to the world of getting those last ice engines out versus the value that they provide to an ambulance in Alaska. That will take a very, very long time.

Q: Affordability has become a big issue. Ford has gotten out of cheaper cars in the U.S. Is there a $20,000 EV coming?

A: I don’t want to talk a lot about what we’re doing here. It is possible, with the advent of EVs, to make step changes in the way vehicles are built and sourced. Yes, I believe very low cost EVs are possible. I also believe the way the business model is changing is going to require it. If you are in the software business, what you want is installed base. How many people can I sell software to? To do that, you need affordability.

GM moved to a central processing system a while back and have had their ICE and EVs running this way. It would seem that Ford is now making this move and as such, the change in how autos are built and programmed is on the move to make things simpler for the builders.

Simplification on top of Service Subscriptions is where the Auto Companies are hoping to increase their profitability while offering auto owners new features that they believe they will want based on a trial period. 

This will simplify the building process of autos and increase based on what a person is willing to pay for on the features they get.

The question to ask is how much is too much subscription service versus check the box of what you want in your auto, pay for it and have it with your car payment versus car payment plus subscription service monthly fee.

How do you the individual retail customer think about this subscription service approach to features enabled, disabled on your auto?

Ford and Tesla jointly announced today that starting in the spring of 2024, Ford EV drivers will gain access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America.  This move will more than double the number of chargers available to Ford EV drivers who currently have access to 10,000  DC fast-chargers in the BlueOval EV network.  Additionally, Ford dealers are adding 1,800 public-facing fast chargers across the continent.

Existing EV models like the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit Vans will be able to use a Tesla developed adaptor to convert from the Tesla NACS Charger to the built-in CCS charge port, allowing access to Tesla V3 Superchargers.

Moving forward, Ford will change from the CCS standard to the Tesla NACS standard on all EV models starting in 2025.  The addition of Tesla SuperChargers to the BlueOval Charge Network creates the largest integrated network of fast-charger in North America.

Ford cites Tesla's charge network reliability and the smaller form factor of the NACS plug as reasons for the switch.

After years of being forbidden fruit offered only in overseas markets, Ford has finally deemed the Ranger Raptor worthy enough to bring to the U.S. The biggest reason for the U.S. not getting the prior version was its standard diesel power and the inability of the platform to take a sizable V6 engine. When Ford redesigned the 2024 Ranger (read more about the 2024 Ford Ranger here), they made sure to alter the engine bay and chassis to accommodate a V6.

Powering the Ranger Raptor is a 3.0-liter Ecoboost V6 producing 405 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque using premium fuel. That power flows through a 10-speed automatic transmission to a 2-speed transfer case and out to all 4-wheels via front and rear locking differentials.  The engine uses a strong compacted graphite-iron engine block and features an anti-lag turbo system that allows for extra boost on demand when in Baja mode.  The exhaust features an active valve system to control noise in 4 settings, quiet, normal, sport, and Baja.  Each mode changes the tuning the of engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes, traction control, steering, and even the instrument cluster display. Baja boost mode allows the turbos to keep spinning for up to three seconds after the driver lifts off the gas to reduce lag time.

Ranger Raptor builds on the chassis improvements given to the standard Ranger with additional reinforcements on the front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, suspension mounting points, and more. Standard are FOX 2.5-inch live valve shocks connected to a Raptor-specific suspension setup with lightweight aluminum upper and lower control arms and a long-travel rear suspension. The FOX shocks actively vary damping rates depending on the drive mode. A thick front bash plate, along with dedicated engine, transfer case, and fuel tank shields protect the Raptor from below.

Being the top of the Ranger line, the Ranger Raptor gets a lot of the top options standard. These include the 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and 12-inch infotainment screen running Ford Sync 4A, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Standard on the ranger 33-inch BFFoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires on 17-inch wheels. These tires can be mounted on optional bead-lock wheels for running low tire pressure in sandy or rocky conditions.

Ford will build the 2024 Ranger Raptor at their Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne Michigan. Orders begin in late May with the first deliveries making their way to customers in late fall.

Since its return in 2019, the Ford Ranger has been one of the jewels in the Ford lineup, proving to be one of the Blue Oval’s most popular models.  But as time passed, new designs from General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan threatened to march on Ford’s crown.

For 2024, the Ranger gets a significant redesign. Sitting on an extensively redesigned version of the T6 platform its predecessor uses, the Ranger is effectively all-new, with only the door openings and chassis hardpoints carrying over. The design of the Ranger was released in other markets last year, but Ford saved some of the most exciting updates for the U.S. debut, including performance increases for the Raptor Ranger not available in other markets. (read more about the 2024 Ranger Raptor)

Starting with an improved fully-boxed steel frame, the chassis has been upgraded with a 2-inch wider track and 2-inch longer wheelbase.  The rear suspension has been moved outboard to improve ride and control, improve stability off-road, and increase bed space. All models of Ranger gain improved ground clearance and better approach and departure angles.  

Towing capacity remains at 7,500 lbs., but maximum payload capacity drops by at least 100 lbs. or more depending on the configuration. Also carrying over is the 2.3-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder turbo that makes an impressive 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular gas. This engine in the 2023 model is capable of returning 20 city / 26 highway in 4x2 configuration.

For those who wanted more power, the Ranger now shares the 2.7-liter V6 from its big brothers, the F-150 and Bronco. This engine produces 315 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft of torque and is not available in other markets. Whichever engine is selected, the transmission will remain the 10-speed automatic with an available electronic shift-on-the-fly 4x4 system.

With an all-new interior, Ford found plenty of room for… room. There is a larger center console bin, big door pockets, an available second, upper glove box, improved under-seat storage in the second row, and new fold-flat rear seatbacks with room for tools or equipment behind them while in the upright position.

The bed gets more room too. With the wider track and suspension, the width between the wheel wells is now up to 4 feet, which means you can load a standard-size pallet back there if you want. There is an integrated box side step large enough for both feet, and an available 400-watt bed-mounted power inverter for running tools or accessories. Ford even redesigned the tailgate to act as a workbench with c-clamp pockets and a ruler.

The Ranger is loaded with technology as well.  The standard gauge cluster is an 8-inch display or customers can upgrade to a full-screen 12.4-inch display. Infotainment is supplied by Ford’s Sync 4A system with either 10.1-inch or best-in-class 12.4-inch displays.  Ford wisely kept physical buttons along the bottom of the display for common functionality like climate control and radio volume. With a standard built-in 4G LTE model for FordPass Connect, drivers can control some vehicle functions like lighting, start/stop, and monitoring of maintenance items.  The Ranger will even download updates over the air to get better over time.

The Ranger has the most standard or available driver assistance technologies in the class. These include Blind-Spot monitoring with trailer coverage, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, active park assist that automates both parallel and perpendicular parking, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and Trailer Reverse Guidance.

The 2024 Ranger will be available in XL, XLT, and Lariat models built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne Michigan. We can expect some special editions, such as a Ranger Tremor, in the future.

Orders start later this month, with late fall 2023 availability for the 2.7-liter V6-equipped versions.

Welcome to the Super Cobra Jet 1800:

• The improved electric drag racer features a new transmission, redone battery system, revised rear end setup and fresh control and data gathering systems.
• MLe Racecar’s Pat McCue is planned to be in the driver’s seat for the record-setting attempts at an NHRA event later this season.

Today, Ford Performance unveiled the continued evolution of its electric-powered motorsports efforts with the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800, an aggressive revision to the NHRA world record-holding Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. It is targeted to best the Cobra Jet 1400’s standing world record for full-bodied electric vehicles in the quarter-mile, 8.128 seconds at 171.97 miles per hour.

In June of 2021, Bob Tasca III drove the Cobra Jet 1400 to its reigning time in Norwalk, Ohio. The vehicle, originally built as a collaborative effort between Ford Performance, MLe Racecars, AEM-EV, Cascadia Motion and Watson Engineering, was then ready for its next challenge.

The Ford Performance led team went back to the drawing board and poured their effort into revisions and upgrades to the chassis, powertrain and control systems. To match this work, Ford Performance brought back the famed Super Cobra Jet name, first offered on 1969 model year Mustangs as an improvement to the standard Cobra Jet package.

“We’re always looking to push ourselves in every corner of the motorsport world,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “Drag racing remains a key proving ground for our products and technology, and we’re excited to not only try to best our own record in the quarter-mile, but to further showcase ongoing development we continue to make across the entire electric vehicle landscape.”

The Super Cobra Jet 1800 utilizes the same four PN-250-DZR inverters coupled to two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings as before, but now attached to a new transmission from Liberty and powered by an entirely redone, lighter weight battery system designed by Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. The power is sent to an MLe Racecars-revised rear end featuring improved suspension geometry from PMR and larger Mickey Thompson drag radials to optimize launches.

The entire dance is managed by Ford Performance proprietary control software running on AEM-EV hardware, with a new data acquisition system, dash and power distribution system all designed in-house.

“Our changes have made significant improvements to the car, including removing hundreds of pounds in weight and increasing horsepower to 1800,” explained Rushbrook.

On top of going for a new full-bodied electric vehicle record, the Super Cobra Jet 1800 will also attempt to claim records for fastest electric vehicle 0-60 mph and fastest two-wheel drive electric vehicle 0-60 during an NHRA event later this season. MLe Racecar’s cofounder and official program test driver Pat McCue is planned to be in the driver’s seat.

Ford is taking the frustration out of lining up to your trailer.  At the New York Auto Show today, Ford will unveil Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, an A.I. powered driver's assist technology that uses machine learning to automatically line the truck up to the trailer.

From distances of up to approximately 20 feet, the system uses the rear camera and two corner radar units to control the truck's speed, steering, and braking while the driver monitors the progress.

Computer vision learning uses the truck's rear camera to identify the ball and trailer coupler. If the system detects an obstacle while in operation, it will alert the driver and stop the vehicle.

Ford used hundreds of hours of video were collected to help train the system initially, but Pro-Trailer Hitch Assist will get smarter over time as more trailer image data is added and the vehicle's Ford Power-Up system receives over-the-air updates. The system will work in a broad range of terrain and weather conditions.

Ford developed the technology in-house and has received 60 patents with 4 more pending.

Pro-Trailer Hitch Assist is available now in the 2023 F-150, F-150 Lightning, and all-new 2023 F-series Super Duty.

 

Over the last couple of decades Ford's flagship mid-size Saloon sedan has been enjoying unprecedented popularity with a triple digit year over year growth and particular huge growth in the Middle East.

Specifically, the middle east has seen massive growth as follows:

• Saudi Arabia up 73%
• Kuwait up 125%
• Oman up 63%
• Bahrain up 42%

The All-new Ford Taurus has gone through an extensive comprehensive testing in facilities around the world from the mundane to the extreme such as Dubai where temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The All-New Ford Taurus is built in Thailand, India, Australia and Chine for global markets ensuring they are built to Blue Oval's exacting world-class standards.

Per Siya Dallalah, Product Development General Manager, Ford International Markets Group:

“It’s crucial to the comfort of our customers, and the integrity of the all-new Taurus, that we test in such extreme climes. Dust and sand can play havoc on engine internals and suspension components by accelerating wear on moving parts. Add that to the searing heat, and you are faced with a vehicle that has to work much harder than it might have to in more favorable conditions. Our testing ensures Taurus’ engine, transmission, driveline- and cooling systems can handle the demands of the region.”

Ford had the following statement to say on the Taurus Launch:

"From a panoramic sunroof and three alloy wheel size options to its powerful and efficient 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine with eight-speed automatic transmission – operated by a contemporary rotary gear shifter on the centre console – Taurus delivers more of what large sedan buyers. Driver assist technologies include adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation system and blind spot intervention (BLIS), while on the inside, wireless charging and an impressive 13.2-inch centre screen with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility, along with an 8-eight-inch digital cluster display, ensuring the technophiles are catered to."

"The all-new segment-leader Ford Taurus will arrive to Middle East showrooms soon with its all-new modern design, powerful turbocharged engine, unique regional premium touches, and highly desired technologies."

Ford has even delivered on flush door handles that upon unlocking the car from your fob, the door handles rise out to allow a pull for entry. Front grill is auto adjusting to enhance airflow for optimized performance of the EcoBoost powertrain. Starting at 3:20 in the video you will see the self adjusting grill and then the door handles. This is then followed by the interior.

This video has no audio but is released by FORD to show off the All-New Ford Taurus.

 

Ford announced today March 24th, 2023, that their all-new Mega-Campus BlueOval City being built in West Tennessee, is taking shape and with it is the next-gen Ford electric truck, code named Project T3, which will go into production there in 2025 as a 2026 model. This R&D and assembly line campus will be capable of producing 500,000 electric pickups per year.

Here are  the basic numbers Ford released today on this project:

Since the start of this mega-campus park, Ford and partners have already invested $20 million plus dollars into the local communities. 

Bill Ford, executive chair had the following to say about this project: “BlueOval City is the blueprint for Ford’s electric future around the world. We will build revolutionary electric vehicles at an advanced manufacturing site that works in harmony with the planet, aligning business growth and innovation with environmental progress.”

BlueOval City is designed to be Ford’s first carbon neutral vehicle manufacturing and battery campus as Ford works to power all Ford plants globally with renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2035.

 Jim Farley, Ford preseident and CEO had the following to say about Project T3: “Project T3 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revolutionize America’s truck. We are melding 100 years of Ford truck know-how with world-class electric vehicle, software and aerodynamics talent. It will be a platform for endless innovation and capability.” 

“PJ O’Rourke once described American pickups as ‘a back porch with an engine attached.’ Well, this new truck is going to be like the Millennium Falcon – with a back porch attached,” he said. “The manufacturing process will be equally breakthrough, with radical simplicity, cost efficiency and quality technology that will make BlueOval City the modern-day equivalent of Henry Ford’s Rouge factory. A factory of the future that people from all over the world will want to tour.”  

BlueOval City is a key part in Ford's plan to scale to production of 2 million EVs a year by 2026.

For those interested in how big it is, check out the construction video of how much steel, cement, etc. they have done and what it is related to for size comparison.

 

With its F-150 Lightning, Ford already has shifted people’s expectations about the capability, driving enjoyment and productivity EV pickups can deliver. Ford’s Project T3 aims to further grow and reinvent the Ford truck franchise.

Ford is developing its second-generation EV truck in tandem with the all-new assembly plant, resulting in efficiencies never before possible – such as a 30 percent smaller general assembly footprint than traditional plants while delivering higher production capacity.

Meanwhile, Project T3 team members are ensuring they deliver the capability and innovation customers expect from Ford trucks with a fraction of the complexity from previous truck programs.

Project T3 is short for “Trust The Truck” – a code name that stuck after the development team made it their rallying cry. The team’s single guiding principle has been to create a truck people can trust in the digital age – one that’s fully updatable, constantly improving, and supports towing, hauling, exportable power and endless new innovations owners will want.

The assembly plant will use carbon-free electricity from the day it opens. For the first time in 120 years, Ford also is using recovered energy from the site’s utility infrastructure and geothermal system to provide carbon-free heat for the assembly plant – saving about 300 million cubic feet of natural gas typically needed each year to heat similarly sized vehicle assembly plants.

The 3,600-acre campus also has a fully integrated BlueOval SK battery manufacturing site. On-site, the team will build battery cells and arrays and assemble battery packs that will be delivered just across the site into the assembly plant, in less than 30 minutes.

In addition, BlueOval City is developing an on-site supplier park and will have an upfit center capable of adding in dozens of Ford trucks’ most popular features – including robotically installed spray-in bedliners and integrated tool boxes before the pickups are released to dealers and customers.

To help reduce traffic congestion and emissions, the campus also has an on-site Lowe’s store supplying building materials, two construction equipment rental companies and three concrete batch plants.

Ford is introducing BlueOval Learning to empower future workers to build an EV future in America. This talent development program will strengthen skills, provide teacher support and increase work-based learning experiences. Key elements include:

• Building STEM curricula: Ford will support K-12 schools and universities to expand  existing STEM-related curricula and infrastructure
• Bringing advanced manufacturing to local schools: Ford will provide mechatronics training equipment and program development  in Haywood, Tipton and Lauderdale counties
• Kick-starting careers in high school: Ford will help to expand certifications and dual-enrollment opportunities for students
• Experiential learning: Ford will partner with colleges and universities to develop work-based learning such as co-ops and internships
• Premier training in advanced technologies: Ford will collaborate with higher education institutions to provide training on advanced manufacturing, EVs and battery manufacturing
• BlueOval City TCAT: This state-of-the-art training center, a $40 million investment by the State of Tennessee and created with the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, will be a hub for education resources and best-in-class training programs

For more about employment at BlueOval City, visit https://corporate.ford.com/operations/blue-oval-city/tennessee.html.

Here is Fords 1hr long announcement about BlueOral City.

Today Ford of Europe has revealed the start of their commitment to the European auto market by focusing on an all-new all-electric SUV. The Ford Explorer is a bold new EV that combines German engineering with American style.

Using the agreed MEB platform from VW, Ford of Europe had their German Engineering team build from the ground up this mid-size crossover that seats five adults in two rows with space for the family gear for the next road adventure.

Ford of Europe had the following to say:

• New Explorer crossover leads the way for a new wave of bold, iconic electric vehicles that are steeped in Ford’s American roots and designed for Europe
• All-electric Explorer offers an outstanding digital experience with a fully loaded infotainment system, 15-inch movable screen, wireless app integration and advanced driver assistance
• Primed for adventure, Explorer’s clever cabin storage is roomy, features a private locker and 17-litre central console provides stowage for large items, like a laptop
• Explorer will take road trips in its stride, with charging from 10-80 per cent in 25 minutes. ¹ Features for extra comfort range from assisted lane changes to massage driver’s seat
• Starting today, customers can experience virtual electric Explorer test drives through a range of intrepid driving environments from their desktop or mobile device

Using the latest version of Ford SYNC Move 2, advanced driver assistance technology, wireless app integration, and a supersized movable touchscreen with fully connected infotainment system and audio.

This Ford Explorer comes with Android Auto and Apple Carplay and has behind the screen a lockable storage place for valuables. There is also at the bottom of the screen a compartment space for two large smartphones that can charge wirelessly.

This Explorer comes with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive variants, Explorer offers a raft of features to ensure drivers and passengers are as refreshed and ready to go when they have reached their destination as when they set out Comfort-boosting standard specification includes heated front seats and steering wheel, a massaging driver’s seat and climate control that allows driver and front passenger to choose their own temperature. Even returning to the crossover is made simple with standard keyless entry and an available hands-free tailgate that means owners can access the boot when their arms are filled with sports kit using a simple kicking motion beneath the rear bumper.

Advanced driver assistance systems include, for the first time on a Ford in Europe, Assisted Lane Change for smoothly and safely changing lanes at the push of an indicator stalk, and Clear Exit Assist that provides warnings of approaching cyclists before opening doors in busy city centers.

Check out all the images here:

1967 was a magical year for Ford Motor Co and their desire to dominate the 24hrs Lemans. 

Fords desire to dominate the 24 after being snubbed by Ferrari led to the ultimate auto competition. One that has gone down in history as the biggest loss for Ferrari, the biggest win for Ford Motor Co.

From the onset, the attention to detail was exceptional for Team Ford.

All this work ended up in producing a race car that has stuck in the dreams of many gearheads. The Ford GT Mk IV race car.

Today we introduce you to the 2023 Ford GT Mk IV track-only model. Ford GT's highest-level of performance, handling and advanced technology due to the unique custom engine, transmission, aerodynamic design and chassis with longer wheelbase.

Ford has learned so much since 1967 and with that, this 2023 Ford GT Mk IV features a specially engineered twin-turbo EcoBoost engine targeting more than 800 horsepower, race transmission, carbon fiber "long tail" body, plus Multimatic's Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) suspension.

This race car is now available to order, production will be limited to 67 hand-built supercars, a number to honor the original 1967 GT Mk IV race car.

To quote the Ford Press Release:

The new Ford GT Mk IV nods to the year that the original Mk IV won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with just 67 of the hand-built supercars to be produced at Multimatic’s facility in Markham, Ontario. A new client application process (https://www.ford.com/performance/gt/mk-iv/) will begin for this $1.7M supercar (starting MSRP), with client selections confirmed in the first-quarter of 2023. Deliveries will begin in late spring 2023.

As a race car that was built to dominate the global endurance race circuit of 1967, todays 2023 version is built to do the same.

To quote Mark Ruchbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports:

“The original GT Mk IV held nothing back for max track performance, and the new Ford GT Mk IV brings it in the same way,” “With an even higher-level of motorsport engineering and performance, plus a completely new carbon fiber body that is functional and striking, the Mk IV is the ultimate sendoff of the third-generation supercar.”

How does a company elevate it off-road adventure game? Ford is doing it by offering a new off-road package that increases capability and style, welcome to the Bronco Sport Black Diamond Off-Road Package for 2023 Bronco Sport buyers.

According to Fords marketing manager Mark Grueber;

 “Today, nearly 90% of Bronco Sport customers that attend Off-Roadeo are likely to go off-roading again, and 97% of customers are more knowledgeable and confident doing so, furthering our goal of getting into the wild.” “For adventurers who want to get more from their Bronco Sport, we’re enhancing the ownership experience by offering more trail capability with the new Black Diamond Off-Road Package, plus an included opportunity to learn what their SUV can do at Bronco Off-Roadeo,” 

So, what models is it available on and what does the Black Diamond Off-Road Package include?

Bronco Sport Big Bend and Outer Banks series are the two models this package is available on.

• Steel plates covering key 4x4 powertrain areas
  • front metal skid plate covering engine and transmission area
  • fuel tank protection
  • canister shield
• 17" Carbonized Gray low-gloss aluminum wheels with 225/65R17 all-terrain tires
• matte black hood graphic, lower bodyside graphics

Ford had the following statement about the 2023 Bronco Sport models:

Starting with the 2023 model year, every Bronco Sport owner and order-holder now receives complimentary Bronco Off-Roadeo adventure access and trail guide instruction.

All four Bronco Off-Roadeo experiences put drivers to the test across miles of curated trails over a day, while teaching them about the capabilities and performance of their Bronco two-, four-door, or Sport SUV model.

Each location is designed for all skill levels and offers unforgettable trail drives led by off-road experts, who will show attendees how to get the most out of their Bronco’s rugged capabilities. This included experience is the ultimate opportunity to build confidence, expand off-road adventure skills and explore everything Bronco models have to offer.

Bronco Off-Roadeo adventure playgrounds include Horseshoe Bay, Texas (near Austin); Mt. Potosi, Nevada (near Las Vegas); Moab, Utah; and Gilford, New Hampshire.

Winter Weekends coming to Bronco Off-Roadeo Moab and Texas
Adding seasonal excitement to Bronco Off-Roadeo Moab and Texas, Winter Weekends extend the brand’s off-road adventure playgrounds’ offerings and expand access for customers to come and experience the Built Wild lifestyle.

Today, Ford unveiled the refreshed 2023 Ford Escape. The '23 Escape offered evolutionary styling over the outgoing model and several safety and technology evolutions as well.

New ST-Line Sport Appearance

Added to the lineup this year is a new ST-Line model, an appearance package that makes the standard Escape look sportier. Offered in base ST-Line, ST-Line Select, and ST-Line Elite, the ST-Line packages use the same 1.5-liter Ecoboost, 2.0-liter Ecoboost, and 2.5-liter hybrid engines found in the rest of the Escape lineup. Visually, the ST-line gets a black mesh grill, monochrome moldings, and a large single-wing rear spoiler. The ST-line Elite has an available “coast to coast” LED light bar that spans the distance between the headlights for a distinct look.

Inside, the ST-Line comes solely in an ebony interior with red stitching on the doors, seats, armrest, and steering wheel.

Simplified Trims and 13.2-Inch Screen

The other trim names have changed for 2023 as well. Gone are S, SE, SEL, and Titanium, respectively replaced by Base, Active, and Platinum. Base model Escapes come with an ebony interior, while higher trim customers can select ebony or space gray. The infotainment system has been upgraded with a 13.2-inch screen that has Alexa and cloud connectivity built in. The infotainment system is capable of over-the-air updates at times the customer schedules.

Four Powertrains Including Plug-In Hybrid

Powertrains carry over largely unchanged from the previous model. The base engine is the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder Ecoboost producing 180 horsepower. The 2.0-liter Ecoboost producing 250 horsepower also remains. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The Ford Escape was the first hybrid crossover, and it keeps its hybrid options with a 2.5-liter standard hybrid and a plug-in version with a larger battery capacity. In front-wheel drive configuration, the hybrid is expected to produce a combined 210 horsepower. All engine options can be had in front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Ford touts that no matter which powertrain a customer selects, they can enjoy over 400 miles of driving range, with the plug-in hybrid version stretching to nearly 550-miles.

The Escape Plug-In Hybrid model features four EV modes that allow drivers to select the settings most suitable for their individual needs.

• In Auto EV mode, the vehicle decides whether to run on gas or electric power
• In EV Now mode, drivers can operate on all-electric driving
• In EV Later mode, drivers can switch to full gas-powered driving to conserve electric miles for later
• In EV Charge mode, drivers can continue to charge the battery while driving and generate electric-only miles to use later

Enhanced Co-Pilot360 Safety

Ford Co-Pilot360 has been enhanced with a 360-degree camera system, Intersection Assist 2.0 to help avoid collisions with pedestrians during turning, an enhanced blind spot assist that will nudge the steering wheel in the event of an obstacle in the way. Additional available new technologies include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Predictive Speed Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Reverse Brake Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and Connected Built-In Navigation.

Check out the 2023 Ford Escape photo gallery for a look at the ST-Line and PHEV trims.

The 2023 Ford Escape is built in Louisville, KY and will go on sale in early 2023.

Ford today jumped back in time to show us the upcoming 2023 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport Heritage and Heritage Limited Editions that bring the looks of the 1966 model to the present. Ford will build just 1,966 Heritage Limited Editions of each model.

Bronco Heritage

Both 2-door and 4-door versions of the Bronco Heritage will feature 2-tone paint with Oxford White accents and a modular hard-top roof. A unique Oxford White grille featuring Ford lettering in Race Red, a powder-coated steel bumper, and 17” Oxford White wheels finish the retro looks.

Inside features plaid cloth seating and an Oxford White dash surround and includes Big Bend option group equipment.

The standard powertrain is the 2.3-liter Turbo 4-cylinder producing up to 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. Buyers can choose from a 7-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic. Also standard is the Sasquatch Package with High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension 2.0 system with long-travel Bilstein position-sensitive dampers with end-stop control valves and increased ride height, along with 35” Goodyear mud tires, and a Dana front and rear locking differentials.

Bronco buyers who want even more can select the Bronco Heritage Limited Edition—built on the Badlands equipment group, which swaps out the 2.3-liter for a 2.7-liter Ecoboost V6, making 330 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel and mated solely to the 10-speed automatic. Seats are upgraded to plaid vinyl with leather trim and red and white striping.   Oxford white wheels are replaced with gloss black 17” wheels with dog dish hubcaps with an Oxford White painted lip.

Heritage Edition Broncos are available in 5 colors, while the Limited Edition arrives exclusively in Robin’s Egg Blue with Yellowstone Metalic available later in the 2023 model year.

Bronco Sport Heritage

Though not yet part of the lineup in 1966, the Bronco Sport gets in on the fun with Heritage and Heritage Limited Editions of its own.  All versions get the Oxford White grille with Race Red BRONCO lettering, Oxford White 17” wheels, uniquely painted roof, and body stripes.

Like its big brother, the Heritage Edition is built on the Big Bend series and features the 1.5-liter Ecoboost engine with 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque.  The H.O.S.S system increases ride height and capability with uniquely tuned front struts with hydraulic rebound stops designed to provide a quiet, less jarring off-road experience. In addition, 46-millimeter-diameter monotube rear shocks, antiroll bars and uniquely tuned springs help provide off-road comfort.

The Terrain Management System™ offers five G.O.A.T. Modes™ because Bronco “Goes Over Any Type of Terrain” and in various conditions. Standard modes include Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand.

Bronco Sport Heritage Edition is available in seven paint options including Robin’s Egg Blue, while Heritage Limited Edition is exclusively available in Robin’s Egg Blue, Yellowstone Metallic and Peak Blue.

Heritage Limited Edition models add metal “Bronco” script front fender badging and larger 29-inch all-terrain off-road tires with more aggressive, deeper treads that stretch on to the sidewalls for improved off-road traction. Heritage Limited Edition models also upgrade to leather-trimmed seats and include Oxford White door inserts and unique center console badging.

They are powered by increased performance and off-road capability of the Badlands series, including the more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with up to 250 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque* for high-speed off-road performance.

An advanced 4x4 system with a twin-clutch rear-drive unit with a differential lock can divert virtually all rear axle torque to either wheel, and the G.O.A.T. Modes system increases to seven modes, adding Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl.

Bronco Sport Heritage Edition MSRP+  will start at $34,245 and the Heritage Limited starts at $44,655. Bronco Heritage will start at $44,305 and Heritage Limited will be priced at $66,895.

Ford today revealed the 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor, a new version of the immensely popular Maverick with new off-road capability.  The Tremor package is available on XLT or Lariat series trucks and comes standard with the 2.0-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder producing 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.  Building on the existing FX4 package, the all-wheel drive system is new to Maverick and features a twin-clutch system and rear differential lock that can divert all rear axle torque to one side or the other.  Drivers can choose from five selectable modes, pavement, sand, snow, mud, and tow.

Also included for off-roading is Trail Control which is like cruise control for trails.  Maverick gains a 1" lift, along with unique front and rear shocks and springs, upgraded half-shafts, and a transmission cooler.

On the styling front, Maverick Tremor comes with a new grille finish, blacked out Ford logos, headlamps and tail lamps.  The front tow hooks get an orange finish along with matching orange accents on unique 17" anodized gray wheels shod with all-terrain tires. Also added is a new lower front fascia with a more aggressive approach angle and steel skid plates.

Inside, the only interior color is Black Onyx with various pieces decorated with Tremor Orange.

For those who want to really complete the look, there is the Tremor appearance package with a Carbon-gray roof and mirror caps, and black graphics on the hood and lower body.

The 2023 Ford Maverick Tremor package costs $2,995 with an optional additional $1,495 for the Tremor Appearance packages.

Customers will be able to place orders for the 2024 Ford Maverick Tremor in early September and production begins later in Fall of 2022.

For 70 years, Ford has been providing police departments with special vehicles to serve and protect communities. More than 12,000 police departments across the United States and other global places have used Ford Police Vehicles making it the bestselling lineup against other police vehicles according to Ford. The company attributes this success and customer loyalty to the automaker's close collaboration with its customers via the Ford Police Advisory Board.

Nate Oscarson, Ford Pro National government sales manager stated the following:

“We're proud to offer America’s first electric police pickup truck to local government customers who can use the truck’s game-changing technology to help improve their productivity,” “Pro Power Onboard can serve as a mobile power source to light up evening accident scenes on the highway, the electric powertrain helps to potentially reduce costs associated with fuel and scheduled maintenance needs and the Mega Power Frunk provides extra lockable storage on top of purpose-built police additions our customers have come to expect from the leader in police vehicles.” 

To quote the Ford Press release about the F-150 Lighting Pro SSV:

The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is designed to handle specialized departmental needs outside of pursuit situations, such as assisting at an accident or crime scene or giving departments the ability to tow a boat or trailer. Purpose-built features from F-150 Police Responder^® include:

• Police-grade heavy-duty cloth seats with reduced bolsters to help holstered officers enter and exit the vehicle more easily
• Built-in steel intrusion plates in the front seatbacks.
• Available red/blue, amber/white roof-mounted LED warning beacons
• An upfit-friendly reinforced instrument panel top tray for easy mounting of police equipment
• Easy-to-clean vinyl rear seats and vinyl flooring

Standard features include:

• Interior: 12-inch digital cluster screen and 12-inch landscape-style touchscreen on the center stack 
• Exterior: Mega Power Frunk gives officers 14.1 cubic feet of lockable cargo area in the front and offers easy access for upfitters to locate a 220-amp DC-DC power source
• Targeted performance and capability: 452 horsepower, 775 lb.-ft. of torque^, 7,700-pound towing capacity and 2,235 maximum payload with a standard-range battery, and sub-four-second 0-60 mph acceleration, 580 horsepower, 775 lb.-ft. of torque, and 10,000-pound towing capability with the extended-range battery
• Technology: Intelligent Range, SYNC^® 4, over-the-air Ford Power Up software updates and Ford Co-Pilot360^™ technology, including Automatic Emergency Braking and Blindspot Information System (BLIS^®) with Cross-Traffic Alert

Ford Pro SSV customers also benefit from access to the following:

• Available Ford E-Telematics^™10 which delivers manufacturer-grade information, insights and solutions on potential solutions on fuel management, vehicle health and more
• Established network of more than 650 electric vehicle-certified Ford Commercial Vehicle Centers across the United States, offering sales, service, financing and charging solutions, as well as 2,300 Ford electric vehicle-certified dealers.
• Consultative services related to charging installation and operation, data management and digital services
• Ford Pro^™, through its commercial lending arm FinSimple^™, offers flexible financing options for municipalities for vehicles as well as for charging solutions including depot installation, hardware and software to assist in the transition to electrified fleets
• Ford Pro’s Body Builder Advisory Service – a complimentary resource with guides and the latest information on how to add specialty tools and aftermarket equipment

More information on 2023 F-150 Lightning, including range, will be released later this summer.

Ford released the following video above and pictures below along with a dedicated web page to this truck.

http://www.ford.com/police-vehicles/ssv/

Ford Media Images:

Utility, ease of cleaning, maintenance, a focus on delivering on the job is what this truck is all about.

Ford is very proud in stating that the Ford Pro Platform of connected vehicles, software and services, include both ICE and EV as they all come pre-configured to seamlessly connect to a department's existing fleet of Ford and non-Ford internal combustion engine and battery-electric vehicles, chargers and fleet management software. Police departments use of these tools together result in potentially lowering costs and improved uptime across the police fleet of vehicles.

Getting the ugly out of the way is that up to 8,000 jobs in the coming weeks will be eliminated from Ford Motor Company as Jim Farley CEO of Ford plans to slash $3 Billion in costs by 2026 and he says this comes from having too many people in the newly created Ford Blue unit that produces gasoline powered vehicles.

The bulk of these cuts will come from the white-collar workforce and mostly in the U.S. where Ford employs more than 31,000 salaried workers. The cuts will come in phases beginning this summer. Operational phases where duplication in jobs and jobs that will no longer be needed due to the shift to EVs will happen as Ford modernizes their automotive business units as well as the entire company. Ford has stated that their Ford+ transformation will lead a exciting and disruptive new era of electric and connected vehicles, reshaping the way Ford employees work.

Farley is on record as saying both the ICE and BEV portfolios are under-earning due to too many people and workforce reduction is key to boosting profits.

On the flip side of job losses is that Ford has secured Batteries to Build 600,000 EVs a year by the end of 2023 and 2 million a year by the end of 2026. Ford sees EV demand growing at more than 90% annually.  

Ford has broken down their EV production by the end of 2023 as follows in the slide above. and with that come two types of battery packs, the LFP and current NCM batteries. Here you will find the LFP as the standard battery packs and in performance and long distance you will find the NCM. Ford is using Contemporary Amperex Technology Company LTD. (CATL) from China as the global supplier of LFP battery cells. LFP or Lithium Iron phosphate will give long life with minimal range loss, much like Tesla has done with their standard battery pack where the NCM or Nickel Cobalt Manganese lithium-ion battery cells will be used in the Long Range and performance battery packs. Ford has stated that the LFP batteries not using rare earth elements will reduce the cost of the battery packs by up to 15%.

 

Press Release bullet list:

• Ford has added battery chemistries and secured contracts delivering 60 gigawatt hours (GWh) of annual battery capacity to deliver global 600,000 EV run rate by late 2023
• Lithium iron phosphate battery packs coming for Mustang Mach-Es sold in North America next year and F-150 Lightnings in early 2024, creating more capacity for high-demand products
• Ford already has sourced 70% of battery capacity to support 2 million+ annual EV global run rate by 2026; plans to localize 40 GWh per year of lithium iron phosphate capacity in N.A. in 2026; new deal with CATL on strategic cooperation for global battery supply; and direct-sourcing battery raw materials in U.S., Australia, Indonesia – and more
• Company expects compound annual growth rate for EVs to top 90% through 2026; more than double forecasted global industry EV growth

Ford also has announced that their long-standing agreement with LG Energy Solutions and SK On has ramped up much earlier than planned to ensure that globally Ford can deliver on pre-orders for Mach-e and Ford F150 Lighting demand as well as the e-Transit vans that are seeing high pre-orders in Europe and North America.

Ford also announced non-binding MOUs with major mining collaborators sourcing most of the nickel needs for batteries through 2026 and beyond.

• Vale Canada Ltd.: To explore potential opportunities across the EV value chain.
• PT Vale Indonesia and Huayou Cobalt: For exploring a three-way nickel processing project and, separately, an off-take agreement with Huayou that collectively will provide Ford with rights to the equivalent of 84 kilotons per annum (ktpa) of nickel.
• BHP: For nickel supply from BHP's Nickel West operations in Australia. The targeted multi-year agreement could start as early as 2025 and may involve additional commodities over time.

Ford has also announced key lithium contracts that are locked in and additional MOU contracts for Aluminum and copper. To this end, Ford is pleased to announce localize processing of key battery materials in North America with the following:

• EcoPro BM and SK On: Have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with Ford to establish a cathode production facility in North America.
• ioneer: Has signed a binding off-take agreement with Ford for lithium carbonate from ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge project in Nevada to support EV production beyond 2025.
• Compass Minerals: Has signed a non-binding MOU for lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate from its Utah operations on the Great Salt Lake.
• Syrah Resources and SK On: Have signed a non-binding MOU to secure off-take for natural graphite from its processing site in Vidalia, Louisiana.

Ford cautions on future sales, but is happy to state for the first time, a majority of customers have stated they will buy EV or Hybrid vehicles, up 11% from last year and 22% from 2020.

60% of commercial customers who do not have EVs deployed yet in the latest Ford Pro Survey indicated that they are ready to buy EVs in the next 24 months to add to their fleets. 

Ford Model e Chief Customer Officer Marin Gjaja has this to say:

“This is our opportunity to win a whole new group of customers, building their loyalty and advocacy as we grow our market share," "We're developing the digital and physical services and experiences those new customers expect when they purchase a product that to them is a new technology purchase. Our aim is to combine the convenience of digital shopping with Ford’s expertise, scale and the physical presence of our dealers to create the best possible experience for tomorrow’s EV owners.”

Since the 70's Ford has had at least one SuperVan each decade leading up to the 21st Century. Yet Ford then went into a dry spell on SuperVans as the market changed in what customers wanted. Now Ford has revisited the SuperVan with a very modern 21st century twist in the AWD E-Transit SuperVan.

First let's take a walk down memory lane in the history of the Ford SuperVan with the 1971 SuperVan, a van that many in the US never saw, but a Transit that started it all.

We then move onto the next Ford SuperVan from 1984. Another European Van that was popular for Ford and much bigger.

1995 Ford SuperVan continued a full-size affair in Europe and this time tied up with Cosworth

Then we had a dry patch as it took 27 years to bring us the next crazy insane version of a Ford SuperVan and this time it is an AWD Electric E-Transit as Ford Pro moves back to the mini-van format. To quote the Ford press release:

The Ford Pro Electric SuperVan fully utilizes the potential of electric performance and enhanced connectivity to achieve the highest performance of any Ford van ever and underscore the company’s huge commitment to electrification.

Four electric motors, a 50 kWh liquid-cooled battery and a bespoke control system produce approximately 2,000 PS for sub two-second 0-100 km/h acceleration. Performance from a purpose-built, track-ready chassis including components from the recently unveiled E-Transit Custom ¹ – the first fully electric version of Europe’s best-selling van ^2,3  – is complemented by Ford’s SYNC in-cab touchscreen technology ⁴ from road-going Ford models, as well as additional functionality to control the Electric SuperVan’s unique capabilities.

The enhanced connectivity keeps the driver informed and enables real-time data transmission for remote vehicle management and optimized performance, just like the integrated services that can accelerate the productivity of over 125,000 Ford Pro customers across Europe. Selectable drive modes and regenerative braking technologies similar to those on Ford production electric vehicles also feature.

The striking, all-electric demonstrator vehicle was developed in secret by Ford Performance and electrified rally and racing specialists STARD in Austria, with exterior design by the Ford Design team in Cologne, Germany.

“We’re bringing SuperVan into the 21^st century with 2,000 PS of all-electric power for unmatched excitement and unmistakable styling inspired by the new E-Transit Custom. But performance isn’t all about horsepower – the Electric SuperVan’s processing power means engineers can use real-time vehicle data to optimize its performance, just like on a top-level racing car,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.

Ford’s first SuperVan was revealed in 1971 and featured a mid-mounted engine taken from the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 to create a Transit Mk. 1 unlike any other. The formula was taken further for SuperVan 2; a Glassfiber version of the Transit Mk. 2 body was draped over the monocoque and 590 PS Cosworth V8 of Ford’s C100 racing car. This vehicle was later reborn as the facelifted Transit Mk. 3 lookalike SuperVan 3, powered by a screaming 650 PS Cosworth HB engine shared with Formula 1 cars of the era.

“Ford Pro is all about accelerating productivity for our customers – so why not create a new Electric SuperVan that proves the power of electrification and connectivity,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe. “This incredible demonstrator vehicle takes E-Transit Custom’s advanced engineering and distinctive look to a whole new level, and is high-speed proof of the power of Ford Pro’s connected services ecosystem.”

For those that might not understand Europe performance numbers, here are the translated info:

• Zero to 62 mph in under 2 seconds
• 4 electric motors good for 1,972 HP or 2,000PS as they state
• Based on the All-New, All-Electric E-Transit 
  • Ford Pro Reveals Exciting Next Phase of Electrification Journey with All-New, All-Electric E-Transit Custom | Ford of Europe | Ford Media Center

The bullet points of this 21st century SuperVan:

• Ultra-high-performance Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is an all-electric demonstrator inspired by new E-Transit Custom to showcase Ford Pro digital and EV capability
• Motorsport-spec suspension and brakes meet a 2,000 PS powertrain; SuperVan also features Ford SYNC connectivity, bespoke drive modes and regenerative braking
• Must-see van makes its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK, driven by Le Mans racer and electric record-setter Romain Dumas

The Ford Pro team of Europe turned the customization up to an 11 with the 21st century SuperVan. They had the following to say about this SuperVan.

Quote:

“The chance to be part of the iconic SuperVan story and reimagine what it could be in the 21st century was a dream opportunity,” said Amko Leenarts, director, Design, Ford of Europe. “The fourth chapter of the SuperVan story is designed to be the fastest, most extreme yet while keeping the Transit DNA. The proportions are a more dramatic version of what we developed for the E-Transit Custom and the front light bar creates a futuristic expression, making the Electric SuperVan the absolute pinnacle of Transit design language.”

The demonstrator vehicle’s motorsport-spec construction marries the E-Transit Custom floorpan with a steel spaceframe and lightweight composite body panels. A bespoke 50 kWh liquid-cooled battery pack is mounted for optimum weight distribution and a low centre of gravity and can be fully recharged in approximately 45 minutes using a standard electric vehicle fast-charger. The driver can access charging and battery insights via the in-cab touchscreen.

Four electric motors together deliver approximately 2,000 PS through an all-wheel drive system – enough to propel the incredible van to 100 km/h in under two seconds and making it comfortably the fastest SuperVan ever, as well as the cleanest.

Like any good van, the Electric SuperVan features a loadspace behind the driver; a door in the bodyside makes loading and unloading cargo easy, and Ford is developing a secure electromagnetic release system controlled via the SYNC screen.

A suite of onboard cameras can immerse audiences around the world in the action during SuperVan’s impressive high-performance runs. As on the Ford E‑Transit, the driver can pull camera feeds onto the in-cab screen and switch between them to help position the vehicle.

Ford Performance and STARD’s motorsport input is immediately obvious; the dramatically sculpted body’s front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser would be at home on a racing car, while the radical rear design’s cutaways and dorsal fin flow into the rear wing to generate downforce and push the Electric SuperVan into the track for more grip.

The racing influence continues under the skin with unequal-length double wishbone suspension at each corner. Motorsport-grade front and rear subframes, uprights, and brakes deliver the braking and steering capability to match the enormous straight-line go.

The touchscreen also enables control of the selectable drive modes that tailor the Electric SuperVan’s torque maps, regenerative braking and control responses to suit different driving scenarios:

·       Road – for rare cases of “normal” driving

·       Track – for balancing speed and cornering on track with racing slick tyres

·       Drag – for maximum acceleration on drag strips while using drag racing radial tyres

·       Drift – for spectacular drifting, agility demonstrations and snow driving

·       Rally – for optimum performance on tarmac and gravel rally stages with special tyres

Further performance fine-tuning is delivered by an electronics package that includes traction control, launch control, a pit-lane speed limiter and three-stage regenerative braking to return energy to the battery – similar to the L Mode function on E-Transit. At low speed, ECO Mode keeps the motors at optimal efficiency, turns the regenerative braking up to maximum and cuts drive to the rear axle. For maximum speed, an E‑Boost button puts a temporary power and torque boost at the driver’s fingertips.

A Tyre Cleaning Mode can deliver exhilarating driving displays; this new feature fully brakes one axle while spinning the other, creating impressive burnouts on the front or rear axles that help clean and warm the tyres before performance runs.

Just like a modern racing car – and Ford’s hard-working vans – the Electric SuperVan can send real-time data to software for remote vehicle management. Businesses can use Ford Pro E‑Telematics ⁷ or FordPass Pro ⁸ to track the health and security of their fleet; similarly, Ford Performance trackside engineers can monitor the Electric SuperVan via dedicated management software that translates live data into insights on speed, lap times and vehicle systems.

Beyond demonstrating Ford’s advanced electric vehicle and connectivity know-how, the Electric SuperVan is also a high-speed science experiment. Its demanding driving scenarios and unrestricted design concept allow Ford to push the boundaries of electric vehicle engineering and connectivity to improve its future race cars and road-going vehicles, software and services.

So now that the Electric SuperVan is here, that leaves only one question to be asked, Who is ready for a Custom SuperVan themselves?

This brings back memories of corvette Summer and the custom vans in that movie as well as all the custom vans we saw at auto shows.

Could this SuperVan be the start of the next custom auto revolution?

Ford Pro Electric SuperVan - Ford of Europe Press and Media Materials - https://supervan.fordpresskits.com

Here’s How to Accelerate a Business: 2,000 PS, Wild-Styled Ford Pro Electric SuperVan Packs a High-Voltage Punch | Ford of Europe | Ford Media Center

Ford announced this morning that it will be making $3.7 billion in investments to expand plants and add 6,200 workers at several of its facilities in the Mid-West.  An additional $1 billion investment over the next 5 years will be put towards improving the workplace experience for manufacturing employees, including healthier food, EV chargers, better lighting, and more. As many as 3,000 of the workers added will be converted from temporary hourly workers currently on staff.

As part of this announcement, Ford confirmed a new all-electric commercial vehicle that will be produced in Ohio to debut around 2025. The Mustang will be going global with an all-new design and the international and domestic Ford Ranger, currently different vehicles, will be consolidated into an all-new global design.

In Michigan, Ford will be investing $2 billion in three plants to increase production of the Ford F-150 Lightning to 150,000 per year in Dearborn, the all-new Ranger at Michigan Assembly in Wayne, and the all-new Mustang coupe at Flat Rock. Ford expects to expand the workforce by 3,200 in these facilities.

In Ohio, Ford will be creating 1,800 jobs with a $1.5 billion investment at the Ohio Assembly Plant that will be producing the new Commercial EV, along with $90 million for the Lima Engine and Sharonville Transmission plants. Ohio Assembly currently produces the E-Series, Medium duty trucks, and Super Duty Chassis cab trucks.

Missouri will get 1,100 jobs to add a third shift in the Kansas City Assembly plant which produces the Transit van and will be adding the all-new E-Transit EV van.

The Ford Motor Company and UAW leaders will host customers and employees to celebrate the official start of F-150 Lightning production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

A milestone in the country's shift to electric vehicles, Ford employees and F-150 Lightning customers will join the "Job 1" event for the first-ever, full-size all-electric pickup to go on sale.

The F-series Ford Pickup has been America's best-selling truck for 45 years in a row and is second only to the iPhone in Revenue among all American consumer products, according to a 2020 study. The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center is an Ultra-modern new facility within Ford's historic Rouge Complex where Henry Ford perfected the moving assembly line and scaled the Model T.

The event begins April 26th, 1:30pm eastern and will be livestreamed at http://ford.to/LightningStrikes

F-150 Lightning Strikes on April 26; Ford Looks Ahead to Lightning Deliveries with Customer, Employee Celebration | Ford Media Center

F-150 Lighting customers will have some benefiting from an increase in range for the spring launch showing Ford's continuous efforts to improve over time.

Fleet customers have the option of purchasing the extended range battery on the Lighting Pro which now has an EPA-estimated range of 320 miles.

Quote Ford:

“We are laser focused on continually improving our energy consumption efficiency for Lightning and the team is really happy to deliver these results for our customers,” said Linda Zhang, chief program engineer, F-150 Lightning.

 

Ford Confirms F-150 Lightning Final EPA-Estimated Range for All Models Ahead of Customer Deliveries in the Spring | Ford Media Center

For the past two years Tesla model 3 has held the honor of being Consumer Reports (CR) top BEV pick. Now comes along Ford and their Mach-E knocking the model 3 into second choice. Tesla model 3 is still on the recommended list due to its latest technology, long range battery pack, charging network and a driving experience closer to a high-performance sports car than a sedan.

Mustang Mach-E just did it better according to Consumer Reports. To quote the report: The Mustang Mach-E is also very sporty, plus it’s more practical and easier to live with. The Ford is also quieter and rides better. Both cars have large infotainment center screens, but the Mach-E’s is far easier to operate and doesn’t require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using the defroster or adjusting the mirrors, as with the Tesla. Also, the Mach-E has an edge when it comes to reliability, according to first-year results in our Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.

Consumer Reports (CR) does point out that the Tesla Model Y is more similar to the Mach-E and even outscored it in the road test section but has a worse than average reliability which keeps it out of the Top Picks recommendation category. Reliability being a key factor in CR overall score system, the paint, body integrity, body hardware, power equipment and climate control system issues is why the Model Y failed to be in the Top Picks recommendation category. Model 3 has an average predicted reliability score.

Mustang Mach-E owners have so far reported very few problems with their auto giving it an important advantage over the Model Y and 3. CR has also stated that the connected driver monitoring system gives it a notable edge over Tesla's system.

Ford's active driving assistance system with driver monitoring, BlueCruise active driving assistance system is a far more affective driver monitoring system with appropriate warnings when the driver's attention wanders. Tesla Autopilot system can still be used if the driver is looking away as long as they have at least one hand resting on the steering wheel, limiting the effectiveness to the lack of attention on the road.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Is CR's Top Pick Electric Vehicle - Consumer Reports

Ford Motor Company rolled out in February 2020 a Nationwide Insurance program for connected vehicles that was designed to reward safe driving. This program was as easy as installing the Ford or Lincoln app on your smartphone and filling out the online form and agreeing to share the driving data from the black boxs with Nationwide. This allowed drivers to save based on their safe driving habits that are reported to the insurance company. No plug-in devices or additional apps required. Insurance was available in 39 states on 2020 modem-equipped models.

Per Elena Ford, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Ford Motor Company, “This is the latest way we’re improving the customer experience,” “Insure makes getting insurance easier for connected-vehicle customers to cover one of their biggest investments – their vehicle – while saving money.”

This program would also include the Nationwide Accident Forgiveness option also. Per Nationwide, customers buying new autos are wanting to get insurance right away that is simple and easy to sign up for, the new Insure program does that for New Ford and Lincoln autos.

We move to December of 2020 and Ford has updated the Ford and Lincoln Insure programs that use State Farm, Allstate, Liberty Mutual and Metromile along with Nationwide to expand coverage to save customers money on premiums based on using the latest Telematics that are auto reported to these insurance companies may be eligible to receive insurance premiums discounts based on their driving habits. 

Ford has stated that several more insurance companies are under contract and will be announced in the future.

For Ford Motor Company customers, how they drive have the potential to earn big discounts on their auto insurance. Alex Purdy, director of Ford Business operations stated the following, “Connected vehicles present new opportunities for us to help customers save money and improve their experience with Ford products,” “Whether customers are purchasing through Ford Insure or working with another carrier, we are committed to giving them the ability to choose the right option for themselves – and to potentially earn big discounts based on how they drive.”

We move forward to today, February 15th, 2022 and the Ford / Lincoln Insure program goes live with State Farm where State Farm customers with eligible connected Ford / Lincoln vehicles can now opt into the State Farm UBI Program, "Drive Safe & Save", which will adjust premiums to an individual vehicles mileage and customer driving behavior based on the reporting from the Telematics connected system of the auto. 

The State Farm with Ford / Lincoln Insurance program will start with Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Oregon as of February 27th, 2022. It will then be rolled out across the nation excluding California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Ford believes this will increase safety for all by helping the auto owner improve their driving characteristics as they pay for insurance based on the miles they drive and their habits of how they drive. State Farm says their customers will on average save 10 to 15% on average using this program and could go as high as 40% based on an individual's driving habits.

While one can see for those drivers that are very cautious, this can save them money. One does have to wonder about those that opt into this type of program and are a bit more aggressive, could they then see their premiums go higher? This only makes logical sense as Insurance companies could easily use the broadcasted telematics to also ding those that are more aggressive in driving over the speed limit, moving back and forth between lanes, etc.

One has to wonder how many people will go for being monitored 24/7 when they drive their auto? How will insurance adjust based on buying a GT Mustang or electric Mach-e? Just as with health insurance and how smokers pay higher premiums than non-smokers, this could tend to create true casts of high insurance premiums for people who are not afraid of speed and lower costs for those that drive slow without taking into account that while there are good and bad drivers in both categories.

Many people have seen people who buy powerful expensive auto's get on the freeway, move over the passing lane and then drive 20 mph under the posted speed limit. This to this writer is just as dangerous to other drivers on the road as is the one who buys a performance auto, routinely drives 20 over the posted speed limit and cuts in and out of traffic.

Is this the future of all driving? Could we see no matter how fast / powerful your auto is, that the only way to get auto insurance is to eventually agree to monitored driving by the insurance companies? With this telematics, will it require that each person driving logs in so that the driving telematics are clearly associated with each individual as one would have in a large household? One has to wonder how far they will go with connected driving and the options to the buyer about how this data is handled.

QUESTION:

What are your thoughts on connected driving and insurance? Way of the future or crossing a line on big brother watching you?

State Farm® and Ford team up to introduce usage-based insurance to new vehicle owners | Ford Media Center

Ford, Lincoln Work with Nationwide to Offer Insurance Program for Connected Vehicles Designed to Reward Safer Driving | Ford Media Center

Ford Supports InsureTech Revolution with Insurance Carriers, Ford Insure and Lincoln Motor Company Insure, Using Embedded Telematics to Help Customers Save on Auto Policies | Ford Media Center

2022 ALL-NEW FORD BRONCO RAPTOR

Let's start by getting the basic info of what all off road nuts want to know about this beast:

• All-new 2022 Ford Bronco^® Raptor^™, designed and engineered by Ford Performance to be the world’s first Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV, is capable of highway-speed desert-dune conquering and Baja rock-crawling
• Bronco Raptor packs extreme Built Wild^™ capability and durability with an exclusive twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost^® engine targeted to deliver more than 400 horsepower*, a Raptor HOSS 4.0 race-ready suspension system, a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame, and standard 37-inch all-terrain tires   
• At 9.8 inches wider than a base Bronco four-door for more confident high-speed cornering, Bronco Raptor epitomizes extreme Built Wild design with race-inspired features inside and out, accented by Raptor-family signature cues

In comparison the standard Bronco to a Bronco Raptor.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company had the following quote to say: “Raptor is the apex of our off-road lineup and is now a full lineup with race proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else, Only Ford could create a Bronco Raptor!”

To achieve this mile stone, Ford had to create a race proven foundation that starts with a Raptor-Specific frame that supports increased suspension travel, track width for handling stability during high-speed desert runs. This is then complimented by a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame with new shock towers that increase wheel travel and off-road durability. Heavy-duty bash and skid plates provide continuous driveline coverage from the front bumper to the back of the engine, transmission and transfer case. This has been complimented by a 50% total body-in-prime torsional rigidity increase over a standard Bronco Four-door model in the upper body, B-pillar cross bar and C-pillar reinforcement.

View additional chassis details at the link at the bottom of the article for enhanced views of the Raptor Chassis details.

Ford delivered the following performance to the Bronco Raptor:

• Competition Performance axles
  • Rear axle is an upgraded semi-float Dana 50 Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK with 235-millimeter ring gear
  • Front axle is an upgraded Dana 44 AdvanTEK which includes half-shafts with 210-millimeter ring gear
  • Upgraded front and rear axles increase track width by 8.6 inches (73.6 inches versus 65.0 inches)
• Larger Performance driveshafts front and rear to support increased wheel torque
• Minimum ground clearance of 13.1 inches, 4.8 inches more than a standard Bronco
• Advanced 4x4 system with 3 modes and a heavy duty high-capacity clutch designed to withstand the demands of performance events. Upgraded transfer case featuring a 3.06 4x4 LO ration for up to a 67.7:1 crawl ratio.
• Ford Performance and Fox created upgraded High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS)
  • Fox 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers
  • Suspension height Sensors
  • Auto adjusting 100's of times per second for maximum adjusted suspension tuning based on terrain
• Ford Performance Front and Rear control arms
  • 13" of wheel travel Front 60% more than a standard Bronco
  • 14" of wheel travel Rear 40% more than a standard Bronco
• BFGoodrich 37" KO2 all-terrain tires on 17-inch x 8.5-inch beadlock-capable wheels
• Performance Electric Steering with larger-diameter inner and outer tie road ends.
• Twin Turbo 3.0 Liter EcoBoost V6 for 400HP
  • Performance Intercooling and Air-induction system 
  • 10-Speed SelectShift automatic transmission
• Raptor's G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Terrain Management System
  • 7 driver-selectable modes including a tuned Baja Mode
  • New for Bronco a Tow/Haul mode delivering a 4,500 pounds of towing capavility, 1,000 lbs more over a standard Bronco
  • Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist and Trail One-Pedal Driving modes are also included

Ford is putting everyone especially the Jeep Wrangler on Notice that there is a new Dinosaur in town!

The Bronco Raptor will have its own exterior Raptor-Family Design cues and will be available in 10 different colors, to quote the press release: For even more Raptor-styling DNA, an available Bronco Raptor Graphics Package includes new splatter graphics on the rear bodysides and hood that use an overlapping broken trapezoidal pattern and floating shapes to present a sophisticated digital appearance. Exterior colors include Hot Pepper Red Metallic, Velocity Blue Metallic, Eruption Green Metallic, Shadow Black, Iconic Silver Metallic, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Oxford White, plus Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange paint.

Bronco Raptor Interior starts with the following: 

• Bronco Raptor features a familiar heritage-inspired horizontal dash, integrating an all-digital 12-inch cluster. The cluster allows drivers to select from various views, including a Bronco Raptor-exclusive Performance View that emphasizes tachometer and gear readings and allows the customization of gauges.
• Bronco Raptor comes standard with a High Package that includes SYNC^®4 with 12-inch touchscreen with swipe capability, information on-demand panel and enhanced voice recognition. Other technology features include an exterior camera with 360-degree viewing capability. The Lux Package is available for customers looking for even more human-centered technology, such as an available 10-speaker B&O audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control.
• Base Bronco Raptor models are equipped with Black Onyx marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized washout flooring. The dark interior is accented with Ford Performance Code Orange splashes on the G.O.A.T. Modes rotary dial, dash vents, door netting, steering wheel stitching and Bronco logo on the instrument panel. Even the push-button ignition lights up in Code Orange. Touchpoints such as the grab handles, steering wheel bezel and gear shifter wear low-gloss carbon fiber accents.
  • ​​​​​​​Owners can opt for upgraded features such as all-new laser-perforated Black Onyx Neo suede seats, vinyl-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped outer seat bolsters and carpet flooring. A thicker and sport-contoured steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters and gloss black Raptor logo center continues the Ford Performance treatment. Ford Performance-designed front seats are unique to Bronco Raptor, designed with aggressive foam side bolsters to help keep passengers firmly seated when the terrain gets nasty. Available Code Orange seat belts provide even more Ford Performance style.

To quote the Ford Press Release: “The Bronco Raptor interior was designed around what we know hardcore off-road racers want in a vehicle,” said Ryan Olsson, design manager. “From the all-new Performance View on the cluster and unique steering wheel with paddle shifters and fingertip access to Raptor-specific controls, to its race-ready, high-bolster front seats, Bronco Raptor leaves the factory ready for the starting line.”

Customers can start placing orders in March for their Bronco Raptor, the Majority of the 2022 model year will go to reservation holders.

2022-Ford-Bronco-Raptor-Tech-Specs.pdf

Videos at Ford Media Center

Ford Bronco Raptor Chassis images

Ford Bronco Interior Images

Ford Bronco Raptor Exterior Images

Ford Bronco Raptor Desert-Racing, Rock-Crawling Images

Desert-Racing, Rock-Crawling 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Debuts as Most Powerful Street-Legal Bronco Ever | Ford Media Center

FORD Motor Company was hitting on all cylinders and battery packs as they ended 2021 on a high note. 

• Best-Selling Automaker in Q4 2021
• #2 in electric vehicle sales for 2021
• F-Series Best-Selling Truck for 45th year in a Row and Best-Selling Vehicle for 40th year straight
• SUVs grew market share from 7.3% in 2020 to 12.3% in 2021

BEV sales grew 121.1% for total sales and 137.8% in retail sales for 2021 over 2020.

Due to becoming #2 in BEV sales, FORD has again RAMPED UP production and will now product 150,000 F150 Lightning pickups in 2021 and over 200,000 for 2023 with expected global production of 600,000 by 2024 annually.

Full manufacturing images of the production line of the F150 Lighting can be viewed here: Full Speed Ahead: Ford Planning to Nearly Double All-Electric F-150 Lightning Production to 150,000 Units Annually; First Wave of Reservation Holders Invited to Order

Ford released today two new videos of the F150 Lighting and the pre-production assembly line.

 

Ford Best-Selling Automaker in Q4; Becomes No. 2 for Electric Vehicle Sales for 2021; F-Series Best-Selling Truck for 45th Year In Row and Best-Selling Vehicle for 40th straight year; SUV Share Expands | Ford Media Center

Full Speed Ahead: Ford Planning to Nearly Double All-Electric F-150 Lightning Production to 150,000 Units Annually; First Wave of Reservation Holders Invited to Order | Ford Media Center

December 2021 Press Release (ford.com)

On Sunday December 26th, 2021, General Manager of Ford China BEV Division Mark Kaufman handed the keys to Jin Zhang, a mustang fan and Ford Auto Enthusiast delivering the first Mach-e in China to a Ford Customer and starting the delivery of locally produced Mach-e's in China.

Ford has 25 Direct-to-Customer stores located in major Chinese metropolitan markets and is looking to 2022 to grow their online and sales and Direct-to-Customer stores enhancing the Ford experience.

Ford posted the following about their Chinese market:

• Ford all in on electrification and intelligence in China. BEV division will expand dedicated direct sales network to reach 90 percent of China’s electrified vehicle market this year, as the move to electrified vehicles accelerates The Mustang Mach-E manufactured in China opens for pre-orders with 4 available versions from RMB 265,000-379,900. The Limited GT First Edition will also debut.
• Mustang Mach-E will come with preinstalled intelligent driver assist hardware that supports wireless software upgrades.
• Charging network partnership with State Grid and NIO will offer app-based access to nationwide network. Ford is first automaker to offer “plug and charge” convenience in China.

Ford is selling based on January 4th 2022 the Mach-e in this price range from $41,700.76 dollars (265,000 RMB) to $59,781.58 dollars (379,900).

Ford stated that in order to compete, challenge the market leaders and breakthrough with mass production that would enable globally to reduce BEV prices, they chose to establish its BEV division with dedicated R&D, Manufacturing, Sales and User experience in China. Mach-e is the first BEV product but vans and trucks plus more is expected soon.

Ford has stated that the company is focused on the future and will adopt the direct sales network that saw 25 stores open in 20 major cities in 2021 to expand and serve the whole country of China.

Ford has stated they will leverage their existing dealership network to enhance the offering of one-stop shopping "Everything Online" experience which will include the dealerships handling the service appointments with pickup and delivery of the cars sold and serviced.

User centric is the core of this new Hybrid sales model. Ford will also work closely with the State Grid charging partners to ensure quick access to recharging by Ford Customers that can access over 300,000 charging stations of which 160,000 are fast charging

Ford has stated the following about the Mach-e:

Bring back driving pleasure to intelligent electric vehicles

Ford is not only localizing production of the legendary Mustang brand in China, it is also building locally the high-performance GT version, setting multiple firsts in the history of Chinese automobiles. The Mustang Mach-E GT First Edition is based on GT models and features the exclusive GT Grabber Blue, Stunning interior design details with 20-inch all-aluminum chrome hub and dual motor. Mustang Mach-E joins the 3-secs 0-60mph club with a maximum power output of 359 kW.

The full series of Mustang Mach-E comes in customized track-tested Pirelli P Zero series and Goodyear Eagle Touring series tires. All front wheels are using Brembo aluminum 4-piston brake calipers.

As the first mass-produced model tuned with the help of Ford’s racing simulator, Mustang Mach-E is an "electric pony" that inherits the Mustang family's legendary sportscar performance and delivers driving pleasure and performance to this all-electric intelligent vehicle.

Mustang Mach-E is Delivered to First Customers in China | Ford Media Center

Starting from RMB 265,000, Mustang Mach-E Manufactured in China Opens for Pre-order; Ford China Launches Direct Sales Model for Electric Vehicles | China | English | Ford Media Center

Welcome to Blue Oval City, this is the 21st century FORD Vision moving forward with automotive leadership.

Ford Motor Company has announced plans to bring electric vehicles at scale to American Customers with two new massive, environmentally and technologically advanced campuses in Tennessee and Kentucky for the production of the next generation of electric F-series trucks and the batteries to power the future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Here is a bullet list of what Ford is doing and it is just not an investment in Tennessee and Kentucky, but so much more:

• Ford to bring electric zero-emission vehicles at scale to American customers with the largest, most advanced, most efficient auto production complex in its 118-year history
• Called Blue Oval City, the complex will be constructed on a nearly 6-square-mile site in west Tennessee and build next-generation electric F-Series pickups and advanced batteries
•  Moreover, a new BlueOvalSK Battery Park is to be built in central Kentucky consisting of twin battery plants that will power a new lineup of Ford and Lincoln EVs
• Ford and SK Innovation plan to invest $11.4 billion and create nearly 11,000 new jobs – close to 6,000 in Stanton, Tennessee, and 5,000 in Glendale, Kentucky; production of the new electric vehicles and advanced lithium-ion batteries will begin in 2025
• Three new BlueOvalSK battery plants – two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee – will enable 129 gigawatt hours a year of U.S. production capacity for Ford
• These investments build on Ford’s recent announcements that it will work with Redwood Materials on closed-loop domestic battery recycling and make a new investment to increase production of the F-150 Lightning pickup in Dearborn, Michigan, starting next year
• Ford is investing $90 million in Texas – $525 million total in the U.S. to train skilled technicians to service connected, electric zero-emission vehicles

SK innovation is the new partner that FORD is partnering with as they make their largest ever U.S. Investment in electric vehicles at one time as they invest $11.4 Billion dollars in Tennessee and Kentucky creating nearly 11,000 jobs as FORD strengthens local communities and builds on FORD's position as America's leading employer of Hourly autoworkers. This investment will produce 129 GWh annually allowing for more than one million batteries including long range packs for SUVs and Trucks of all configurations.

Blue Oval City is a all-new $5.6 billion mega campus in Stanton, Tennessee which will create approximately 6,000 new jobs as FORD reimagines how vehicles and batteries are manufactured. This will be built on 3,600 acres with an annual capacity of 43 GWh of production per year.

Ford has stated this campus will be a vertically integrated ecosystem that allows assembly and expansion of the electric F-series vehicles. This plant will be designed to be carbon neutral with zero waste to landfill once fully operational.

Ford working with SK Innovation will build a $5.8 billion BlueOvalSK Battery Park, creating 5,000 jobs. The TWIN BATTERY PLANTS on the site are intended to supply Ford's North American assembly plants with locally assembled batteries for powering the next generation of electric Ford and Lincoln vehicles. This plant will be built on 1,500 acres with a production capacity of 86 GWh per year.

To quote Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford: “This is a transformative moment where Ford will lead America’s transition to electric vehicles and usher in a new era of clean, carbon-neutral manufacturing” “With this investment and a spirit of innovation, we can achieve goals once thought mutually exclusive – protect our planet, build great electric vehicles Americans will love and contribute to our nation’s prosperity.”

This comes amid a strong demand for the all-new Ford F-150 Lightning Truck, E-Transit and Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles that are currently in production or ramping up production. Ford predicts that their global production will be between 40 to 50% electric by 2030.

Despite the size of these new campuses / assembly plants, the impact is expected to be minimal on the surrounding environment with a goal to generate a positive impact. This is expected to be attained through biomimicry in design of the facilities. 

Ford had this to say about these new locations:

"Through an on-site wastewater treatment plant, the assembly plant aspires to make zero freshwater withdrawals for assembly processes by incorporating water reuse and recycling systems. Zero-waste-to-landfill processes will capture materials and production scrap at an on-site materials collection center to sort and route materials for recycling or processing either at the plant or at off-site facilities once the plant is operational.

Ford is collaborating with Redwood Materials, a leading battery materials company, to make electric vehicles more sustainable and affordable for Americans by localizing the supply chain network, creating recycling options for scrap and end-of-life vehicles, and ramping up lithium-ion recycling. Ford believes battery recycling is essential for the success of an electrified future and has the potential to offer significant economic benefits as well as help solve for end-of-life battery recycling."

SK Innovation of South Korea started as an oil refining business in 1962 and expanded into diverse areas of business including exploration, and production of batteries and electronic material. The SK Innovation battery business will be spun off October 1st 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary to accelerate business growth and promote corporate value.

SK Innovation will have a total of a 150 GWh of production when these new Ford/SK plants come online in the US.

SK Innovation is overseeing the current construction and had this image to share of the Blue Oval City plant.

One could say the future looks BRIGHT for Ford and SK Innovations.

Ford to Lead America’s Shift to Electric Vehicles with New Mega Campus in Tennessee and Twin Battery Plants in Kentucky; $11.4B Investment to Create 11,000 Jobs and Power New Lineup of Advanced EVs | Ford Media Center

SK Innovation and Ford invest $11.4 billion to seize the top position in U.S. battery market via BlueOvalSK – SK Innovation Newsroom (skinnonews.com)

Ford and Redwood Materials have teamed up on a closed-loop system that allows both companies to achieve their goals to make electric vehicles more sustainable, drive down the cost of batteries and ultimately make electric vehicles accessible and affordable for more Americans.

Ford and Redwood are collaborating to achieve the following:

• Ford Motor Company and Redwood Materials, a leading battery materials company, are collaborating to make electric vehicles more sustainable and affordable for Americans by localizing the complex supply chain network, creating recycling options for end-of-life vehicles, ramping lithium-ion recycling and increasing U.S. battery production
• Closing the loop ensures valuable materials that are used in battery production are recycled to be used again to drive down costs and reduce reliance on imports and mining of raw materials
• Creating a U.S. circular supply chain is a major step toward making battery electric vehicles sustainable, accessible and affordable for more Americans
• As part of Ford’s plan to invest more than $30 billion in electrification through 2025 and to further advance their joint business opportunities, Ford has invested $50 million in Redwood to help expand Redwood’s manufacturing footprint.

Redwood is moving forward to produce anode fails and cathode materials all domestically at their new 100 GWh plant which will allow them to supply enough batteries for 1 million electric vehicles per year by 2025.

Redwood expects to have their new manufacturing site producing in Northern Nevada 500 GWh of material providing enough to support 5 million electric vehicles by 2030, half of the US annual vehicle production.

Sustainable and affordable battery materials is the missing pieces of a puzzle that Redwood believes they have solved added to the recycling part of making the BEV market a closed-loop supply chain for clean energy products. The solutions that Ford and Redwood are putting together will remove a very large carbon footprint that is currently dominated by China and has led to a enormous cost along with the large carbon foot print.

Ford and Redwood believe that 95% of a battery pack can be recovered and reused in the closed-loop supply chain that will drive down costs while increasing affordable access to everyone.

To quote Jim Farley, CEO and President of Ford: “Ford is making electric vehicles more accessible and affordable through products like the all-electric F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit, and much more to come”

Ford has invested $50 million of the recent $700 million raised by Redwood for construction and production of their new battery production and recycling center. As a North America domestic sourced material and battery production center, this greatly reduces the carbon footprint in comparison to other companies that are sourcing their battery supplies from over seas.

Per a recent interview with Bloomberg, Tesla co-founder J.B.Straubel has kept a big secret, Redwood is not really a recycling company only. Redwood did rise to become the U.S. largest Lithium-ion battery recycler in the U.S., but Straubel did not leave Tesla in 2019 to clean out the left over used Lithium battery packs only. The broader goal was to move a major chunk of battery-component industry from Aisa to the U.S.

As Straubel has pointed out, every battery has two electrodes, an anode and cathode, between which current travels and the Cathode is the largest cost of a battery along with determining performance and environmental footprint. Redwood while ramping up in the US to produce battery material as well as recycle said material is also looking to build a similar operation in Europe to support European auto makers.

Electric vehicles make up only 4% of passenger vehicle sales today, but Straubel sees a big flip coming, especially with 15 countries and 31 cities having announced timelines to entirely phase out sales of ICE auto's.

Bloombergs research has shown that every time the global supply for batteries doubles, the cost drops by 18% as per the data tracked by BloombergNEF. Locally sourced battery materials can help drop that cost even faster especially at a time where China accounts for more than 80% of global production of battery components and materials.

As has been pointed out by Redwood, it would take 6,147 recycled iPhone batteries to provide enough Lithium for a tesla model Y but just 166 iPhones to provide enough cobalt. Straubel say's that there is so much cobalt laying around in old electronics that even with Redwood battery production, more will be produced from recycling than it needs from manufacturing and especially as new format batteries come online no longer using Cobalt this will free up it's use for other areas of rare earth elements.

Per Redwood and BloombergNEF data, battery production produces initially more CO2 than building an ICE auto. BEV's are however so much more efficient to operate , they more than make up for the battery pack production even in places where electricity is powered by Coal. Data shows it takes only 16,000 miles of driving an EV to become neutral and after that is a net positive. Roughly a year and Half of car ownership for the average American to then see the benefits of EV ownership.

Consolidating the supply chain and using 50% recycled material would cut emissions from battery-pack manufacturing by 31%. Cleaner cathode production shrinks the overall emissions footprint from long range battery packs.

According to recycling data, the majority of batteries were shredded into what is called "black mass" and this powder is then shipped over to the Asian rim for recycling from Asian companies. Redwood looked to shred up the batteries into a slurry and separate out the valuable nickel, lithium, cobalt and copper into their proper powders that then end back up into the supply chain locally for building of batteries and thus reducing the amount of miles the raw components travel and reducing the CO2 output from the travel across the pacific and back.

Redwood looks to reduce the reliance on foreign suppliers increasing the Made in America label, jobs while reducing costs so more Americans can afford a cleaner electric vehicle.

Straubel is being listened to here in the U.S. and Europe as he was the brains behind Tesla's battery strategy from the start when Elon Musk approached him following a engineering talk at Stanford University in 2003. 

Success is almost a given being that when Straubel left Tesla, he brought along to his startup, Kevin Kassekert who was in charge of building Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks Nevada. Kassekert was responsible for finding the site, building the factory and hiring most of the people who operate it.

Kassekert and Staubel with Ford and other investors are looking to fill the missing void in producing inexpensive quality American electric vehicles.

If your thinking as others have, this could be a great time to invest, sadly Redwood is not publicly traded yet. Straubel has declined to disclose his personal stake in Redwood, but did say that he has been a major investor in each funding round and will continue to do so as it is fun and rewarding for him. 

This next step in becoming a major battery parts producer will require significant money and all options are on the table to fund the growth of the company. Straubel has stated they are not ready yet for an IPO as they want to grow the company in other ways first, but eventually they would like to go public in the future.

End result, Ford has achieved a major part of their BEV strategy for a closed-loop battery supply and recycle solution that will help them deliver on a BEV at all price points from entry level to luxury and beyond. Redwood has achieved another company to buy from them and use their recycling services and America has gained another source of jobs and local supplied material chain reducing dependence on foreign sourced material.

Ford, Redwood Materials Teaming Up on Closed-Loop Battery Recycling, U.S. Supply Chain | Ford Media Center

Redwood Materials and Ford Motor Company Announce Strategic Relationship — Redwood Materials

A Tesla Co-Founder Is Building a U.S. Battery Industry - Bloomberg

The final day of Summer is used to reveal the flagship full size SUV by Ford, the new 2022 Expedition!

Ford choose to start at an entry level point with the new 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline Series. This is Fords most off-road-capable Expedition they have ever made with higher ground clearance to help clear obstacles, Trail Turn Assist for making tight turns, plus the F-150 Raptor heavy-duty underbody skid plate system for the ultimate rugged off-road ability.

Press Release Quote: 

The new Expedition elevates itself above competitors with new class-exclusive features, plus new capabilities and technologies, including:

• First Timberline series elevates the Expedition above the Jeep^® Wagoneer with best available ground clearance in its class of 10.6 inches (versus a maximum 10 inches for Jeep Wagoneer), F-150 Raptor underbody protection and best available power in its class
• Expedition Timberline SUV model weighs 4% less than Jeep Wagoneer SUV and boasts a better power-to-weight ratio, as Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine tops the Jeep Wagoneer SUV 5.7-liter V8 engine with 48 additional horsepower and 106 more lb.-ft. of torque
• Timberline boosts Expedition trail capability, starting with standard 10.6-inch best ground clearance in its class and a wider track, while improved approach and departure angles enable deeper travel into the backcountry on tougher trails. Timberline is powered by Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.
• More functional upgrades include Trail Turn Assist – the same system as on Bronco™ SUV – that can tighten the turning radius on hairpin trails to take customers further off-road8, rugged 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler™ AT tires, two-speed transfer case and tough F-150 Raptor underbody shielding.

Ford Continues with off-road capability with interior comfort with a Timberline focused interior and depending on package, two different interior dashes.

If Trail off-road capability is not your interest then we can move onto the next model of Expedition in the 2022 Expedition Stealth. The Stealth edition Performance Package combines unique athletic styling appointments with best-in-class power from a high-output twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 EcoBoost engine producing 440 HP and 510 lb-ft of torque, with sport tuned suspension supplying maximum on-road fun and driving confidence.

The Stealth edition Performance Package delivers 85 more horsepower and 127 lb-ft of more torque than the Chevrolet Tahoe RST SUV with the 5.3L V8.

If off-road prowess and street stealthy power is not your interest, then there is the luxury 2022 Expedition Platinum SUV. The Platinum edition will debut Ford BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist technology built upon adaptive cruise control with stop-in-go, lane centering and speed sign recognition. It allows the owners to operate their vehicle hands-free on the highway while being monitored with a driver-facing camera to ensure they keep their eyes on the road.

Elevating the luxury level is a new instrument panel and craftsmanship with a 12.4 high-definition digital gauge cluster. The new Expedition comes standard with SYNV 4 or the Optional SYNC 4A system which uses a 15.5 inch high-definition touch display, largest in it's class.

The ultimate in sound is provided on the Platinum Expedition with a 22 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. This 360 degree surround sound system is available on the other models as an upgrade.

The 2022 Ford Expedition also comes in an entry level XL, Limited and Limited Max editions too. Expeditions equipped with the 3.5L GTDI engine in 4x2 configuration has a maximum towing of 9,300 pounds when equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package.

Ford for 2022 has made the following standard on every Expedition:

• Road Edge Detection: This feature engages the steering system to help you maintain your position in the lane on roads with a visible line or a clear edge
• Intersection Assist: It’s not easy to traverse a busy intersection, especially when you need to consider other vehicles around you. Available Intersection Assist can help. Intersection Assist uses the front camera and radar sensors to detect oncoming traffic while you are attempting to turn left. If there’s a risk of a potential collision with an oncoming vehicle, your vehicle can alert you and apply the brakes. This just might give you more confidence when attempting to make a left turn at an intersection
• Reverse Brake Assist: Backing out of parking spaces often puts drivers in situations with limited visibility, so this feature senses oncoming pedestrians and vehicles, alerts the driver, and automatically brakes if the vehicle is at risk of a collision
• Evasive Steering Assist: It happens. Traffic is rolling along smoothly when suddenly there’s a slow or stopped vehicle in your path. This available feature can help make it easier to potentially avoid a collision. It doesn’t steer for you, but it can provide extra steering support if the system’s warning goes off and you need to maneuver around the vehicle ahead
• Active Air Dam: This available new feature improves aerodynamics, deploying at speeds above 40 mph then automatically retracting at lower speeds for city driving and parking

The 2022 Expeditions can be equipped with Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 which uses the rear camera and park aid sensors to detect a trailer, with the user directing it through a control knob and backup camera screen. Version 2.0 improves on the previous system that required the driver to put a “target” on the trailer and to in-put trailer dimensions – automating all of that for a more seamless user experience.

Please read the disclosure claims at the press release link below for more details on the features listed here.

Press Release - New Ford Expedition Raises Bar Among Full-Size SUVs with Most Off-Road Capable, Most Powerful, Smartest Expedition Ever | Ford Media Center

2022 Timberline Images

2022 Ford Stealth Images

2022 Ford Platinum Images

Ford issued their press release late Friday September 17th 2021 as Police departments have been looking for electric purpose-built police vehicles to start replacing older ICE auto's in their fleets.

Michigan State Police and the United Kingdom will get a chance to run 2022 with a select group of purpose-built police concept Mach-E suvs. So many requests came in from various police agencies in the UK (United Kingdom) that Ford decided to rotate through various agencies there a limited number of concept Mach-E's to be used and for feedback to come in on the auto.

Michigan State Police will start a evaluation for 2022 on the Mach-E Police Concept. Police departments have always put demanding duty cycles on the cars, trucks and SUVs that they have used and Ford believes that the Mach-E can demonstrate with an electric powertrain that the Mach-E can deliver strong performance while holding up to the demanding duty cycle of police auto's.

This program while focused on just using the Mach-E clearly shows the direction that Ford is looking to help recover R&D as one can easily see them offering an F-150 Lightning Police Pickup also.

Ford says this is part of their $30 Billion investment in the electrification of the Ford Portfolio of auto's that will take them through 2025 as they move to an all-electric auto fleet.

In Pursuit of Zero Emissions, Ford Submits All-Electric Police Pilot Vehicle for Michigan State Police Testing | Ford Media Center

300 miles of battery electric range was the fold standard set by Tesla and now with Ford Mach-e having met that challenge, many have wondered what was next.

In a review video on Munro Live with Mach-e Chief engineer Donna Dickson, we know now that the Mach-e will get yearly updates on range and technology as well as quarterly over the air updates on the software. Ford is very clear that they are not going to sit back and wait to see how things go, continuously providing updates quarterly and each model year is the Ford goal for all EVs moving forward. Details on this really come to light at the 26 min mark.

Munro had a few compliments one being the front motor which is covered in a more recent video he finds to be extremely well engineered especially when compared to Tesla Y. Critisms abound on the video but clearly Ford is taking his tear down reviews very seriously and that is proven as Donna confirms many of the enhancements / better ways to engineer coming forward in future versions. An example of this is the first year Mach-e have dual cooling tanks but will move to a better single tank design.

Munro Live - YouTube

As has been pointed out by various members to Cheers and Gears, weight is the ultimate demon and Munro points out many ways to improve the weight saving opportunities since the Mach-e is 200 lbs heavier than a comparable Tesla Model Y which weights in at 4,416 lbs.

Donna Dickson has made it clear in the video that they have an action plan especially on the range improvements for 22, 23 & 24 model years that will see range up, weight down. Weight and battery efficiency is two key areas that will be improved yearly as Ford moves forward not only with the Mach-e but all their BEVs.

An interesting observation is that Ford thought it would be best to keep some familiar items in the Mach-e. One such example is the traditional parking pawl with cable system. Ford has moved away to electronic parking brake buttons and as such, this will go away in the next model year saving costs and weight.

An interesting play was Munro fainting in his earlier initial video of the Mach-e cooling system review.

Per Donna Dickson, the Mach-e chief engineer, the crazy amount of hoses under the hood is due to Ford matching up new components with older existing components used from other auto's. Dickson has committed that many modular systems are taken from other Hybrids such as the HVAC system so this is not ideal, but they are looking at moving forward with a consistent updated modular system that will improve efficiencies while reducing hoses and cables as they standardize modules for the future BEV roadmap.

An example is that Ford for the first year Mach-e has dual cooling pumps to each motor and with the data they have coming in from customer real world use is showing that this over built system for cooling is not needed and they can change to a single beefy cooling pump per motor which will also reduce weight.

Interesting is as Donna states Ford has relied on things they knew going into this first BEV for Ford and an example of this is the heavy rubber re-enforced hoses throughout the Mach-e. This you find on all Ford auto's and yet new technology and proven use by Tesla is high strength plastic lines that are thinner, much lighter and will be changed over for the next model year such as the long cooling line from the front of the Mach-e to the rear motor. She also points out that with the much lower temps and pressures you can use smaller diameter lines for the electric motors on cooling over ICE use.

Donna Dickson Mach-e chief engineer has taken a different approach to the Munro Tear down review videos. Tesla felt attacked and attacked back at Munro when he tore the Tesla auto's down and applied praise and extreme criticism to Tesla Auto's.

Ford is taking the opposite approach with this visit to Munro in taking his review observations very seriously on improving Ford BEV products.

Mustang Mach-E Durability | Ford Media Center

2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E Will Boost the Current 305-Mile Driving Range (designnews.com)

There is a lot of buzz surrounding the new Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport, and it isn't surprising that Ford was possibly considering another family member. But a report from Automotive News says that new member has been iced.

According to two sources, Ford canned the idea for a Bronco pickup. Designed to compete against the Gladiator pickup, it was expected to be launch in 2024 and built alongside the Bronco SUV at Ford's Wayne assembly plant. However, Ford notified suppliers over the past few months about the model being cancelled. Not surprisingly, Ford declined to comment.

We should note that Ford never confirmed the plans for a Bronco truck. Rumors started to swirl last year after a design video popped up showing drawings of a possible truck. It was reported that this model was getting some traction at the company.

Why was this model canceled? It may be a case of too many chefs in the kitchen. Ford's current truck lineup is made up F-Series, Ranger, and the upcoming Maverick. Adding another model to their lineup may eat into the sales of the Ranger and Maverick. It doesn't help that the Gladiator - the competition - isn't setting the sales charts afire. Last year, Jeep moved around 77,000 Gladiators - a fraction when compared to the over 200,000 sales of the Wrangler.

To top it all off, Ford is currently dealing with various production issues with the Bronco. The most recent deals with the hardtop having various quality issues. Ford has delayed production of hardtop models as it waits for replacements.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

According to Reuters, strong demand has already made Ford increase production again ahead of the 2022 launch. Ford plans to increase spending an additional $850 million to meet the new targets according to people familiar with the plan inside Ford and at their suppliers.

Ford initially had very simple easy goal of less than 5,000 trucks initially for the production launch in 2022, but by the approach of the truck reveal they had upped it to 7,500. Since then with the strong 150,000 customer reserves on top of production orders by Ford Dealers, Ford has again upped production. This time Ford has doubled production estimates all the way through 2025 when the generation two F-150 Lighting comes out.

Ford production plans now stand as follows:

• 2022 - 15,000
• 2023 - 55,000
• 2025 - 160,000

Share of Ford rose 1.3% today on this news as investors are very positive about big growth for Ford as they move over to electric auto's. Ford officials have confirmed that they are pleasantly surprised by the early demand for the Ford Lighting electric truck.

While various Industry observers have questioned if consumers will give up their gas-powered pickups for electric, commercial customers are looking to reduce their carbon footprint with trucks and vans and have been a huge source of interest and pre-purchases.

Ford has not stated how many commercial reservations they have only focusing on retail customer reservations, but the constant increase in production numbers would imply a rather large push to change over from gas/diesel to electric.

EXCLUSIVE Ford doubles Lightning production target on strong pre-launch demand -sources | Reuters

The Ford GT came out after a failed attempt by Ford to buy Ferrari the luxury exotic auto maker of Italy. As such, due to ego's and comments meant to hurt another, Ford choose to go racing to put Ferrari in their place by proving they could build a better Supercar.

The Ford GT 64' Prototype Heritage Edition will debute at Monterey Car Week alongside the sole surviving 1964 Ford GT prototype, Chassis GT/105, in it's original livery at The Quail and on the concept lawn at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this week.

To quote Ford's press release:

Limited-edition run honoring the five original GT prototypes

The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition supercar wears Wimbledon White paint with Antimatter Blue graphics, including an over-the-roof triple racing stripe. Exposed carbon fiber components are prominent, including 20-inch Antimatter Blue-painted carbon fiber wheels, a touch unique to Ford GT, as well as an exposed carbon fiber front splitter, side sills, mirror stalks, engine louvers and rear diffuser finished in gloss. Brembo^® brake calipers lacquered in silver with black graphics, plus black lug nuts further modernize the aesthetic.

Carbon fiber carries into the cabin as well, with carbon fiber door sills, lower A-pillars and console, along with matte carbon fiber registers. Lightspeed Blue Alcantara^®-wrapped carbon fiber seats feature silver stitching, while seating surfaces and head restraints are embossed with the GT logo. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara. Antimatter Blue appliqués on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are coordinated with the unique wheels. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are clear and polished.

“There are a lot of milestone moments in the history of Ford GT that we’ve celebrated, but the team was unanimous in believing the original prototype was the right vehicle this time around,” Severson said. “That 1964 prototype unleashed the creative genius of the Ford Advanced Vehicles team and paved the way for the Ford GT program. It put all of this in motion.”

Ford did state the following about the original Ford GT chassis with this information:

• Chassis GT/101 and GT/102 were scrapped after Le Mans and Monza crash testing, but were critical to the significant improvements that went into GT/103, GT/104 and GT/105.
• FT/103 Won Daytona 1965 with Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby behind the wheel, GT/104 placed third with Bob Bondurant and Ritchie Ginther driving.
• GT/103 and GT/104 have been repainted and are on exclusive display at the Shelby Museum in Boulder, Colorado.

The Ford GT Heritage Edition for the 2022 production year has a new 21st Century high tech wing to improve down force.

Per the press release, the 2022 Ford GT 1964 Heritage Edition is the next in the ultra-limited-production series that includes the following:

• 2021 Ford GT ’66 Daytona Heritage Edition
  • Honoring the Ford GT MK II No. 98 race car
  • In production
• 2020 Ford GT ’69 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
  • Honoring the Ford GT40 MK I No. 6 race car that was victorious at 1969 Le Mans
  • Only 50 built
• 2019 Ford GT ’68 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
  • Honoring Ford GT40 MK I No. 9 race car that was victorious at 1968 Le Mans
  • Only 50 built
• 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
  • Honoring Ford GT40 MK IV No. 1 race car that was victorious at Le Mans in 1967
  • Only 39 built
• 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition
  • Honoring Ford GT40 MK II No. 2 that Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon drove at 1966 Le Mans
  • Only 27 built
• 2006 Ford GT Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
  • Commemorating GT40’s back-to-back 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in 1968 and 1969 
  • Only 343 built

The 2022 Ford GT is available to order for approved Ford GT customers. Production is scheduled to begin in January. Click here for more information.

Ford GT Pays Homage to Its Origins with Limited-Run Heritage Edition Celebrating 1964 Prototypes | Ford Media Center

1964 Ford GT Prototype 101 | Ford Media Center

Ford month of July saw Mach-e sales grow 15.8 percent, second largest in the electric SUV segment and sales taking off for the F-150 Hybrid, Bronco and a 23 percent climb in accessory sales as Ford continues it's conquest rate over Tesla and others.

Yet even as sales have climbed among a electric chip shortage, Ford has moved forward with offering employee buyouts to re-align the jobs and business model along a new path. 

First off Ford Motor Co. has started a voluntary buyout to employees in the U.S. as they plan to cut 1,000 positions as they reconfigure for growth. The Ford+ growth plan was released / divulged at its Capital Markets Day investor even in May. This is the start of the company diving into further digital services and electric vehicle development.

This buyout includes 6 months of salary and 6 months of health care as ford focuses on delivering products that contribute profit to the bottom line and are desired by global customers. This comes as Ford raises 2021 profit outlook.

Ford CEO Jim Farley stated in the Quarterly results that Ford has decided to move away from Dealerships stock piling 100's of auto's especially those that have less customer demand and requiring discounts to move them at the end of the year to make a sale. Ford is focusing on dealership inventories of no more than at most 50 to 60 days if not less as Ford wants demo units and will work with dealerships to move customers to an order-based system giving the customer truly what they want rather than what some purchasing manager creates for the lot inventory.

Farley stated they are wasting money on incentives and with chip shortages, Ford like all other OEMs is focusing on higher-margin products as Q2 of 2021 has shown with an average revenue of $5,000 per vehicle which added $1.5 billion to the operating profits of Ford. Ford sees an easing of chips which will allow them to stock pile critical components and has moved to dual-sourcing along with design interchangeability for better ease of moving internal components between product lines. 

Ford is estimating a 30% increase in global sales at it's dealerships for the second half of the year contributing to an estimated increase in operating profits by $3.5 billion with full operating profits for the year to be between $9 and $10 billion.

The chip shortage did cut production by about 700,000 units in Q2, yet Ford is very optimistic about the second half especially since the Ford Mach-e is on double digit growth with the bulk of the purchases custom orders.

This along with Ford's six figures of F-150 Lighting Electric truck reservations now is showing that people would rather pick what they want on an auto and wait than just pull from a dealership inventory.

This build-to-order is proving out with the large backlog of Bronco orders and the growing log of Maverick pickup orders.

The increase in sales, profitability and an overall shift by consumers to build-to-order is allowing Ford to plan and focus company free cash flow which is estimated to be between $4 and $5 billion for 2021 directed towards acquisitions, battery production, connectivity software and accessories for life style use by Ford Customers.

A very popular add on by Ford Ranger customers is the Tent / Canopy solution allowing people during this pandemic to get out and away from people to live life further embracing the build-to-order model.

This profitable quarter along with a shift away from incentive and heavy stock on dealership lots has been taken very positively by the stock market as Ford stock had a 3% gain in after hours trading almost reaching $15 a share.

The rest of this year is looking good as Ford continues to product the Bronco, Bronco Sport fulfilling pre-sales, the unibody compact pickup Maverick rumbles into the market as both a Hybrid and ICE with BEV on the horizon. Mach-e sales continue to conquest Tesla sales and continues to grow the backlog of orders and in the spring the F-150 Lightning comes to market already in high demand with over 120,000 reserved so far.

This would imply that like Tesla and Rivian, Ford future lays in a build-to-order model moving forward as Ford transitions away from ICE to a BEV portfolio.

Ford offers buyouts to salaried workers in effort to shed 1,000 jobs | Automotive News (autonews.com)

Ford Mustang Mach-E Sales Grew 15.8 Percent in July, Second Largest In Electric SUV Segment; New Vehicle Launches of F-150 Hybrid, Bronco, Mustang Mach-E Expand Ford’s Competitive Conquest Rate; Ford Accessory Business Climbs 23 percent, On Track To Post New Record | Ford Media Center

July Sales (ford.com)

Ford raises 2021 profit outlook, eyes shift to build-to-order | Reuters

Ford says reservations for F-150 Lightning electric pickup top 120,000 (cnbc.com)

Ford released on Tuesday June 8th 2021 the All-New Ford Maverick. A name plate that once graced a compact car is back now on a mini-pickup truck. Ford is coming out of the gates swinging for a home run and seems to be hitting all cylinders by making this a FWD Hybrid as Standard with AWD as an upgrade.

Ford hits this market reborn with four clear points about the benefits of the Maverick.

• All-new Ford Maverick is the first standard full-hybrid pickup in America and the most fuel-efficient truck on the market with a targeted EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg in the city*; while its compact size makes it easy to maneuver and park, there’s room for five adults and plenty of storage space
• Maverick offers lots of smart technology, including a standard 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto^® compatibility, standard FordPass^™ Connect with embedded modem and Ford Co-Pilot360^™ technologies like Automatic Emergency Braking and Automatic High Beam Headlamps – all for a starting MSRP of $19,995
• The Maverick FLEXBED^™ system provides organization and cargo solutions to fit owners’ lifestyles, with a multi-position tailgate, slots to use lumber to subdivide the bed, 12 available anchor points, two 12-volt 20-amp prewired sources at the back enabling DIY electrical solutions, plus two available 110-volt outlets for powering a laptop or tailgate party
• Built Ford Tough durability and capability means 1,500 pounds of payload capacity – equal to 37 bags of 40-pound mulch; standard hybrid provides 2,000 pounds of towing to haul personal watercraft to the lake, while the optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost^® gas engine can tow up to 4,000 pounds, enough to bring a typical 23-foot camper on a weekend getaway

The Maverick is a standard five-passenger, four-door pickup with full-hybrid powertrain with an EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city and 500 miles of range on a single tank. This is based on the Mavericks 13.8 gallon tank, using the combined 37 mpg estimated rating, final EPA released figures will be out later in 2021.

Per Ford, they wanted a truck that would beat some of the best compact cars out there like the Honda Civic with better fuel economy and challeneged their team to start conceptualizing what that would look like and since the Concept stage have stayed very true to the images.

Fords truck group marketing manager believes the Maverick will challenge the status quo on what an economical pickup can be with a compelling message and feature list that will make many questions why they would want a compact car compared to a compact pickup truck all starting at under $20,000 dollars.

Starting from the City, the Maverick is the solution to getting away economically for a day of fun in the mountains. Camping, boating or playing on the water is what the Maverick can handle in spades.

The Maverick is also an excellent truck for those home improvement projects be they in the yard or home remodel, the Maverick can handle it.

The Ford Flexbed is the most versatile truck bed out there for compact trucks. The bed is designed with a unique set of standard features and opportunity to transform the cargo box into a complete makerspace giving the owner a complete custom organizational storage solution with secure cargo features.

The Flexbed comes with two tie-downs, four D-rings and built in threaded holes in the sides to bolt in new creations. By using 2x4 or 2x6s you can slot these pieces of wood into sections that are stamped into the bed allowing for a variety of ways to customize the Flexbed.

This 4.5 foot long bed can carry 1,500 pounds of payload and comes with a built in 110V outlet for all your DIY electrical projects including a compressor compartment. There is 400 watts of power starting with the Bed, inside the cab that can pretty much power anything.

The interior comes like all Ford products with a wide range of customization depending on trim level that covers from Backup Camera viewing to storage under the rear seat for tools and can even hold your mountain bike. Easy and flexible enough for anyone to use. One will find an 8 inch touch screen as standard that supports both Apple and Android compatibility and the standard FordPass Connect with embedded modem and Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices along with the Ford Co-Pilot 360.

For a comparison of the Trims, look at the press released PDF file.

Maverick-Trim-Comparisons.pdf

The Ford Maverick sports the Iconic Ford Pickup Truck Styling. This truck launches with three trim levels, XL, XLT and Lariat. You will also be able to add the FX4 package to the AWD XLT or AWD Lariat versions giving one a more aggressive off-road capability.

First edition models are the only thing available for 2021. These will be built off the Lariat trim level and include unique graphics on the hood and lower doors, high-glass black painted roof, soft tonneau covers, body-color door handles, high-gloss black skull caps and bloss black painted and machined 18" wheels for Hybrid or unique 17" aluminum wheels for gas models. Unique to the First Year Edition Mavericks will be three colors only, Carbonized Grey, Area 51 black and Rapid Red.

Pre-orders can be done now on the Ford web site for the 2022 Ford Maverick.

2022 Ford® Maverick Compact Truck | Introducing the First Hybrid Pickup Truck

Per inside evs web site, Mike Levine, Fords North American Product Communications Manager has confirmed that Ford will be building a complete series of BEVs. The Electric versions will include the Ford Explorer, Ford Bronco, Ford Maverick, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln Aviator and other variants. 

Plenty to follow on his twitter account: 

Mike Levine (@mrlevine) / Twitter

Maverick Press Release

40 MPG City. Standard Hybrid. Seats Five. Starts Under $20K. All-New 2022 Ford Maverick: Did We Mention It’s a Truck? | Ford Media Center

Maverick Pictures

40 MPG City. Standard Hybrid. Seats Five. Starts Under $20K. All-New 2022 Ford Maverick: Did We Mention It’s a Truck?

FlexBed Pictures

40 MPG City. Standard Hybrid. Seats Five. Starts Under $20K. All-New 2022 Ford Maverick: Did We Mention It’s a Truck?

Concept pictures

40 MPG City. Standard Hybrid. Seats Five. Starts Under $20K. All-New 2022 Ford Maverick: Did We Mention It’s a Truck?

Gabrielle Union Actress / Musician marketing pictures 

40 MPG City. Standard Hybrid. Seats Five. Starts Under $20K. All-New 2022 Ford Maverick: Did We Mention It’s a Truck?

Electric Maverick and so much more coming confirmed

Ford Confirms It’s Considering Second Smaller Electric Pickup (insideevs.com)

In the 21st century, Ford is leading the revolution with Zero-emission electric vehicles, advanced connectivity in transforming commercial and personal transportation by using platforms based on cutting-edge electrical architectures and battery technologies with compelling services.

Delivering FORD+ is how Ford Motor Company is breaking away from the typified auto industry of decades past of the typical build and sell transactional business model and embracing foundational strengths based on improved financial performance, capabilities and investments in disruptive technologies. 

At the core of the Ford Motor Company is the following strengths with Blue Oval Intelligence, Ford's next-generation, cloud-based platform for integrating electrical, power distribution, computing and software systems in 21st century Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Ford stated they expect to deliver an 8% adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin in 2023 fiscal year and this will power strengthening core automotive operations due to healthy cash flow that will fund growth and create value.

Ford Key Electrification Revolution leadership:

• Accelerating investments and increasing planned total spending on electrification, including battery development, to more than $30 billion by 2025 – while deriving efficiencies from Ford’s flexible EV architecture and modular technologies.
• Anticipating 40% of Ford’s global vehicle volume to be fully electric by 2030, including from:
  • Mustang Mach-E, which is bringing new customers to Ford – 70% of buyers, to date
  • The F-150 Lightning, an all-electric version of the world’s most popular pickup truck, which has amassed 70,000 customer reservations since it was unveiled one week ago, and
  • E-Transit commercial vans, which will be on the road later this year.
• Investing in battery technology and equipping Ford to design, engineer and manufacture its own batteries, with key developments including:
  • Creating Ford Ion Park, a global center of battery excellence comprising more than 150 experts in battery chemistries, testing, manufacturing and value-chain management who will boost battery range and lower costs to customers and Ford
  • Vertically integrating battery technology with an extensive range of EV batteries – IonBoost lithium ion; IonBoost Pro lithium iron phosphate for commercial vehicles; and long-range, low-cost solid-state batteries based on Ford’s own engineering and know-how from Solid Power, in which the company holds an equity stake, and
  • Forming a joint venture, BlueOvalSK, with SK Innovation to manufacture battery cells and arrays at two plants in the U.S. for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Business Dedicated to Commercial Customers:

• Establishing Ford Pro, a global vehicle services and distribution business within Ford devoted to commercial and government customers, and led by Ted Cannis, who’s been named CEO and a corporate officer.
  • Cannis has been head of Ford’s North America CV business and previously managed the Team Edison EV development group.
• Providing customers with greater value and higher productivity through:
  • The industry’s most comprehensive and flexible range of electric and internal-combustion commercial vehicles
  • Digital and physical services that can help optimize and maintain customer fleets
  • Public, depot and employee home charging of EVs for the next day’s work, and
  • Bundled financing of vehicles, services and charging.
• Increasing the commercial market for hardware and adjacent and new services that’s addressable by Ford – with anticipated company revenue of $45 billion by 2025, up from $27 billion in 2019.

• Ford Pro will integrate, digitize and simplify transportation with capabilities spanning:

  • Ford Pro Vehicles – including Ford’s broad lineup of combustion-engine and hybrid commercial vehicles and, soon, all-electric versions of the company’s industry-leading vans and full-size pickup trucks developed for commercial use
  • Ford Pro Charging – hardware and software solutions for public, depot and overnight home charging of EVs so they’re ready to work again the next day
  • ·Ford Pro Intelligence – digital services, with distinct features integrated in their vehicles that enable customers to better manage and maintain their fleets
  • Ford Pro Services Elite – expanding Ford’s strong network of CV centers by adding 120 dedicated, large-bay service hubs across the United States with extended hours and rapid turnaround, plus introducing 1,200 mobile service vehicles by 2025 to meet customers where they are, save them money and get them back in business, and
  • Ford Pro FinSimple – bundled financing for vehicles, services and EV charging.

Ford is dedicating a Separate business unit to the drive for superior customer service in the commercial sector be it at one of Fords service centers in an office space or out in the field.

FORD+ is showing how Ford Motor has moved forward with Connecting with Customers via Connected Services:

• Having about 1 million vehicles that are capable of receiving over-the-air system updates on the road by the end of this year, exceeding Tesla’s volume by July 2022, and scaling to
  33 million OTA-enabled Ford and Lincoln vehicles by 2028.
• Strengthening customer relationships with digitally enabled tools like Ford Pass and Lincoln Way, online ordering, simplified financing and renewal options, vehicle pick-up and delivery, and mobile repairs.
• Extending digital lifestyles by fully integrating best-in-class technology from, e.g., Apple, Amazon, Google and Baidu.
• Speeding detection and resolution of quality issues using connected data – helping to raise customer satisfaction and lower warranty costs.
• Deploying distinctive connected functions like Ford’s BlueCruise driver-assist technologies, new features and upgraded software content, and EV charging to improve the user experience – and capitalize on what is projected to be a $20 billion market for such services by 2030.

FORD+ day highlighted a few things that will happen the $45 Billion investment for BEVs. 

1. IonBoost will be the Ford Brand for their Lithium-ion and eventual solid state batteries with Ford expecting to cut battery costs by 40% by mid-decade.
2. Blue Oval Intelligence will all in-vehicle technology stacked with streaming services from Apple, Amazon, Google and Baidu.
3. Ford has confirmed two dedicated EV Platforms
   1. Full-size EV platform will handle the F-150 Lightning and future trucks / SUVs.
   2. VW MEB platform will be used for Mid-size, Compact and Sub-Compact EVs.

While some analysts have stated Ford is trailing in the electrification race, Ford CEO Jim Farley disagrees pointing out the successful and currently sold out Mustang Mach-E crossover, the E-Transit van and the F-150 Lighting truck all in production in 2021 with deliveries starting late 2021.

Ford's marketing of the Mach-E is the starting point of the new revolution at Ford from Photoshoots to digital media as Ford informs and shows why the future is electric.

Ford also has additional plans for the platform that the Mustang Mach-E is built on as they talk about a much more diverse portfolio of auto's filling in every choice consumers want with all sorts of variations in Ford Trucks, SUVs and Cars. It would seem a Ford Bronco electric version could be an option soon.

Leading the market with the Mach-E and now the F-150 Lightning that can fullfill every commercial and especially consumer need, Ford is projecting great stock / company growth this decade.

Superior Value From EVs, Commercial Business, Connected Services Is Strategic Focus of Today’s ‘Delivering Ford+’ Capital Markets Day | Ford Media Center

New ‘Ford Pro’ Vehicle Services and Distribution Business Redefining Transportation Value for Commercial Customers | Ford Media Center

Ford Motor Company - 2021 Capital Markets Day

Ford boosts EV spending, outlines 2030 sales targets, shares near 5-year high | Reuters

EXCLUSIVE Ford follows GM, VW with two new dedicated EV platforms by 2025 -sources | Reuters

Ford has opened the books on the F-150 Lightning Pro commercial series of pickup trucks.

Starting with an MSRP of $39,974 with standard range battery and dual motor power 4x4 targeting 426 horsepower/775 lb-ft of torque and a targeted EPC-estimated range of 230 miles. The F-150 Lightning Pro commercial extended-range version is also available with targeted 563 horsepower/775 lb-ft of torque, targeted EPA-estimated range of 300 miles starting at an MSRP of $49,974.

Charging, connectivity for fleet integration has available 48 and 80 amp chargers, enabling overnight Level 2AC charging solutions for home as well as full support for public and depot fast charging. These commercial trucks will also fully support vehicle telematics via the dashboard and OEM-grade electric vehicle data support fleet management software.  Fords fleet planning tools target a 40% reduction in scheduled maintenance over 8 years and 100,000 miles of service use.

Fords First-ever Mega Power Frunk offers 14.1 cubic feet of lockable, water-tight storage with capacity to carry up to 400 pounds. Comes standard with four 120V AC outlets and two USB ports. Two more outlets are in the cab and two in the 5 1/2 foot rear cargo bed, which is ready for easy upfitting with its familiar F-150 dimensions and mounting points.

Trucks will have a standard 2,000 lb maximum payload capacity with a 5,000 pound towing capability. Ordered with the optional Max Trailer Tow package and you up this to 7,700 pounds if on the standard battery pack. Extended battery pack takes the Max trailer Tow package allowing for 10,000 pounds of trailering.

Ford is proud of their military-grade aluminum alloy body and upgraded high-strength steel frame supporting the advanced battery pack. F-series independent rear suspension and low center of gravity help to improve isolation from the road, providing a stable ride with reduced steering roll, maintaining the durability and reliability customers expect of an F-150 pickup. Advanced cooling / heating system helps ensure the truck can thrive in the toughest of ordeals and weather.

Pro Power Onboard is a built-in AC power source that comes standard with a 2.4 kW capability through four outlets in the Frunk, two in the cab and two in the bed. With the extended range battery you have the available option of a 9.6 kW Pro Power Onboard. This adds two more 120V outlets and a 240V AC outlet to the bed. This provides enough power to rip up 30 miles of half inch plywood on a single charge.

Pro Power Onboard automatically via the trucks software system adjusts the battery range of the truck based on power used from the Pro Power Onboard system. Software can have set parameters to ensure the truck can get to the closest available charging station to avoid stranding of people. If no parameters are set and Pro Power Onboard depletes the battery charge level to the point a truck cannot reach a charge location, it will shut down automatically to prevent the truck from becoming stranded.

The F-150 Lighting Pro is offered in a 4-door 5 passenger SuperCrew configuration. Features easy to clean vinyl seats along with the standard SYNC 4 with 12" LCD touch screen and a 12" productivity screen with Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0.

Onboard scales are available to monitor payload and accurately calculate range. Ford has the following estimates on charging at this time:

Ford F-150 Lightning will come standard with 4G LTE for seamless connectivity services to help fleets optimize efficiency and lower operating costs while also allowing constant over the air encrypted updates.

F-150 Lightning Pro will be proudly built by UAW-represented hourly employees at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan with deliveries starting spring 2022.

More details can be read at: 2022 Ford® F-150 Lightning Electric Truck | All Electric and All F-150 fleet site.

Ford Introduces All-Electric F-150 Lightning Pro, Built for Work with Next-Generation Technology, Seamless Overnight Charging | Ford Media Center

UPDATED - RELEASED INFO

Ford has announced that on May 19th 2021 the world will get to see the start of the next chapter in America's best-selling vehicle, F-150 Lightning. The Lightning will bring stunning innovation, technologies and capabilities to the F-Series lineup. This BEV will combine the best power, payload and towing capabilities that is the hallmark of all Ford Tough Trucks.

The reveal will take place at 9:30 pm  E.D.T from Ford World Headquarters and be broadcasted live with 30+ ways to watch across physical and digital destinations. This will include Ford Facebook, YouTube channels, Twitter, Key National Publications as well as 18 impactful out-of-home locations such as Times Square in New York City and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Ford President and CEO Jim Farley says, "Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game. Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3 and now the Ford F-150 Lightning. America's Favorite vehicle for nearly half a century is going digital and fully electric. The F-150 Lightning can power your home during an outage, it's quicker than the coveted original F-150 Lightning performance truck and will constantly be improved via over-the-air updates."

Production of the F-150 Lightning begins next spring at the all-new Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. This $700 million investment will see the start of all electric Ford F-150 pickups being produced starting mid-2022 for sale in Q3/4 2022.

Ford to Reveal All-Electric F-150 Lightning May 19 with Livestreamed Event at Ford HQ | Ford Media Center

F-150 Lightning | Ford Media Center

Ford Deepens Commitment to American Manufacturing, Celebrates Production Start of All-New F-150, Breaks Ground on New Electric F-150 Plant at Historic Rouge Center | Ford Media Center

MAY 19TH 2021 F-150 Lightning REVEAL Info

All the details and the tools to play with it in the color you might love can be found here: 2022 Ford® F-150 Lightning Electric Truck |All Electric and All F-150

You Tube Videos of the Reveal and additional video info of what the F-150 Lighting can do here: Ford Motor Company - YouTube

Basic rundown of the features and specifications:

• Intelligent Backup Power - able to power a home for 3 days on a fully charged battery or up to 10 days if rationing power.
• Pro Power - 9.6kW of max power through 11 outlets, 4 120V outlets in the frunk, 2 in the cab, 4 in the bed and a 240V outlet in the bed.
• Over the Air software updates
• BlueCruise - hands free auto cruise
• Power My Trip - SYNC ability to plan your trip with proper places to charge up your ride.
• Phone as a Key. Smartphone as a key fob but with more feature / functionality than a traditional fob.
• Intelligent Range - Built in A.I software that accurately calculates range based on various factors from weather to towing and grade.
• Standard Battery range of 230 miles, extended battery range of 300 miles.
• Ford F-150 Lighting starts at $39,974 for the Commercial-oriented version.
• Mid series XLT starts at $52,974 and topping out at $90,474
• 10,000 lbs towing capacity, course we know it can do more. Seems this is the max approved for XLT, LARIAT and Platinum with the MAX trailering towing package.
• 2,000 lbs payload capability
• Drive modes that include Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul and Off-Road
• 563 HP / 775 lb-ft of torque
• 0 to 60 Mid 4 second range
• F-150 Lighting is 40% less scheduled maintenance than and ICE F-150 over 8 years / 100,000 miles.

The 2021 Ford Explorer Timberline edition is the most off-road capable Explorer ever due to increased ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, steel skid plates, Torsen limited-slip differential, Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tires, new shocks, springs and stabilizer bars.

The Timberline sports a functional, capable appearance with unique front and rear styling combined with three rows of seating for everyone.

Fords marketing data shows that over the last 10 years, SUVs have jumped to command 55% of the U.S. Market with sales growing from 4.6 million units in 2011 to 7.8 million for 2020. This same Ford data is saying that owners are reporting a 56% increase in off-road use over the last 3 years alone. Timberline was built to give customers more confidence and capability to get to the their next adventure be it fishing or a remote off the beaten path spot.

A second very important trend is the data showing people are now participating in more outdoor activities and adventures than before due to the pandemic. 40% of all Americans surveyed say they spent more time outdoors since the pandemic began.

The Ford Explorer Timberline off-road credibility starts with Ford's standard intelligent four-wheel drive. A system that automatically adjusts torque between the wheels based on conditions and driver inputs delivering best traction, pre-empting wheel slip with proper application of torque per wheel.

Ford continues the off-road passion with the following details:

• Intelligent four-wheel drive
• Torsen Limited-slip rear differential
• Terrain Management System featuring seven drive modes (based on 2020 version, could be different on the 2021)
  • Normal mode
  • Eco mode
  • Sport mode
  • Slippery mode
  • Deep Snow and Sand mode
  • Trail mode
  • Tow/Haul mode
• Standard Hill Descent Control for constant speed control between 2 to 12 mph maximum
• Timberline capability
  • Heavy duty steel skid plates
  • Enhanced steering calibration
  • Heavy duty stabilizer bars and springs tuned for the Timberline
    • Includes exclusive rebound springs in the front to prevent sudden jarring off-road
  • Heavy Duty Shocks raises the ride height 0.8 inches (Developed for the Explorer Police Interceptor)
  • Bridgestone Dueler P265/65R-18 All-Terrain tires
  • Approach angle of 23.5 degrees and departure angle of 23.7 degrees
  • Minimum ground clearance of 8.7 inches
• EcoBoost 2.3L engine producing 300 HP and 310 lb/ft of torque paired with a 10 speed automatic transmission giving a 5,300 lb towing capability.

Ford only states a couple modes in their press release and as such it could be using the same 7 modes from the 2020 Explorer, but since this is the Timberline edition of rugged off-road prowess, it could be using the Bronco 7 G.O.A.T. modes which stands for Goes Over Any Type of Terrain. This would be the first 5 listed above and then would include a Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes for the final two. Either way you will have a very capable off-road SUV.

The Explorer Timberline edition launches a new Forged Green Metallic exterior color with a blackout treatment and red ember tow hooks rated at 150% gross vehicle weight. Ford has already incorporated a heavy duty wiring harness that allows Fords wide dealer network to install Ford Performance auxiliary lights giving an output of 160,000 candelas of illumination for nighttime trail riding. This equates to 2.5 times the brightness of the Explorer Timberline high-beam headlamps.

Ford's Deep Cypress interior trim color compliments the new Forged Green Metallic exterior and includes the standard Co-Pilot360 with Assist+ technology featuring Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Speed sign recognition, Lane Centering, Evasive Steering assist and voice activated touch screen navigation. Standard 360 degree cameras provide views of all potential obstacles including a front view camera to help with cresting hills off-road.

Ford has partnered with Yakima Rooftop accessories for customer to take any and all the equipment they want on their adventure.

2021 Ford Explorer Timberline is available to order now and arrives at Ford dealers summer of 2021.

Ford Grows Rugged SUV Lineup with New Ford Explorer Timberline – Most Off-Road-Capable Explorer Ever | Ford Media Center

What’s New in the 2020 Ford Explorer Terrain Management System? (akinsford.com)

Terrain Management System - Ford Technology| Ford KSA

2021 Ford® Bronco Sport First Edition SUV | Model Detail & Specs

E-Transit registration opened today, Wednesday 5th of May 2021 for commercial customers highlighted by the fact that they have over 450 commercial customers showing purchase intentions. Pricing for all configurations start at $43,295 and go up to $52,690. Expanded details are available on Fleet Home Page (ford.com)

Ford used more than 30 million miles of Ford Telematics data in confirming that the average commercial vans in North America only drive 74 miles a day. Ford also understands that there are days with long and shorter range as well as hot and cold weather. This allowed Ford to target the E-Transit with a starting point of 126 miles of range for the Cargo Van Low-roof models with larger battery packs available as needed.

E-Transit is built without compromise according to Ford as the maximum payload is 3,800 lbs. of cargo for the van low-roof model on a regular wheelbase, 4,250 lbs. on a chassis cab and 4,290 lbs on cutaway. Ford also offers Pro Power onboard which provides a 2.4kW of power for recharging tools and powering tools like drills, saws, jackhammers, laptops and more. Keeping you powered to get the job done is the goal of Pro Power by Ford. 

Ford offers a very functional and accommodating interior. Ford redesigned the center console with a new rotary shifter and e-brake on the panel. improved walk-through, and a rear shelf delete giving even more head room when moving around the van.

12 inch touch screen with Available Sync 4 can make a perfect crew member with built in navigation and so much more.

E-Transit is available in the following:

• three cargo van roof  heights
• three cargo van body lengths
• Chassis cab and cutaway models

The E-Transit is build to be driven and helps by having Ford Co-Pilot360 technology and Smart Acceleration Control. Ford has you covered with an 8 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first).

According to Ford, demand is growing for electric vans based on Ford data, shows 70 percent of the full size bus and van business is going electric by 2030 representing over 300,000 BEVs annually in the commercial space. Demand for the wide range of configurations options is based on the history of Ford selling into the commercial space where Ford data shows 40 percent lean towards high-roof vans with the remaining 60 percent going with medium and low roof vans.

The Ford E-Transit joins the growing family of electric auto's including the F-150e and Mach-E

Ford Opens E-Transit Registration Site, Releases New Targeted MSRP as Top Fleet Customers Line Up for All-Electric Van | Ford Media Center

2022 Ford® E-Transit | All-Electric Chassis Cab, Cutaway & Cargo Van

We've been reporting on Ford's upcoming truck, the Maverick since 2018. The truck would sit underneath the Ranger and become the entry-level model for the brand. Now, we have gotten our best look at what it will look like.

The Maverick Truck Club forum got its hand on an image showing a prototype Maverick on the line reportedly at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico plant. Up front, the Maverick borrows some ideas from the Bronco Sport with C-shaped headlights and a horizontal bar splitting the grille. We don't know if Ford is planning to offer any cab configurations aside from the crew-cab seen in the photo.

Ford did not immediately reply to comment on this when reached out by Roadshow. 

The Maverick is expected to use the C2 architecture which underpins the new Escape and Bronco Sport. Autoblog speculates there could be two rear suspension setups based on spy shots that show a mule with twist-beam style setup with no rear differential for the front-wheel driver version. A slightly beefier setup might be used for the all-wheel drive version.

Right now, everyone seems to think that the Maverick could debut as a 2022 model year vehicle.  

Source: Maverick Truck Club, Roadshow, Autoblog
Pic Credit: Maverick Truck Club

During a recent fireside chat with Bank of America, Ford teased a new 'Whitespace' product due in the 2021MY. What could that product be? Muscle Cars & Trucks speculates this may be a smaller pickup truck.

We've been hearing rumblings about this since 2018 when Automobile Magazine first brought this to light. This truck would be the replacement for the Brazilian market Courier, last sold in 2013. It would be based on the C2 platform that underpinned at the time the new Focus for markets outside of the U.S. Fuel would be added to the fire a year later when Jim Farley, Ford's president of global markets dropped this,

Quote

Ford is "investing in more affordable versions of our truck business" and that "you can expect new nameplates below where we compete today," Farley said at the conference. No timeframe was given. Interestingly, a Ford spokesman said “we’ll have more details to share about new nameplates in the future.” Usually, they go with the boilerplate answer of 'no comment."

Since then, a trademark filing for Maverick by Ford has appeared, possibly giving us a name for this new model. Plus, dealers were shown this model earlier this year where it earned an enthusiastic reception.

This model could have a starting price of around $20,000 or so when it launches. Stay tuned.

Source: Muscle Cars & Trucks

Rumor has it that Ford is working on a V8 powered version of their Ranger Raptor currently sold in overseas markets. Only available in other parts of the world, the current Ranger Raptor is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel that produces 210 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft of torque, but a report in Wheels magazine says that Ford Australia is working with an external engineering company to swap the 2.0 diesel for a 5.0-liter V8 from the Mustang GT.  The odd thing about this is that the Ranger Raptor 5.0 would be still built with the 2.0-liter diesel under the hood and then later converted to V8 gasoline power.

Expect power to be about the same as it makes in the Australian spec Mustang GT, a healthy 455 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft of torque. 

If it all comes together, the Ranger Raptor 5.0 is expected to go on sale in Australia next year, sold by Ford dealers and backed by the full 5-year warranty. For now, the Ranger Raptor remains forbidden fruit to the U.S. no matter what engine is under the hood.

After a lengthy strike at General Motors that cost the company $2.9 billion, the UAW has agreed to a contract with Ford that looks remarkably similar to the one they got with General Motors.  Ford workers ratified the deal on Friday with 56.3 percent voting yes to the new four year agreement.

The agreement says that Ford will invest more than $6 billion in its U.S. plants and add or retain 8,500 UAW jobs. The UAW used the GM contract as a template for negotiations with Ford. Like the GM contract, there are no changes in healthcare coverage, there is a pathway to full-time employment for temporary workers, pay raises, and lump-sum payments spread over 4 years. 

The UAW now will turn its attention on FCA where negotiations are due to begin on Monday.

Leaks of privileged information happen.  In this case, Ford pushed these images and pages to their consumer website in a way which was easy for the folks at MachEForum to find. 

Here are the basics, the best of each spec, the 2021 Ford Mach-E will have up to 300 miles of driving range, run 0-60 in mid-three second range, and have optional all-wheel drive.  You're going to prioritize those specs though because you won't be able to get them all in the same car.

All models of Mach-E will be able to recharge 47 miles in 10 minute of DC fast charging in a 150-kw charger

The base model is called Select and starts at $43,895. It is powered by a 255 horsepower, 306 lb.-ft of torque motor in the rear.  You can opt for all-wheel drive which increases torque to 429lb.ft. This model gets an EPA estimated range of 230 miles and a 0 to 60 sprint of mid 5-seconds. If you qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, the price can be as low as $36,395. It's equipped with 18-inch wheels

Next up is the Premium trim, starting at $50,600. This comes with 19-inch wheels and again in RWD or AWD configurations. EPA estimated range is 300 miles on the RWD model and 0 to 6- remains mid 5-seconds. 

There will be a trim called California Route 1 which is an extended range rear-wheel drive model. It has an EPA range of 300 miles and a mid 6-second range sitting on 18-inch wheels.

Then there is the top of the line GT, starting at $60,500. EPA range is estimated at 235 miles and a mid 3-second range. It comes standard with all-wheel drive. 

For early adopters, there is a Mach-E First Edition. It offers three exterior colors, including and exclusive "Grabber Blue Metallic", interior contrast stitching, First Edition scuff plates, brushed aluminum pedals, and red brake calipers. This model seems to be a happy medium on range and performance with a 270 mile EPA estimated range, mid 5-second 0-60, AWD, and 19-inch wheels. 

Inside the Mach-E is a large Telsa-like center screen though with a single physical dial at the bottom. A simple dash and slim gauge cluster sit behind a 3-spoke wheel badged with the Mustang logo. 

Ford will officially share more information on Sunday night, and the specs listed above are subject to change. We'll keep you updated as more information comes out. In the meantime, scroll down to see all of the information grabbed in the screenshots.

Ford has announced the name of their upcoming Mustang inspired electric crossover.  It will be called the Mustang Mach E.  The official debut happens on November 17th, after which reservations for the car will be opened for customers wishing to make a deposit.  Deposits are $500 to hold your place in line and later, customization of the vehicle will open closer to delivery time. 

We've seen from previews of the Mustang Mach E that it will be a rather swoopy crossover with a coupe like roofline. Current rumors put the estimated range at around 370 miles on the WTLP cycle, but EPA cycle will likely be lower. Ford also recently announced the creation of the FordPass Charging network, a way to take the worry out of range anxiety.  We expect we'll hear even more about FordPass Charging Network at the November 17th presentation. 

Ford has unveiled the Bronco R race prototype at the SEMA auto show today. This prototype strongly hints at the direction the new Bronco will go in terms of appearance and shape.

Bronco won at Baja in 1969, so for the 50 year anniversary, the prototype will go back to the Baja Peninsula later this month to take a near 1,000 mile off-road course to challenge the powertrain and architecture. 

The Bronco R is built on a modified version of the production body-on-frame platform.  Watch for more Bronco news in the coming months.

Ford teamed up with Webasto to build a new Ford Mustang EV concept car for the SEMA auto show in Las Vegas.  The car is a showcase for what is possible with electrification and emerging technologies in that field.

The show car comes with more than 1,000 lb.-ft of torque and 900 horsepower routed through a 6-speed manual transmission. The car has been lowered an inch and sits on 20-inch staggered forged wheels. Under the hood is a dual-core electric motor with dual power inverters. Power comes from an 800-volt Webasto battery system that can discharge a mega-watt of electrical energy.  At 800 volts, the Mustang Lithium runs at twice the voltage that most electric cars on the road today use. That allows the system to be lighter, more powerful, and generate less heat. 

The transmission is a drag-strip version of the Getrag MT82 6-speed with billet internals to handle the huge torque.  

Mustang Lithium features a unique set of drive modes that apply a controlled amount of torque for different driving scenarios including: Valet, Sport, Track and Beast, and are instantly available on demand via a custom in-dash 10.4-inch touchscreen display.

Ford is investing $11.5 billion in electrified vehicles by 2022, including an all-new Mustang inspired EV SUV and a Ford F-150 BEV.

Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have reached a tentative labor contract deal in just days after the strike at General Motors ended.  The details of the deal have not yet been released, but Ford did confirm the deal in a short statement. The talks began on Monday and the two sides quickly made progress on the smaller issues.

Various UAW leaders from the U.S. plants will meet on Friday to approve the deal which then must be sent to Ford's 55,000 union members for ratification. 

Ford has a closer relationship with the UAW than the other Detroit manufacturers with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford calling the UAW "Family" and that the UAW "helps to make Ford better and stronger". 

Once the deal with Ford is ratified, the UAW will move on to negotiate with FCA. 

Starting in 2020, Ford will be launching Sync 4 in most updated and redesigned vehicles. One of the key features of the new infotainment operating system is the ability to get updates over the air via a cellular network.  The over-the-air update ability makes updating the system as easy as a cell phone.  In Sync 3, the system was able to be updated via a wifi network or USB drive, and that is how Ford rolled out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto when they were finally made available for Sync 3.

Ford says this change could eliminate some trips to the dealership if the computer needs to be reflashed to updated as part of a recall.  The system has the ability to update software in the background and keep the current software running until the new update is ready for activation, making many of the updates completely invisible to the end user.  Customers can schedule updates for a specific time, such as the middle of the night, to further make the process invisible.

Sync 4 is designed to run on 8-inch screens standard, but 12-inch and 15.5-inch screens are available too.  Voice recognition in Sync 4 is activated by saying "Ok Ford".

Ford believes performing some recall work via the OTA updates will improve customer satisfaction and increase business.

Ford has not released which models will get Sync 4 first.

Ford is finishing up production of the Ford Flex at its Oakville Assembly plant in Ontario.  Production is set to finish at the end of November.  The Lincoln MKT which is also built on the line has already ceased production earlier this month.  In cutting these two vehicles, Ford will also lay off about 450 out of 4,100 hourly workers at the plant. The cuts come as Ford changes to an all-utility and truck brand. 

The Flex was first introduced for the 2008 model year as a bold and retro alternative to a wagon or traditional SUV, combining some elements of both. 

Ford is scheduled to begin negotiations with Unifor, the largest private sector union in Canada, sometime in 2020. Unifor hopes to get some investment from Ford at the Oakville plant.

Two weeks ago we told you about Chevrolet throwing money on the hood of the Camaro for Mustang drivers.  Now it is Ford's turn, but with fewer restrictions. For one, you don't need to be a current owner of a Camaro in order to qualify.

Every Mustang starts with $1,000 increase in it rebate.  A base model Ecoboost coupe goes from $1,500 back to $2,500 back. If the car has been in stock more than 61 days, it also qualifies for an additional $750 rebate. Better deals are to be had if you move up a bit. The Ecoboost Premium coupe can be had for $4,250 off if it has been on the lot more than 2 months. If you want more power or an open roof, GTs and convertibles are going for up to $3,500 off.

These rebates are set to expire on November 13th.  Does that make it time to buy? Well maybe, Ford tends to offer holiday bonuses starting around Black Friday.  It's also worth noting that Ford is offering 0% interest loans for 72 months in certain regions.  It may work out to be a better deal to take the 0% financing if it is available to you. 

Ford will be showing their Mustang inspired EV SUV on November 17th ahead of the LA Auto Show.  We still don't have a name for the upcoming vehicle, but Ford has recently trademarked the name "Mach-E" and "Mustang Mach-E". Could this be a name for this new EV crossover? Time will tell. What you can see from the sketch is that it will have Mustang-like tail lights and headlights, plus a swept back, coupe-like roof line and a long hood. 

We do know an approximate range per charge of 370 miles on the WTLP cycle, which is slightly more optimistic than the EPA cycle.  Ford also recently announced the creation of the FordPass Charging network, a way to take the worry out of range anxiety.  We expect we'll hear even more about FordPass Charging Network at the November 17th presentation. 

When the Ford Mustang inspired EV SUV goes on sale sometime next year, one challenge it will have to overcome, no matter how good it looks, is charging anxiety by potential customers. 

Ford is offering an antidote, a way to take away to charging anxiety.  Ford is developing FordPass Charging Network, an easy way to pay as you drive to charge. The network includes more than 12,000 locations with over 35,000 plugs. The FordPass Charging Network is also in collaboration with Electrify America to provide DC Fast Charging.  On a 150-kW charger, drivers can add 47 miles of range in just 10 minutes, and fully charge their battery in the time it takes to have a sit down meal at Olive Garden. FordPass app will help guide drivers to an available charging station and allow for payments directly from the car's dashboard. Ford is offering two years of complimentary access to the FordPass Charging Network to all new Ford EV buyers.

For those who prefer to charge at home, Ford is offering Ford Connected Charging Stations, a higher powered charger than the standard 240-volt home charger, the Ford charger uses 48 amp service to recharge at a rate of 32 miles per hour rather than the 22 miles of range per hour the 240-volt home charger would provide.  Ford is partnering with Amazon Home Services to offer installations of either standard home chargers or the Ford Connected Charging Stations. Amazon will provide upfront pricing estimates and will allow customers to schedule a licensed and vetted electrician online. 

Ford is investing $11.5 billion in EV development through 2022.

The 2020 F-Series Super Duty has been updated to take on the most difficult challenges. For 2020 it gets a new available PowerStroke V8 diesel displacing 6.8 liters and producing 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb.-ft of torque. The diesel enables the SuperDuty to tow up to 37,000 lbs on a goodneck trailer, 32,500 lbs. using a 5th wheel trailer, conventional towing of 24,200 lbs., and a payload capacity 7,850 lbs. Power is delivered by an all-new 10-speed automatic. 

The SuperDuty keeps customers connected with a FordPass Connect embedded 4G LTE modem with Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices to keep crews in communication no matter where the job might take them. Modern touches include the addition of wireless charging for compatible mobile phones and USB-C ports to power your devices.

Standard features on XLT and above Super Duty trim levels include Lane-Keeping Alert to help you stay in your lane and Blind Spot Information System with Trailer Coverage to monitor for vehicles in blind spots – even with one next to your trailer. Also standard on XLT and above is Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking to alert you of potential collisions with vehicles in your path. Should an accident occur, class-exclusive second-row seat belt pretensioners, standard on all Super Duty models, are activated.

The SuperDuty starts shipping to dealers by the end of the year. 

The 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator are likely the most important vehicles in Ford's lineup after the F-150.  These new SUVs mark a turn for Ford in styling and technology. The problem is, early reports indicate that there is trouble brewing in Chicago, the plant where they are built.

The two SUVs are just now arriving at dealerships, but have already been the subject of recalls for seats, missing manual park release covers, and other issues.  The issues have become so bad that Ford is trucking them from Chicago to their Flat Rock Assembly for further examination.  Dealers around the country have been notified of delays on their shipments due to unspecified manufacturing issues.  Ford is providing no details on the subject.

A Ford source involved with the repairs says that Ford is using X-Ray to try and diagnose chassis issues, transmission issues where the vehicle doesn't properly go into Park or not properly activating the parking brake leading to the possibility of a roll-away, air-conditioning systems that blow heat only, Aviators with automatic suspension issues where the vehicle arrives in suspension failure mode, and transmissions that leak so much fluid "it looks like a crime scene".  Aside from the serious issues, even the mundane issues appear; missing badges and trim, or having the wrong wheels. 

Ford has called in workers from plants in Kentucky, Dearborn, Wayne, and Sterling Heights to help at Flat Rock to complete repairs. Flat Rock normally builds Mustangs and Continentals, but from Friday to Sunday, workers spend their time processing Explorers and Aviators. 

Ford can't stop production of the vehicles even though they have a build-up of thousands of defective vehicles because the revenue is booked when the vehicle leaves the plant. Stopping production would reduce book revenue this quarter. Ford already was downgraded to junk bond status earlier this week.

Ford is recalling 338,332 Ford Explorers across North America for an improperly formed seat frame edge. The recall covers certain 2017 model year Explorers. The seat frame edge is sharp and could cause injury if driver or passenger reaches between the center console and the seat.  Ford is aware of 31 reports of hand injuries related to this recall. Dealers will install a flocked tape and a tab on the inside edge of the power seat frame. 

Moody's Investor Service has downgraded Ford to junk status rating of Ba1, one step below investment grade.  They say that Ford's cash flow and profit margins are below expectations and are expected to remain weak for the next two years.  Outside of the financial sector, Ford is one of the top 15 issuers of corporate bonds.

The primary cause for concern is a cash crunch brought on by a lengthy restructuring plan that includes closing factories and laying off thousands of workers. Investors are not impressed with CEO Jim Hackett's plans to ditch sedans and revive an aging lineup of SUVs and trucks. All new versions of the Ford Explorer and Ford Escape debuted this year.

Back in July, Ford issued a disappointing profit forecast as it struggles to compete in China's slowing car market. So far S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings have an investment grade of BBB on Ford, however both firms have a negative outlook on Ford's future. 

After the Moody's announcement, Ford's shares dived 4.2 percent to $9.14.

The Ford Explorer hybrid got its EPA ratings finally. They're an improvement over the base 2.3 liter 4-cylinder delivering 27 city, 29 highway, 28 combined for the most efficient RWD model. That is an improvement of 6 mpg for city and 4 mpg combined. The AWD model comes in a bit lower at 23 city, 26 highway, and 25 combined. Unlike the Lincoln Aviator GT, the Ford Explorer Hybrid is not a plug-in model. 

Powered by a 3.3 liter V6 plus the electrified drive train, the Explorer hybrid has a lot more power than the 4-cylinder with 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque. It comes with the same 10-speed automatic that all Explorers come with. Compared to the 2.3 liter turbo with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, we expect the Hybrid to feel faster and more refined due to the extra torque at the low end from the electric motor. 

The Explorer Hybrid has more power and torque than its only direct competition, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.  The Highlander does slightly better in fuel economy, but comes up 1,500 lbs short in towing capacity, though the next generation Highland Hybrid is supposed to get 34 mpg in front-wheel drive form.

The Explorer Hybrid is available as a Limited trim model and starts at $51,780 after delivery charge, a $3,555 increase over an equivalent Limited trim. 

Ford is acknowledging the trouble prone Ford Powershift transmission and is extending the warranties on them.  The 6-speed transmission is a dual clutch setup meant to increase fuel economy in Ford's smallest cars.  While a solid idea on paper, customers reported a number of problems with them including slippage, hesitations while accelerating, jerkiness through the gears, difficulty downshifting, and premature wear on the clutch packs. 

The extended warranty will cover 2014 - 2016 model year Ford Focus, and 2014 - 2015 model year Ford Fiesta and will increase the warranty coverage of the clutch from five years/60,000 miles to seven years/100,000 miles.  Ford will also reimburse customers in this group who have already paid for clutch repairs out of pockets.  The transmission control module will also be warrantied to 10 years/150,000 miles. 

In addition to that, there is a small group of customers (16%) who need a software update which Ford will provide for free. 

Affected customers will receive a letter from Ford with instructions on how to proceed.

Ford's second quarter 2019 income fell 86 percent to just $148 million.  The result is largely due to one-time charges related to its restructuring of operations globally.  Excluding the one-time items, Ford's income before interest and taxes fell just 2% to $1.65 billion.  Global revenue was flat year over year at $38.9 billion.

The charges are primary caused by plant closures in Europe and South America. Ford has said it would cut 12,000 jobs in Europe by the end of 2020.  Ford's sales in the US have fallen 7 percent, including a large decline in Ford Explorer sales as the company moves the nameplate to a new rear wheel drive platform. Ford CEO Jim Hackett said that the changover was a "bigger endeavor" than overhauling the F-150 to an aluminum body. 

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Ford is accused of falsifying fuel economy numbers in the Ford F-150 and Ford Ranger. The suit is seeking class-action status and aims to collect $1.2 Billion in damages.  The law firm, Hagens Berman, says that consumers are spending up to $2,000 more in fuel over the lifetime of the truck due to misleading EPA numbers.

Back in February of this year, Ford launched an investigation into its own EPA emissions and fuel economy certification process after an anonymous tip line at Ford received concerns that there were issues with the test. The concern surrounds Road Load, a vehicle-specific resistance level used in dynamometer testing. Too much or too little resistance will alter the results of the emissions and fuel economy. Road load is determined through engineering estimates that are then validated on the track.

Ford already hired an outside firm to investigate their testing, with the Ranger the first to go through re-testing.   The suit alleges that the F-150, by far Ford's best selling vehicle, is also subject to the same issue as the Ranger.

Ford is declining to comment on the lawsuit at this time. 

Elon Musk has been pretty vocal about the coming Tesla Pickup, making claims that it will be better than an F-150 and be able to tow 300,000 lbs.  So far, however, Tesla's pickup truck is vaporware that can't even be seen yet.

Ford meanwhile, has been working hard on an EV version of their F-150, and unlike the Tesla truck, it can be seen.  Rather than talk smack, Ford made its actions louder than words.  They linked up 10 double-decker rail cars filled with 42 2019 F-150s weighing in at more than one million pounds, that's more than 1000 ft of train and trucks,  and then tied that to the back of the F-150 EV prototype.  And the all electric F-150 did the pull twice. Naturally, there is a disclaimer at the bottom saying that the truck is towing way more than any production truck's capacity.  But if you're ever wondering if the "Built Ford Tough" slogan is true, here's your video proof of it.

Ford Plans on introducing seven electric vehicles by 2022, including an all-new EV "performance utility" with styling inspired by the Mustang for 2020 with a rumored 370 mile range.  Ford has also invested $500 million into startup truck and SUV maker Rivian to gain access to Rivian's skateboard platform. 

Ford is planning a dramatic change to their European lineup. Autocar reported yesterday that the automaker will be replacing the Mondeo (Fusion to us), Galaxy, and S-Max with a new "single crossover-style estate model" - think Subaru Outback.

Not many details are known about this new model. It is expected to use Ford's C2 platform which underpins the new Fiesta and Focus. A range of gas and diesel engines will be available, along with 48V mild-hybrid system. The new wagon is expected to arrive in early 2021 in Europe. Autocar notes that this model is expected to be sold in other markets such as North America.

While this model is quite different from three it will replace (a midsize sedan/hatchback/wagon and two vans), it is expected to outsell all of them. Last year, Ford only moved 50,000 Mondeos, 24,000 S-Maxs, and 12,000 Galaxy. Numbers according to Autocar that are too small to make any profit.

As for the U.S., the reason is likely due to Ford to possibly keep sedan buyers in the showroom. Last July, we reported that Ford was considering doing an "Outback competitor" with the Fusion name. 

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Ford needs a way to keep their current sedan buyers returning their showroom after the Fusion sedan drops out. Analysis done by Kelly Blue Book revealed the less than half of Fusion owners are loyal to the brand. KBB also found that the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 were the most popular SUV models that Fusion owners would consider.

“Ford has a hard time moving people from their cars to SUVs,” said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader.

Source: Autocar

Ford of Europe announced Thursday that the company would be laying off around 12,000 employees as part of a global restructuring.  This is on top of the layoffs Ford previously announced earlier this year.  Ford says it will reduce the number of plants in the region to 18 and reorganize its business into three divisions; Commercial, Passenger, and Imports such as the Ford Mustang.

Most of the positions in Europe will be eliminated via voluntary separation programs and should be completed by the end of 2020. Of the jobs lost, 2,000 will be salary and another 5,000 will be white color positions. 

Ford is struggling to make its European operations profitable against a backdrop of stagnant sales in the EU.  Ford of Europe says that in future, all new vehicles will come with an electrified version, be that a full EV or a hybrid. 

The Ford Puma sold in Europe was once a little coupe based on the Ford Fiesta.   Since coupe sales are dangerously close to zero, when Ford decided to reincarnate the name, it instead brought it back as a crossover coupe version of the Ford EcoSport.

The new Puma will be powered by a 1.0 liter, 125 horsepower engine with 48-volt mild hybrid setup or a more powerful 155 horsepower system horsepower running through the front wheels.  Diesel options will come later. Under the rear floor is a storage area with a drain plug that Ford calls a Megabox, something probably more appropriate for an F-150. 

It will come with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition, and Lane Centering. The driver cluster is a full TFT digital display. Sync3 with Android Auto and Apple Car Play are standard. 

No word yet on whether the Ford Puma will come to the US, but given the crossover craze going on here, we would not bet against it.  If it does come to the US, the direct competition would come from the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona, and Honda HR-V. 

Ford confirmed today that the all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will boast a 5.2 liter supercharged V8 producing 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft of torque making it the most power-dense and torque-dense production supercharged production engine in the world.  It is also the most powerful street legal Ford ever built.

The engine is a hand built aluminum V8 that features a lower center of gravity by inverting the intercooler into the valley of the engine. The oil pan is structural and has active baffles to keep oil in the right place during hard maneuvering.   Power is fed to the rear wheels via a 7-Speed TREMEC dual-clutch transmission that can change gears in under 100 milliseconds. Rotational weight is further reduced by the use of a carbon fiber driveshaft. 

You can read more about the Mustang Shelby GT500 below:

Ford said that it would be cutting a shift from its Essex Engine Plant in Ontario starting in October.  Ford says the move will "better align with consumer demand".  The likely cause? Ford F-150 buyers are shifting more of their purchases away from the 5.0 liter V8.

F-150 buyers have a choice of 5 engines when selecting a truck, the 2.7-liter Ecoboost, the 3.3-liter V6, the 3.5-liter Ecoboost, and now a 3.0-liter PowerStroke Diesel, all in addition to the 5.0-liter V8, and the customer mix appears to be skewing towards the smaller displacement engines.

The cut in shifts will not result in job cuts as those workers will be transitioned to another engine plant to build the 7.3-liter engine due to be installed in the 2020 Ford Super Duties. That transition will happen in November of this year. 

Ford reported first quarter operating earnings of $801m, up $160m over the same quarter last year.  The company says that it expects this quarter to be the strongest quarter of the year due to seasonal factors and major product launches later this year.  However, the company says it still expects to finish 2019 better than 2018.

Outside of North America, Ford is still losing money, but those losses are shrinking.  Ford recently announced a restructuring plan for Europe that included over 6,000 layoffs. 

Also in the earnings report, Ford revealed that the company is subject to a criminal investigation by the Justice Department due to its emissions certifications. We recently reported that Ford had launched its own internal investigation into its emissions certification process. 

Ford's stock rose more than 6% in premarket trading. 

According to a report in Automobile Magazine, the Ford Mustang could move to the CD6 platform that underpins the 2020 Ford Explorer, but the soonest that would happen is 2026. The CD6 platform also underpins the Lincoln Aviator and will be used in the next generation Ford Edge.

One of the side effects of moving to the new platform is that the Mustang would become much larger and heavier than the current S550 platform car, possibly up to the length of the Dodge Challenger.  Currently, the Mustang is 188.3 inches long and rides on a 107.1 inch wheelbase, while the Challenger clocks in nearly 10 inches longer at 197.9 inches with a 116.2 inch wheelbase.  The widths of the two cars are pretty much dead on.

Part of the reason the Challenger is so large is because it is built on the same full-size sedan platform as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. Chevy had the same issue with the 5th generation Camaro which was built on a full-size sedan platform shared with the Pontiac G8.  While Ford would be taking that a step further by using an SUV platform, the CD6 architecture is said to be flexible enough to build a 2-door sports coupe upon.

Sources differ on when this CD6 platform Mustang, code-named S650, will appear, but they range from 2026 to 2029.  So either way it is clear that the current car has a lot of life left in it.   Ford apparently has a major refresh planned that will include all new sheet metal and underbody work. That refresh will also be where the hybrid Mustang appears. There is also the second Ecoboost 4-cylinder coming that we have yet to get details on.  You can read more below. 

Related:

Ford revealed during a debut event for its European electrified models that the as-yet-unnamed Mustang inspired electrified crossover will have a range of 370 miles when it arrives in 2020, but those are using the WTLP cycle, and the EPA range rating could be lower.  Ford has previously stated they were targeting a range of 300 miles, so a good guess for the EPA range would be somewhere between those two numbers.  Ford has recently trademarked the name "Mach-E" and "Mustang Mach-E". Could this be a name for this new EV crossover? Time will tell. 

Earlier in 2019, Ford stated that all future vehicle will have an electrified version, something borne out by yesterdays unveiling of the 2020 Ford Escape with two hybrid variants. 

Ford also teased us with the Puma, a compact crossover set to slot between the Ecosport and Kuga, the Euro version of the Escape.  The Puma uses a 48-volt batter and a belt-alternator-starter system mated to a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine. No word yet if the Puma will make it to the U.S., but with pint-sized crossovers selling so well in the U.S., we'd not be surprised to see it here in the near future. (Click image to enlarge)

Ford unveiled the completely redesigned 2020 Ford Escape today ahead of its official showing at the New York Auto Show in two weeks.  Some of the biggest news about the Escape comes under the hood where 4 new powertrains debut. 

The standard engine will be a 1.5 liter Ecoboost 3-cylinder that can run as a 2 cylinder during light load situations.  The engine is projected to produce 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque when fueled with premium gas. This is the first Ford engine with cylinder deactivation. The engine will be standard issue on S, SE, and SEL level trims. When properly equipped, the 1.5T will tow up to 2,000 lbs. 

For those wanting more power, the Titanium trim will have a 250 horsepower, 275 lb-ft Ecoboost displacing 2.0 liters and coming standard with AWD. When running 93 octane, Ford says it will propel the Escape to 60 10% faster than the outgoing model. Towing for the 2.0T is maximum rated at 3,500 lbs. Both Ecoboost engines send power to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic.

For the Eco-minded the hybrid returns to the Escape lineup after a 7 year absence, also joined by a plug-in variant.  The Plug-in uses an all new 2.5 liter 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle hybrid engine paired with a CVT.  The combined output of the hybrid is rated at 198 horsepower and is capable of 85 mph in electric only mode. The hybrid will be available only on the SE Sport and Titanium trim.

The Plug-in hybrid will be available on SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. It will have an electric only range of 30 miles. Level 1 and Level 2 charging are available. Level 1 110 volt outlet takes 10 to 11 hours for a full charge from empty, switching to level 2 cuts that time to about 3.5 hours. Total system power increases over the standard hybrid to 209 horsepower, but will not be available with All-wheel drive. 

Both hybrid models feature 4 EV modes that allow the driver to adjust drive settings to the most suitable for conditions and needs.

• Auto EV mode - the vehicle decides whether to run on gasoline or electric power.
• EV Now Mode - the vehicle operates on all-electric drive.
• EV Later Mode - the vehicle operates on gasoline power to conserve electric miles for later
• EV Charge Mode - the vehicle operates on gasoline and recharges the battery for later EV only mode.

Helping on the efficiency front, Ford designers made the most aerodynamic Escape ever.  They made a more sloped roofline and strake, an efficient underbody, and an optimized liftgate spoiler. Overall, the 2020 Escape is 200lbs lighter than its predecessor.  The new Escape is longer, lower, and wider than the outgoing model. The two ecoboost engines boast a range of 400 miles per tank, while the standard hybrid with FWD aims for a range of 550 miles. 

Inside, Ford engineers optimized space to increase headroom and cargo capacity.  With the second row in the fully forward position, the rear cargo area can accommodate 4 golf bags or a full size dog crate. 

On the safety front, the Escape comes with Ford Co-Pilot 360 standard.  Other technologies like Adaptive Cruise and Lane-Centering are available.  Passengers are entertained via an 8-inch touch screen standard on SE and above. The gauge cluster is a 12.3 inch all digital system that uses 3D animated graphic to indicate drive mode. 

The 2020 Ford Escape will reach dealers in the fall with the Plug-in Hybrid variant due in Spring 2020. 

We will have more of the 2020 Ford Escape from the New York Auto Show on April 17th.

Ford is getting ready to introduce a new Escape for the 2020 model year on April 2nd.  The compact crossover is one of Ford's best sellers, moving as many as 308,296 units in 2017.  The growth trend has stalled though and sales dipped to around 272k units last year.  The current generation went on sale in 2013 and was facelifted for 2017, but since then, new editions of the Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equiniox, updated Jeep Cherokee, and Toyota RAV-4 have hit the market.

Ford offered a teaser video via twitter today that gives some hints as to what to expect from the 2020 Escape. 

The 2020 VIN decoder shows that the current 2.5 liter 4-cylinder will not be making a return, instead replaced with the 1.5T that will carry over.  The 2.0T also remains as an upgrade.  Hybrid fans can rejoice because after a 7 year absence a hybrid will be returning to the lineup and will also be joined by a Plug-In Hybrid option like the Lincoln Corsair.  No word yet on the range of the PHEV.

We'll hear the whole story about the Ford Escape on April 2nd. 

Ford will exit Russia's passenger car market and focus solely on the light commercial vehicle market says a report from Bloomberg.  Alligned with those moves, Ford will cease production in the country at two vehicle assembly plants.  Those plants will close by the end of June 2019.  Ford produces the Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta, and Ecosport in Russia.

These cuts will cause significant job losses for Russia.  This move comes after Ford announced as many as 6,000 job cuts in Germany and the UK  and cut jobs at a transmission factory in France. 

Honda, Nissan, and BMW have all recently announced cuts or closures in European operations.

Related:

Ford is adding 550 workers to their Kentucky plant that builds the Navigator and Expedition in order to meet surging retail demand for the big SUVs.  Retail sales were up 35% which has netted Ford a 5.6% gain in market-share for the Expedition.  The Navigator is doing even better with a 70% increase in sales. 

Ford has already increased line speed and split some jobs to multiple people in an attempt to increase  production. Vehicle production will be increased after the July shutdown. 

Along with the increase in production, Ford will be starting an advertising campaign focusing on the size and spaciousness of the Expedition.  

Ford increasing job and production in the US stands in sharp contrast to the steep cuts of over 6,000 jobs Ford announced for Europe. 

Ford's operations in Europe books a 351€ billion loss for 2018 in contrast to a 324€ billion profit the year prior.  Already in the midst of a major restructuring, Ford has now announced job cuts in Germany and the UK.

Ford employs roughly 24,000 people in Germany with expectations to lower that by 5,000 to 19,000 total. Most of the cuts are expected to come from voluntary redundancies and early retirement.   Ford aims to make the cuts "in the most socially responsible way possible."

In addition to the German job loses, another 1,150 employees will lose their positions in the UK. 

Ford has already shuttered an assembly plant in France and cut its vehicle lineup. 

Ford's moves follow that of Honda which is closing its plant in Swindon, Nissan which is reducing output in Sunderland, Infiniti leaving Western Europe and Volkswagen laying off 7,000 workers.