Rather than simply being a single model, Ford’s Model E may actually be a full line of different vehicles — with different body styles as well as different powertrains, according to recent reports.
Earlier reports seemed to suggest that Ford would be taking a similar approach as Hyundai is using with its Ioniq — where hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and all-electric (EV) options are all available for the same body type.
It seems that Ford will be taking this one step further, though, and actually offering different body types as well — with a “crossover” option being available as well as a sedan, and possibly a hatchback.
None of this is certain, but there does seem to be some solidity to it, as the news originates with “a short item in a future-product guide published by industry trade journal Automotive News.”
As it stands, the Model E is expected to be released in 2019, following the ramping up of production at the company’s new facility in Mexico in 2018. At first, the new facility will be producing just the Focus model (sedan and hatchback), but Model E production will follow. This implies that the next-gen Focus and the Model E probably share a platform, but that could be reading a bit too much into it.
Green Car Reports provides more, noting that, “Chevy sometimes refers to the front-wheel-drive Bolt EV as a crossover, despite the lack of an all-wheel drive option — as does Kia for its upcoming Niro ‘hybrid utility vehicle,’ which also doesn’t offer AWD. If that’s the case, then perhaps a Model E ‘crossover’ will be little more than a tall hatchback. On the other hand, Ford will use its next compact architecture for a number of small utility vehicles as well, so it could offer AWD capability that way.”
According to Ford CEO Mark Fields, the all-electric version of the Model E will possess a single-charge range of more than 200 miles when it first hits the market, with the intent being for the model to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevy Bolt.
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