Latest news with #Ranger-sized
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Ford reveals plans for $46k electric ute to rival Chinese in 2027
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ford is set to launch a Ranger-sized electric dual-cab ute in 2027, built on a brand new platform designed to make electric vehicles (EVs) cheaper and faster to build. The American giant said this could be its biggest turning point since the original Model T. The ute will debut in the US with a starting price of approximately US$30,000 (AUD 46,000) - far below the cost of most EV utes on sale. The US-built ute will be designed for global markets; however, Ford Australia says it's too early to confirm if the model will be sold locally. Ford CEO Jim Farley said the new EV will match the acceleration of a Mustang EcoBoost capable of 0-96km in approximately 4.9 seconds, while offering passengers more space than a Toyota RAV4, plus smart storage solutions. MORE: Eye-popping price for brand's first 'Aussie' ute Ford CEO Jim Farley speaks at the Louisville Assembly Plant, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) MORE: The 'mega truck' dividing Aussies The company also said it will deliver a long driving range, DC fast charging, and enough vehicle-to-home power to run a house for six days. The electric ute will be built at Ford's Louisville plant in Kentucky, backed by a US$2 billion (A$3bn) investment, alongside a US$3 billion (A$4.6bn) battery plant in Michigan. It will use the new EV platform and Ford's new assembly tree production method. Instead of one long production line, three parts of the vehicle are built separately, the front, rear and the battery and then brought together. MORE: China attacks iconic Aussie utes in new move Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. Photo: Supplied The new EV platform will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs as part of the vehicle's structure, lowering the centre of gravity and increasing cabin space. It will also be used across a variety of body styles. From mid-2025, Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will push carmakers to cut emissions, especially in high-selling utes. If Ford's electric ute makes it here, it will give Australian buyers, especially tradies, a far cheaper EV option than what's currently available. Final specifications will be revealed closer to launch. Originally published as Ford's new Ranger-size electric ute set to shake up Australia's ute market
NZ Autocar
12-08-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Ford will offer affordable EVs in 2027
Ford is developing a universal EV platform that will allow it to produce affordable electric vehicles in the near future. Company boss, Jim Farley, says it is another Model T moment for Ford. Its first offering will be a new Ranger-sized electric pick-up truck at a supermini price. Evidently it shares nothing with other Ford models. The company claims to have invented a revolutionary new process for EV manufacture. Dubbed the Universal EV Platform it was part of a three-year skunkworks project. Its first product will be a double-cab Ranger-sized pick-up priced at around $US30,000. A hatchback, crossover, van and a three-bench SUV will follow, all starting for much the same price. Cost savings are made by using megacasting that reduces the amount of separate parts in the chassis by 75 per cent. It also halves the number of fasteners and welds required. The company's new scalable platform could also open up the potential for a new range of small cars, like Fiesta and Focus. The new EVs will be made at Ford's Louisville plant in the US and will be offered as global export products. But the first new Ford EV is for the domestic market. The electric pick-up will take on the likes of the inexpensive Slate Truck. The concept of a cheap pick-up is to boost sales of EVs in a market that is used to fossil fuels. The new pick-up will likely be dubbed the Ranchero, utilising a known nameplate from the past, like Capri and Explorer. Platform details are thin on the ground but the pick-up will use LFP battery cells made by Ford in Michigan. Evidently it will have generous range and will be able to power a house for up to six days, if need be. Moreover, it will be faster than a twin-turbo Mustang, offer rapid charging and feature an operating system that can be updated over the air. The new platform evidently also focuses on maximising interior space. It will feature a trunk up front. Ford says it will build three lines to create the vehicles. It will assemble the front, rear and core structure (platform, battery, seats and interior) on separate lines. They will merge for final assembly at the end. This, it says, simplifies the assembly process for the workers. Farley concluded: 'We needed a radical approach to creating affordable vehicles…but we also need to be sustainable and make money. 'There are no guarantees with this project.'
