Ford’s all-electric performance crossover, bound for a 2020 debut, is a model without a definite name that remains shrouded in mystery. It isn’t known whether this supposedly “Mustang inspired” crossover (Ford’s claim) is at all different than the 300-mile crossover EV promised by Ford as part of its electrified vehicle push. They could be one and the same. Or, one is a go-fast variant of the other.
Right now, all we know is that Ford garnered plenty of backlash for calling the thing the Mach 1 at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, where the automaker released a video depicting an ominous storm swirling over the Motor City and a lightning strike melding an Explorer and Mustang into something new and unseen (Ford’s “Team Edison” offices in Corktown served as the birthplace of the new model).
For what it’s worth, there’s now a new description of the vehicle that’s sure to get your brain working.
According to Mike Martinez of Automotive News, Ford’s president of global markets, Jim Farley, offered up a vision of the 2020 crossover during a recent sit-down with J.P. Morgan in Los Angeles.
Speaking about the vehicle, Farley said we should “imagine a vehicle with the profile of a Porsche Cayenne and the swagger of a four door Mustang,” Martinez tweeted.
Given that the Cayenne is a pretty traditional-looking utility vehicle, Farley’s comment suggests there won’t be a swept-back, coupe-like vehicle serving as the answer to every well-monied green buyer’s prayers. It also suggests the 300-mile crossover, rumored to carry the “Model E” name, and the would-be Mach 1 are the same vehicle. Don’t bet your whole paycheck on seeing either name on the liftgate, either. Ford remains — at least publicly — non-committal on both monikers.
In March, CEO Jim Hackett implied the upcoming crossover wouldn’t occupy the same space as lesser-ranged EV crossovers like the Hyundai Kona Electric and its Kia counterpart. Tesla Model X-beating range carries a hefty price tag, and there’s more money at the top end of the market, anyway. The automaker wants its EV sales fueled as much by performance cred as environmental sympathy.
It’s looking like the Model E, Mach 1, or whatever Ford eventually calls this thing, will go head to head with the likes of the Jaguar I-Pace, though likely at a somewhat lower price point.
[Image: Ford/YouTube]
Good for Ford. Who cares?
“imagine a vehicle with the profile of a Porsche Cayenne and the swagger of a four door Mustang”….ummm, an Edsel? Good grief, Ford cannot suck enough.
And the Cayenne has the profile of a first-gen Santa Fe. I’m tingling. Not.
I’m imagining a vehicle that is priced right, doesn’t look like the interior was put together with Lincoln Logs and is a somewhat fun to drive electric car for a family.
Oh, and how about one that doesn’t suffer from recall-itis.
Your move Ford.
Sounds interesting.
It’s either the Fordla or the Tespedition.
voltanyero
FORDZILLA ! FTW !
“imagine a vehicle with the profile of a Porsche Cayenne and the swagger of a four door Mustang,”
Hard to imagine that when they spent the last 13 years refusing to build a 4-door Mustang.
But at least now we get an Electric Mustang CUV that RoboCop 2021 will use to save Delta City and it looks like kinda like a piggy Porsche.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/dogsledder54/Muxplorer_zps5u8jkuee.jpg
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So here is the economic progression:
Relatively-cheap-to-mfg-but-sold-at-high margin-and-strong-demand F-series ——wealth transfer——> expensive-to-mfg-low-demand-limited-range-fully-electric-golf-carts with battery life of < 5 years and -70% resale after the lease period.
We are all socialists now. This Agenda 21 requirement was hope and change we could believe in. Yes we can find another way for you to fund your own demise.
I'll be interested to see if Ford stays afloat if they're really serious about all of this dumb. Gas hybrids could work, this stuff won't as only the artificial Tesla market has any demand. They seems to have killed diesel again, thanks green fascism.
Unfortunately, 44 is to blame for setting into motion all this turbo-this and golf-cart that!! Even if the current administration relaxes things, the damage is already done. All for a specious argument which hasn’t arguably proven out!
As I’ve said on here before, this rock was around a heckuva long time before we started, by some estimations and sides, decimating it, and it’s still gonna be around long after we’ve vaporized ourselves!
If geologists are to be believed, this rock has nearly killed off all life several times. Even if we don’t kill ourselves off, a couple of supervolcanoes (out of at least 20 known) going off simultaneously could kill off everything bigger than a rabbit.
I’ll start making the popcorn.
The danger of climate change (outside a few ecofreaks) was never that we’d kill the earth.
It’s how the changes might, or will, affect people. Rising Sea Levels means coastal flooding. Higher temps means old people dying of heatstroke in Tampa or Houston. Shifts in rainfall and climate means farmland that used to grow wheat or corn may not be suitable for it anymore.
One approach is to just roll with the changes and live with the possibility that the American Breadbasket goes away. Another approach is to try to slow things down so the status quo, which is currently beneficial to most of us, stays the same. And hey, if it helps the air smell cleaner, that’s good too.
I concur, Sir!
Or, and here’s a thought, they could sell both.
This thing wont be replacing the F-150. It’s a replacement for the Fusion. With the talk of “porsche profile” i suspect it’ll end up in the Lincoln price range. But that’s where the Fusion Titanium was anyway, so…
You just need a little Nuke to embrace the abomination, citizen.
If they mention Porsche doesn’t it make more sense to call it Lincoln? Otherwise it reminds me commercials comparing Ford Granada to Mercedes.
Hot garbage is more appealing.
Just what we’ve always wanted, the iMustangCross. Or is it eMustangCross?
So Ford is getting out the passenger car business and into electric cars, which account for 1% of the market. The main customers for electric cars are the socially conscious rich. Tesla pretty much has that market all to themselves. Electric cars just don’t sell to mainstream buyers.
Exactly.
Ford deathwatch, anyone, if gas hits $6/gallon, and people realize the folly of driving an empty half-ton full of air to work?
I dunno, if they go hard onnthe elctric thing like it seems, they might have a solid backup plan.
“Pay exhorbitant rates for a giant gas guzzler” or “Pay exhorbitant rates for sleek electric crossover”
As long as you arent broke ass, seems like Ford has their bases covered.
+1
Not just socially conscious rich folks.
Plenty of regular environment-hating rich folks who just want cool tech and sweet-ass torque/acceleration out there too. I think that’s the market Ford is going for, with the comparisons to the Cayenne and building off the Mustang.
“Plenty of regular environment-hating rich folks who just want cool tech and sweet-ass torque/acceleration out there too.”
And these people also want the family-mobile CUV shape?
I’m actually largely neutral to the idea of hybrid or EV sports/muscle cars and if Ford were building an electric Thunderbird or electric F-150 “Lightning” I might agree with you. But this is the preferred vehicle of Carmella Soprano and Costco toilet paper & mulch expeditions.
I get that people are still licking their wounds from the “no cars” announcement, but the Ford hate here is excessive.
Ford hate? I’m seeing Ford skepticism. Considering the marketing blather just unleashed, the skepticism is earned.
Lol the truth hurts huh?
Sounds like another extruded vehicle coming up. Squirt it onto a baking tray, heat for 5 hours, and your latest cROsSovEr is ready.
Who cares? It’s much more important to note that Ford bought a derelict train station for the hipsters.
Yet another reason why this “ford for life buyer” is now a “soon to be” Hyundai or Kia owner.
It baffles me why Ford won’t call its Performance EV SUV a “lightning”, by thier own admission the F150 is too large and heavy to make a proper Lightning and I doubt we’ll see a Lightning version of the Ranger so why not call this thing a Lightning?