European executives got a sneak peek at Ford's first electric car, built on Volkswagen's modular electric drive platform (MEB). Ford's next all-electric crossover (EV) will come out in March. It will be based on Volkswagen's MEB platform and eventually replace the Ford Fiesta on the assembly line in Cologne.
Ford's plan to release a new electric car in 2021 has been a closely guarded secret. However, two of the company's top executives have made hints about the car on social media, raising hopes that the news is about to come out.
Martin Sander, in charge of the Ford Model E's electrification division, posted a picture of the Skoda Enyaq competitor's front end on Twitter and wrote, "Can't wait for 2023, when we take the wraps off our first electric passenger car coming from Cologne."
Even though we can only see a fragment of the vehicle, we can tell that this new electric vehicle (EV) will significantly alter Ford's European-market lineup. According to Autocar, Ford will take design cues from its most popular models in the United States, specifically the Bronco and F-150.
Ford has kept very few details about its upcoming electric vehicle (EV). Still, we can infer from its size and silhouette that it will compete directly with cars like the Toyota bZ4X, Nissan Ariya, and Volvo XC40 Recharge, as well as from its aerodynamically optimized wheel designs, contrasting lower bumper and chunky headlights.
Peter Zillig, in charge of marketing for Ford in Europe, posted a blurry teaser photo of the car on LinkedIn. The picture only showed a few details other than an excellent LED front light design that may become a signature of Ford's modern cars.
To better "connect emotionally with consumers who say they know we're American but don't feel we're American," Zillig stated that all future Ford vehicles would be created with the "Adventurous Spirit" philosophy in mind.
He stated, "Authenticity is what gives the adventurous spirit its value." We are creating a partially novel concept. Instead, we're tapping into a quality that's been important to Ford's identity for nearly 120 years. "We've connected to an invisible, yet very real, resource."
Specifically, the new MEB vehicle will be sold in the same "Active Adventure" lineup as existing mid-size SUVs like the Ford Kuga.
The Ford Mustang belongs to the "Wild Performance" family; the "Urban Escape" family is for "statement-making cars" like the Ford Puma; the "Ultimate Outdoor" family includes serious off-roaders like the Bronco and Ranger Raptor.
The Ford Fiesta assembly line in Cologne, Germany, will be converted to produce the next generation of Ford electric vehicles in Europe. The latest teases dropped just a day after Sander told Autocar that the combustion-powered supermini "had to go" to create room on the line. The supermini will officially be phased out in July 2023.
This is why we chose Cologne as the site for producing our first mass-produced electric vehicle. As we convert the Fiesta plant to run entirely on batteries, the time will come when we need a place to do all of the necessary building work. As a result, we made the tough call to halt Fiesta production.
The new electric vehicle, which is speculated to bring back an old Ford name, will likely share most of its construction with the Volkswagen ID 4.
There will be two battery options, providing a range of 210–300 miles, and your choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive motor with an output ranging from 146 hp to 295 hp.
