Ford has confirmed it is developing an all-electric high-performance SUV that will go on sale in 2020 as a possible rival for the likes of the Tesla Model X.
Delivering the news at its Detroit motor show, the Blue Oval gave very little away about the model itself, but confirmed it would use the Mach 1 badge – a badge that has previously been used on special versions of the Mustang.
The company also revealed that it would increase its investment in electric vehicle development to $US11 billion and that an F-150 hybrid would start production in 2020 at its Dearborn plant.
Also slotted in for 2020 is the Mach 1 – a performance battery electric (vehicle) – coming in 2020.
Ford Motor Company executive vice-president of product development and purchasing Hau Thai-Tang said the car-maker would leverage its most iconic nameplates for its global electrification strategy.
“What we have talked about with Ford is we want to play to our strengths,” he said on the Ford stand. “We want to target iconic nameplates so you hear us talk about F-150, Mustang, Transit, really play where we are strong in terms of brand reputation and pricing power and then use that to really deliver more than just fuel efficiency.
“Selling electrification just on fuel efficiency is not going to play when the price of fuel is at $US2.50 a gallon. So we want to really embrace performance, torque, productivity, capability, once we get into the truck and commercial space.”
Mr Thai-Tang said that as part of Ford’s plan to roll out 16 new fully electric vehicles by 2020, the company would focus on its key segments.
“We are going to play to our strengths. We want to leverage the segments where we are really strong. So it is going to be trucks, utilities, performance products. We want to showcase the capability of electrification beyond just fuel efficiency,” he said. Once again, the leading manufacturers are signaling the end of the Internal Combustion Engine. With China now well ahead with electrification, the previously major manufacturers are having to play catch-up. When China then plays their price trump card (no pun intended) it will make the Big Three a Small Three.
Now is the time for some inventive soul to produce a rapid recharger, patent it and retire a billionaire.
