Volkswagen-Based Electric Ford – Looking Ahead

Highlights

• Format of ID4
• First Ford on VW’s MEB base
• Less expensive than Mustang Mach-E
• MEB as an ‘interim solution’

With the stubborn, tough Mustang Mach-E, Ford is participating nicely in EV land. At the same time, the product range is somewhat limited. The electric Mustang is fun, but compared to many alternatives, it is quite expensive. Particularly among this image maker, there is room for expansion, and that is on its way. Ford is even in a hurry and that explains why the Americans buy the platform from Volkswagen. In the near future, two electric Fords will appear on the MEB platform on the European market, on which the ID models from Volkswagen, the Cupra Born, the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Skoda Enyaq also rest. The first of those two will be a crossover in the segment of that Skoda and the Volkswagen ID4. An understandable choice, because this class, which is populated by the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6, among others, is very popular.

Short nose

The still unnamed newcomer from Ford will soon be a bit smaller than the Mustang Mach-E, but is mainly distinguished by its proportions. The Mustang appears to be a fairly traditional car, with a long, bold nose and a well-defined grille element reminiscent of a ‘real’ Mustang. The voluptuous fenders are also typical of the electric Mustang. The new car is of a completely different cut. Just like the ID4 and the Enyaq, it has a fairly short nose and a relatively long passenger cabin. The body is slightly narrower and more elongated, partly as a result of the long wheelbase.

First electric Ford with Blue Oval

The design is tighter than the voluptuous Mustang and of course we do not find any Mustang features in the newcomer. That means the birth of the first electric Ford with the iconic ‘Blue Oval’ badge on the nose and butt, and also without the Mustang as a base. That’s what makes his appearance so interesting. The images on these pages are based on espionage footage and contain at least some truth. Although the proportions of the ID4, Enqay and Q4 are reflected in it, it is immediately noticeable that Ford showers the newcomer with its own sauce. Even details such as wing mirrors, A-pillars and door handles seem to come from Ford’s shelves, while these parts often use parts from the base car for similar constructions. For the nose we count on a sleek, body-colored whole with a small cooling opening at the bottom of the nose, as the electric Volkswagens have. At the rear, a fashionable light bar cannot be ruled out, but we in any case expect a completely different look than with the Mustang Mach-E with its six vertical LED elements.

Ford MEB SUV (Illustration Larson).

Cologne

We shouldn’t expect any big surprises under the skin. After all, it is ‘just’ an MEB product. We count on specifications that are similar or even identical to those of the ID.4 and Enyaq. It is possible that Ford limits the range somewhat, because that is often part of the deal with derivatives. A powertrain that will undoubtedly be available is the very popular option with a 77-kWh battery and 204 horsepower on the rear wheels. We expect a range of more than 500 kilometers for this variant, comparable to the sister models. The range can be expanded at the bottom with a 58-kWh version, while four-wheel drives are also possible. How much Ford does its best to distinguish the new car from the Volkswagen products, is shown by the fact that it ‘just’ rolls off the production line in Cologne, at Ford itself. Construction is likely to start this year. We hope to be able to see the new electric Ford in full regalia very soon.