Lotus may return to V8 power for the first time in over two decades
Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation.
"We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV.
It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW.
Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6.
The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market.
But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations.
Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG).
"The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said.
"It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options.
"There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it."
It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV.
Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume.
But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products.
US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent.
Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market.
"Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said.
MORE: Everything Lotus Emira
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004.
Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation.
"We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV.
It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW.
Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6.
The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market.
But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations.
Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG).
"The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said.
"It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options.
"There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it."
It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV.
Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume.
But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products.
US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent.
Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market.
"Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said.
MORE: Everything Lotus Emira
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004.
Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation.
"We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV.
It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW.
Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6.
The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market.
But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations.
Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG).
"The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said.
"It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options.
"There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it."
It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV.
Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume.
But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products.
US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent.
Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market.
"Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said.
MORE: Everything Lotus Emira
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004.
Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation.
"We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV.
It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW.
Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6.
The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market.
But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations.
Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG).
"The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said.
"It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options.
"There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it."
It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV.
Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume.
But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products.
US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent.
Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market.
"Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said.
MORE: Everything Lotus Emira
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
Ford admits it needs to lift its passenger car game
Ford needs to improve its passenger car offering according to Bill Ford, chair of the automaker his great grandfather Henry Ford founded in 1903. Speaking to Autocar, Mr Ford admitted the brand – which has taken a global approach to go heavy on pickups and SUVs – has neglected passenger cars. "On the passenger car side, we realise we're not as robust as we need to be," Mr Ford told Autocar when asked about a return to passenger cars which made the brand famous the world over. "We're working on our future strategy right now. But I think you'll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – by what's coming." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The company hasn't announced any new passenger cars, nor suggested what area of the passenger car segment – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons or otherwise – it may step back into. A recent trademark filing for the Mach 4 nameplate indicated Ford may be planning to build a sedan version of the Mustang, like that which it reportedly showed to dealers in 2024. The only passenger car currently in the Blue Oval's showrooms Down Under is the Mustang, with 90 per cent of Ford Australia sales made up of the Ranger dual-cab ute and its SUV spinoff, the Everest. In Europe, Ford offers the Focus, but it exits production this year; in China, it has a new generation of Mondeo, which is exported to the Middle East as the Taurus. Earlier this year, Automotive News Europe said Ford global CEO Jim Farley, who reports to Bill Ford, issued a directive to its design and engineering teams to develop passenger cars. Ford of Europe has been responsible for some of its most lauded passenger cars, including the last Fiesta hatch/sedan, Focus hatch/sedan and Mondeo hatch/wagon sold in Australia. Those vehicles – like the Australian-made Falcon – saw their sales (and profitability) fall as SUVs grew in popularity around the world. In Australia, utes have also become hugely popular, with the Toyota HiLux and the Ranger having been at the top of the charts for a decade. Apart from the Mustang, Ford showrooms currently have little to offer driving enthusiasts. This comes despite the brand's impending return to Formula One in 2026 with Red Bull Racing. Mr Farley, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, said late last year Ford would no longer make "boring" cars, hinting at a return to enthusiast and track-focussed models. He suggested the automaker wouldn't simply be making a return to its previous passenger car offering but instead would focus on the strength of its famous nameplates. "We'd always competed at the heart of the passenger-car market, which didn't work out too well for Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta," he told British publication Car. "They were loved by a lot of customers, but they could never justify more capital allocation – unlike commercial vehicles. "Ford never funded enthusiast products – they were always a side business. Now with Mustang, Raptor and Bronco, they're our business." MORE: New Ford passenger cars on the way: could Fiesta and Focus return? MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford needs to improve its passenger car offering according to Bill Ford, chair of the automaker his great grandfather Henry Ford founded in 1903. Speaking to Autocar, Mr Ford admitted the brand – which has taken a global approach to go heavy on pickups and SUVs – has neglected passenger cars. "On the passenger car side, we realise we're not as robust as we need to be," Mr Ford told Autocar when asked about a return to passenger cars which made the brand famous the world over. "We're working on our future strategy right now. But I think you'll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – by what's coming." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The company hasn't announced any new passenger cars, nor suggested what area of the passenger car segment – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons or otherwise – it may step back into. A recent trademark filing for the Mach 4 nameplate indicated Ford may be planning to build a sedan version of the Mustang, like that which it reportedly showed to dealers in 2024. The only passenger car currently in the Blue Oval's showrooms Down Under is the Mustang, with 90 per cent of Ford Australia sales made up of the Ranger dual-cab ute and its SUV spinoff, the Everest. In Europe, Ford offers the Focus, but it exits production this year; in China, it has a new generation of Mondeo, which is exported to the Middle East as the Taurus. Earlier this year, Automotive News Europe said Ford global CEO Jim Farley, who reports to Bill Ford, issued a directive to its design and engineering teams to develop passenger cars. Ford of Europe has been responsible for some of its most lauded passenger cars, including the last Fiesta hatch/sedan, Focus hatch/sedan and Mondeo hatch/wagon sold in Australia. Those vehicles – like the Australian-made Falcon – saw their sales (and profitability) fall as SUVs grew in popularity around the world. In Australia, utes have also become hugely popular, with the Toyota HiLux and the Ranger having been at the top of the charts for a decade. Apart from the Mustang, Ford showrooms currently have little to offer driving enthusiasts. This comes despite the brand's impending return to Formula One in 2026 with Red Bull Racing. Mr Farley, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, said late last year Ford would no longer make "boring" cars, hinting at a return to enthusiast and track-focussed models. He suggested the automaker wouldn't simply be making a return to its previous passenger car offering but instead would focus on the strength of its famous nameplates. "We'd always competed at the heart of the passenger-car market, which didn't work out too well for Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta," he told British publication Car. "They were loved by a lot of customers, but they could never justify more capital allocation – unlike commercial vehicles. "Ford never funded enthusiast products – they were always a side business. Now with Mustang, Raptor and Bronco, they're our business." MORE: New Ford passenger cars on the way: could Fiesta and Focus return? MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford needs to improve its passenger car offering according to Bill Ford, chair of the automaker his great grandfather Henry Ford founded in 1903. Speaking to Autocar, Mr Ford admitted the brand – which has taken a global approach to go heavy on pickups and SUVs – has neglected passenger cars. "On the passenger car side, we realise we're not as robust as we need to be," Mr Ford told Autocar when asked about a return to passenger cars which made the brand famous the world over. "We're working on our future strategy right now. But I think you'll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – by what's coming." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The company hasn't announced any new passenger cars, nor suggested what area of the passenger car segment – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons or otherwise – it may step back into. A recent trademark filing for the Mach 4 nameplate indicated Ford may be planning to build a sedan version of the Mustang, like that which it reportedly showed to dealers in 2024. The only passenger car currently in the Blue Oval's showrooms Down Under is the Mustang, with 90 per cent of Ford Australia sales made up of the Ranger dual-cab ute and its SUV spinoff, the Everest. In Europe, Ford offers the Focus, but it exits production this year; in China, it has a new generation of Mondeo, which is exported to the Middle East as the Taurus. Earlier this year, Automotive News Europe said Ford global CEO Jim Farley, who reports to Bill Ford, issued a directive to its design and engineering teams to develop passenger cars. Ford of Europe has been responsible for some of its most lauded passenger cars, including the last Fiesta hatch/sedan, Focus hatch/sedan and Mondeo hatch/wagon sold in Australia. Those vehicles – like the Australian-made Falcon – saw their sales (and profitability) fall as SUVs grew in popularity around the world. In Australia, utes have also become hugely popular, with the Toyota HiLux and the Ranger having been at the top of the charts for a decade. Apart from the Mustang, Ford showrooms currently have little to offer driving enthusiasts. This comes despite the brand's impending return to Formula One in 2026 with Red Bull Racing. Mr Farley, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, said late last year Ford would no longer make "boring" cars, hinting at a return to enthusiast and track-focussed models. He suggested the automaker wouldn't simply be making a return to its previous passenger car offering but instead would focus on the strength of its famous nameplates. "We'd always competed at the heart of the passenger-car market, which didn't work out too well for Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta," he told British publication Car. "They were loved by a lot of customers, but they could never justify more capital allocation – unlike commercial vehicles. "Ford never funded enthusiast products – they were always a side business. Now with Mustang, Raptor and Bronco, they're our business." MORE: New Ford passenger cars on the way: could Fiesta and Focus return? MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford needs to improve its passenger car offering according to Bill Ford, chair of the automaker his great grandfather Henry Ford founded in 1903. Speaking to Autocar, Mr Ford admitted the brand – which has taken a global approach to go heavy on pickups and SUVs – has neglected passenger cars. "On the passenger car side, we realise we're not as robust as we need to be," Mr Ford told Autocar when asked about a return to passenger cars which made the brand famous the world over. "We're working on our future strategy right now. But I think you'll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – by what's coming." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The company hasn't announced any new passenger cars, nor suggested what area of the passenger car segment – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons or otherwise – it may step back into. A recent trademark filing for the Mach 4 nameplate indicated Ford may be planning to build a sedan version of the Mustang, like that which it reportedly showed to dealers in 2024. The only passenger car currently in the Blue Oval's showrooms Down Under is the Mustang, with 90 per cent of Ford Australia sales made up of the Ranger dual-cab ute and its SUV spinoff, the Everest. In Europe, Ford offers the Focus, but it exits production this year; in China, it has a new generation of Mondeo, which is exported to the Middle East as the Taurus. Earlier this year, Automotive News Europe said Ford global CEO Jim Farley, who reports to Bill Ford, issued a directive to its design and engineering teams to develop passenger cars. Ford of Europe has been responsible for some of its most lauded passenger cars, including the last Fiesta hatch/sedan, Focus hatch/sedan and Mondeo hatch/wagon sold in Australia. Those vehicles – like the Australian-made Falcon – saw their sales (and profitability) fall as SUVs grew in popularity around the world. In Australia, utes have also become hugely popular, with the Toyota HiLux and the Ranger having been at the top of the charts for a decade. Apart from the Mustang, Ford showrooms currently have little to offer driving enthusiasts. This comes despite the brand's impending return to Formula One in 2026 with Red Bull Racing. Mr Farley, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, said late last year Ford would no longer make "boring" cars, hinting at a return to enthusiast and track-focussed models. He suggested the automaker wouldn't simply be making a return to its previous passenger car offering but instead would focus on the strength of its famous nameplates. "We'd always competed at the heart of the passenger-car market, which didn't work out too well for Mondeo, Focus and Fiesta," he told British publication Car. "They were loved by a lot of customers, but they could never justify more capital allocation – unlike commercial vehicles. "Ford never funded enthusiast products – they were always a side business. Now with Mustang, Raptor and Bronco, they're our business." MORE: New Ford passenger cars on the way: could Fiesta and Focus return? MORE: Explore the Ford showroom Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
Ford: "Regulators got out ahead of customers" in EV transition
Ford says the move to electric vehicles (EVs) must be customer-driven, not pushed by regulators, as the automaker rolls out more EVs despite billions in losses. Speaking to British publication Autocar, Bill Ford – executive chairman of the automaker – said the move to EVs is important but there are lessons in what had not gone so well for the auto industry so far. "What went wrong is that the regulators got out ahead of the customers," Mr Ford told Autocar. "That's never a good situation. In the future, electrification will play a very important role in transportation, but it won't be the only part. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The ICE [internal combustion engine] business will be gradually phased out, but it won't disappear. What happens will vary according to region." Ford's electric division – named 'Model e' as a nod to its pioneering mass production of the Model T early last century – this week announced a Ford Ranger-sized electric pickup scheduled to go on sale in 2027. It will use a new affordable dedicated electric platform set to underpin a family of vehicles, and is expected to start at $US30,000 ($A45,800) – less than the starting price of a Ranger in the US, which is $US33,350 ($A50,900). The unnamed EV pickup has not been confirmed for Ford Australia showrooms, but the local arm has a direct link to Model e as it's run by previous Ford Australia president, Kay Hart. The push comes after Model e posted losses of US$5.1 billion in 2024 alone, and paused production of the F-150 Lightning EV and delayed its replacement until 2028. Ford also scrapped plans for a three-row EV SUV, instead investing in more short-term profitable F-Series Super Duty production. Locally, Ford Australia cancelled plans to introduce the electric Puma Gen-E SUV before dropping the Puma from its lineup entirely in 2024, while Mustang Mach-E electric SUV sales have slowed further despite significant price cuts. However, the company is adding the E-Transit Custom to join the E-Transit – as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Transit Custom and Ranger – in local showrooms. "At Ford, we've invested in all of these clean technologies, and I feel good about that," Mr Ford said. "But it's down to customers. They want what they want, and it's our job to give it to them." MORE: Ford pivots to 'super affordable EVs', delays larger models MORE: Ford says large electric SUVs just don't work MORE:Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform Content originally sourced from: Ford says the move to electric vehicles (EVs) must be customer-driven, not pushed by regulators, as the automaker rolls out more EVs despite billions in losses. Speaking to British publication Autocar, Bill Ford – executive chairman of the automaker – said the move to EVs is important but there are lessons in what had not gone so well for the auto industry so far. "What went wrong is that the regulators got out ahead of the customers," Mr Ford told Autocar. "That's never a good situation. In the future, electrification will play a very important role in transportation, but it won't be the only part. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The ICE [internal combustion engine] business will be gradually phased out, but it won't disappear. What happens will vary according to region." Ford's electric division – named 'Model e' as a nod to its pioneering mass production of the Model T early last century – this week announced a Ford Ranger-sized electric pickup scheduled to go on sale in 2027. It will use a new affordable dedicated electric platform set to underpin a family of vehicles, and is expected to start at $US30,000 ($A45,800) – less than the starting price of a Ranger in the US, which is $US33,350 ($A50,900). The unnamed EV pickup has not been confirmed for Ford Australia showrooms, but the local arm has a direct link to Model e as it's run by previous Ford Australia president, Kay Hart. The push comes after Model e posted losses of US$5.1 billion in 2024 alone, and paused production of the F-150 Lightning EV and delayed its replacement until 2028. Ford also scrapped plans for a three-row EV SUV, instead investing in more short-term profitable F-Series Super Duty production. Locally, Ford Australia cancelled plans to introduce the electric Puma Gen-E SUV before dropping the Puma from its lineup entirely in 2024, while Mustang Mach-E electric SUV sales have slowed further despite significant price cuts. However, the company is adding the E-Transit Custom to join the E-Transit – as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Transit Custom and Ranger – in local showrooms. "At Ford, we've invested in all of these clean technologies, and I feel good about that," Mr Ford said. "But it's down to customers. They want what they want, and it's our job to give it to them." MORE: Ford pivots to 'super affordable EVs', delays larger models MORE: Ford says large electric SUVs just don't work MORE:Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform Content originally sourced from: Ford says the move to electric vehicles (EVs) must be customer-driven, not pushed by regulators, as the automaker rolls out more EVs despite billions in losses. Speaking to British publication Autocar, Bill Ford – executive chairman of the automaker – said the move to EVs is important but there are lessons in what had not gone so well for the auto industry so far. "What went wrong is that the regulators got out ahead of the customers," Mr Ford told Autocar. "That's never a good situation. In the future, electrification will play a very important role in transportation, but it won't be the only part. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The ICE [internal combustion engine] business will be gradually phased out, but it won't disappear. What happens will vary according to region." Ford's electric division – named 'Model e' as a nod to its pioneering mass production of the Model T early last century – this week announced a Ford Ranger-sized electric pickup scheduled to go on sale in 2027. It will use a new affordable dedicated electric platform set to underpin a family of vehicles, and is expected to start at $US30,000 ($A45,800) – less than the starting price of a Ranger in the US, which is $US33,350 ($A50,900). The unnamed EV pickup has not been confirmed for Ford Australia showrooms, but the local arm has a direct link to Model e as it's run by previous Ford Australia president, Kay Hart. The push comes after Model e posted losses of US$5.1 billion in 2024 alone, and paused production of the F-150 Lightning EV and delayed its replacement until 2028. Ford also scrapped plans for a three-row EV SUV, instead investing in more short-term profitable F-Series Super Duty production. Locally, Ford Australia cancelled plans to introduce the electric Puma Gen-E SUV before dropping the Puma from its lineup entirely in 2024, while Mustang Mach-E electric SUV sales have slowed further despite significant price cuts. However, the company is adding the E-Transit Custom to join the E-Transit – as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Transit Custom and Ranger – in local showrooms. "At Ford, we've invested in all of these clean technologies, and I feel good about that," Mr Ford said. "But it's down to customers. They want what they want, and it's our job to give it to them." MORE: Ford pivots to 'super affordable EVs', delays larger models MORE: Ford says large electric SUVs just don't work MORE:Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform Content originally sourced from: Ford says the move to electric vehicles (EVs) must be customer-driven, not pushed by regulators, as the automaker rolls out more EVs despite billions in losses. Speaking to British publication Autocar, Bill Ford – executive chairman of the automaker – said the move to EVs is important but there are lessons in what had not gone so well for the auto industry so far. "What went wrong is that the regulators got out ahead of the customers," Mr Ford told Autocar. "That's never a good situation. In the future, electrification will play a very important role in transportation, but it won't be the only part. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "The ICE [internal combustion engine] business will be gradually phased out, but it won't disappear. What happens will vary according to region." Ford's electric division – named 'Model e' as a nod to its pioneering mass production of the Model T early last century – this week announced a Ford Ranger-sized electric pickup scheduled to go on sale in 2027. It will use a new affordable dedicated electric platform set to underpin a family of vehicles, and is expected to start at $US30,000 ($A45,800) – less than the starting price of a Ranger in the US, which is $US33,350 ($A50,900). The unnamed EV pickup has not been confirmed for Ford Australia showrooms, but the local arm has a direct link to Model e as it's run by previous Ford Australia president, Kay Hart. The push comes after Model e posted losses of US$5.1 billion in 2024 alone, and paused production of the F-150 Lightning EV and delayed its replacement until 2028. Ford also scrapped plans for a three-row EV SUV, instead investing in more short-term profitable F-Series Super Duty production. Locally, Ford Australia cancelled plans to introduce the electric Puma Gen-E SUV before dropping the Puma from its lineup entirely in 2024, while Mustang Mach-E electric SUV sales have slowed further despite significant price cuts. However, the company is adding the E-Transit Custom to join the E-Transit – as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Transit Custom and Ranger – in local showrooms. "At Ford, we've invested in all of these clean technologies, and I feel good about that," Mr Ford said. "But it's down to customers. They want what they want, and it's our job to give it to them." MORE: Ford pivots to 'super affordable EVs', delays larger models MORE: Ford says large electric SUVs just don't work MORE:Ford Ranger-sized ute to debut Blue Oval's new affordable EV platform Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
7 days ago
- 7NEWS
Ford: "Regulators got out ahead of customers" in EV transition
Ford says the move to electric vehicles (EVs) must be customer-driven, not pushed by regulators, as the automaker rolls out more EVs despite billions in losses. Speaking to British publication Autocar, Bill Ford – executive chairman of the automaker – said the move to EVs is important but there are lessons in what had not gone so well for the auto industry so far. 'What went wrong is that the regulators got out ahead of the customers,' Mr Ford told Autocar. 'That's never a good situation. In the future, electrification will play a very important role in transportation, but it won't be the only part. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. 'The ICE [internal combustion engine] business will be gradually phased out, but it won't disappear. What happens will vary according to region.' Ford's electric division – named 'Model e' as a nod to its pioneering mass production of the Model T early last century – this week announced a Ford Ranger-sized electric pickup scheduled to go on sale in 2027. It will use a new affordable dedicated electric platform set to underpin a family of vehicles, and is expected to start at $US30,000 ($A45,800) – less than the starting price of a Ranger in the US, which is $US33,350 ($A50,900). The unnamed EV pickup has not been confirmed for Ford Australia showrooms, but the local arm has a direct link to Model e as it's run by previous Ford Australia president, Kay Hart. The push comes after Model e posted losses of US$5.1 billion in 2024 alone, and paused production of the F-150 Lightning EV and delayed its replacement until 2028. Ford also scrapped plans for a three-row EV SUV, instead investing in more short-term profitable F-Series Super Duty production. Locally, Ford Australia cancelled plans to introduce the electric Puma Gen-E SUV before dropping the Puma from its lineup entirely in 2024, while Mustang Mach-E electric SUV sales have slowed further despite significant price cuts. However, the company is adding the E-Transit Custom to join the E-Transit – as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Transit Custom and Ranger – in local showrooms. 'At Ford, we've invested in all of these clean technologies, and I feel good about that,' Mr Ford said. 'But it's down to customers. They want what they want, and it's our job to give it to them.'
