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Updated 12/30/19:
This news was just debunked by Ford in a statement made to Ford Authority.
Ford Says It Has No Plans For Baby Mach-E On VW’s MEB Platform
Last week we talked about a new rumor that was making the rounds that Ford was working on a so-called baby Mach-E that would roll on the VW MEB EV platform. Mustang fans who were not happy about the normal Mustang Mach-E certainly didn’t like the idea of a baby Mach-E that would ride on a VW platform.
A Ford spokeswoman reached out to Ford Authority and gave a statement: “There are no plans to offer an all-electric Mustang based on VW’s MEB architecture. We remain on track to offer one MEB-based fully electric car for our European customers and are considering a second vehicle. Beyond that, we don’t comment on speculation about future products.”
The statement indicates that the rumor is false and that the MEB-based vehicle won’t be offered in the states. It’s doesn’t rule out a baby Mach-E on another platform. In the U.S., we know that Ford is working on other EVs, including one that will reportedly be Lincoln branded and roll on the Rivian skateboard platform. The second vehicle that Ford is considering on the MEB platform was first tipped back in September.
At the time, the automakers said it didn’t make sense to produce only one MEB platform vehicle. Ford plans to purchase 600,000 MEB platforms from VW. Ford is mysterious about the second EV, only saying it will be “fantastic.” Reports indicate that the ride will go into production in 2023 as the production of the Fiesta is set to end then, opening up production capacity. It’s good news for Mustang fans that no baby Mach-E on the MEB platform is in the works for now.
http://fordauthority.com/2019/12/ford-says-it-has-no-plans-for-baby-mach-e-on-vws-meb-platform/
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12/26/19
This news comes via Autoexpress, who cites conversations with Ford representatives. This news comes out of Europe and there's no confirmation if the baby Mach-E will be available in North America (the ID.3 will not be).
New baby Ford Mustang Mach-E to use VW power
Ford is aiming to use its tie-up with Volkswagen on electric vehicle platforms to expand the range of Mustang EVs beyond the recently revealed Mach-E, Auto Express understands.
The US manufacturer caused a storm in November when it revealed the Mustang Mach-E as its first bespoke EV. High-level sources have indicated that Ford is already considering expanding the family to appeal to a wider range of customers.
Speaking to Auto Express, Ford of Europe’s Chief Designer Murat Gueler said: “The Mustang influence wasn’t considered until an earlier direction with the car wasn’t really working. Once we introduced Mustang as inspiration, it came together quickly. We’re really excited by what this brings to the electric car, and yes we have already talked about expansion, to some sort of family.”
Ford already has a plan for smaller EVs – based on an agreement with the VW Group to license its MEB all-electric vehicle platform. But we understand that in early November executives and engineers from Ford met VW counterparts to discuss how the new architecture – which underpins the ID.3 – could be adapted to better fit Ford’s needs.
A particular area raised during the talks is said to be the position of the front bulkhead and cowl – the base of the windscreen, in effect. VW has pushed the cowl relatively far forward, lengthening the gap between the steering wheel and the base of the screen to help fit the augmented-reality head-up display tech from the ID.3. This makes the bonnet quite short, so it’s harder for Ford to create a smaller model with the stance, roofline and profile of a Mustang.
Ted Cannis, global director of electrification at Ford, told us: “It’s key that we have enough flexibility, and it’s important to have enough differentiation and the kind of performance you expect from a Ford. A lot of that was done in the early part of the negotiations with VW. The parameters that we’ve seen, we can make a great Ford.”
Our exclusive images show how a baby Mustang EV could look on the shorter wheelbase of the MEB platform, mixing an aggressive roofline with typical cues around the front and rear lights.
Gueler told us that any smaller Mustang EV would have a different profile than the Mach-E, but the vehicle would almost certainly be a crossover in any case.
The MEB platform can support rear- and four-wheel drive, and it’s likely that Ford would offer both layouts and a number of different battery sizes. That could give the baby Mustang EV up to 302bhp and a 300-mile range.
The deciding factor on badging the smaller EV as a Mustang could be customer reception to the Mach-E. Resistance to the badge – which replaces all Ford branding on the Mach-E – could yet lead to a rethink on how to somehow mix the latest arrivals with the existing model in an EV family.
Speculative renderings:
This news was just debunked by Ford in a statement made to Ford Authority.
Ford Says It Has No Plans For Baby Mach-E On VW’s MEB Platform
Last week we talked about a new rumor that was making the rounds that Ford was working on a so-called baby Mach-E that would roll on the VW MEB EV platform. Mustang fans who were not happy about the normal Mustang Mach-E certainly didn’t like the idea of a baby Mach-E that would ride on a VW platform.
A Ford spokeswoman reached out to Ford Authority and gave a statement: “There are no plans to offer an all-electric Mustang based on VW’s MEB architecture. We remain on track to offer one MEB-based fully electric car for our European customers and are considering a second vehicle. Beyond that, we don’t comment on speculation about future products.”
The statement indicates that the rumor is false and that the MEB-based vehicle won’t be offered in the states. It’s doesn’t rule out a baby Mach-E on another platform. In the U.S., we know that Ford is working on other EVs, including one that will reportedly be Lincoln branded and roll on the Rivian skateboard platform. The second vehicle that Ford is considering on the MEB platform was first tipped back in September.
At the time, the automakers said it didn’t make sense to produce only one MEB platform vehicle. Ford plans to purchase 600,000 MEB platforms from VW. Ford is mysterious about the second EV, only saying it will be “fantastic.” Reports indicate that the ride will go into production in 2023 as the production of the Fiesta is set to end then, opening up production capacity. It’s good news for Mustang fans that no baby Mach-E on the MEB platform is in the works for now.
http://fordauthority.com/2019/12/ford-says-it-has-no-plans-for-baby-mach-e-on-vws-meb-platform/
================================================================================
12/26/19
This news comes via Autoexpress, who cites conversations with Ford representatives. This news comes out of Europe and there's no confirmation if the baby Mach-E will be available in North America (the ID.3 will not be).
New baby Ford Mustang Mach-E to use VW power
Ford is aiming to use its tie-up with Volkswagen on electric vehicle platforms to expand the range of Mustang EVs beyond the recently revealed Mach-E, Auto Express understands.
The US manufacturer caused a storm in November when it revealed the Mustang Mach-E as its first bespoke EV. High-level sources have indicated that Ford is already considering expanding the family to appeal to a wider range of customers.
Speaking to Auto Express, Ford of Europe’s Chief Designer Murat Gueler said: “The Mustang influence wasn’t considered until an earlier direction with the car wasn’t really working. Once we introduced Mustang as inspiration, it came together quickly. We’re really excited by what this brings to the electric car, and yes we have already talked about expansion, to some sort of family.”
Ford already has a plan for smaller EVs – based on an agreement with the VW Group to license its MEB all-electric vehicle platform. But we understand that in early November executives and engineers from Ford met VW counterparts to discuss how the new architecture – which underpins the ID.3 – could be adapted to better fit Ford’s needs.
A particular area raised during the talks is said to be the position of the front bulkhead and cowl – the base of the windscreen, in effect. VW has pushed the cowl relatively far forward, lengthening the gap between the steering wheel and the base of the screen to help fit the augmented-reality head-up display tech from the ID.3. This makes the bonnet quite short, so it’s harder for Ford to create a smaller model with the stance, roofline and profile of a Mustang.
Ted Cannis, global director of electrification at Ford, told us: “It’s key that we have enough flexibility, and it’s important to have enough differentiation and the kind of performance you expect from a Ford. A lot of that was done in the early part of the negotiations with VW. The parameters that we’ve seen, we can make a great Ford.”
Our exclusive images show how a baby Mustang EV could look on the shorter wheelbase of the MEB platform, mixing an aggressive roofline with typical cues around the front and rear lights.
Gueler told us that any smaller Mustang EV would have a different profile than the Mach-E, but the vehicle would almost certainly be a crossover in any case.
The MEB platform can support rear- and four-wheel drive, and it’s likely that Ford would offer both layouts and a number of different battery sizes. That could give the baby Mustang EV up to 302bhp and a 300-mile range.
The deciding factor on badging the smaller EV as a Mustang could be customer reception to the Mach-E. Resistance to the badge – which replaces all Ford branding on the Mach-E – could yet lead to a rethink on how to somehow mix the latest arrivals with the existing model in an EV family.
Speculative renderings:
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