Mustang, F150, and others get a hybrid by 2020 say Ford
The Ford Mustang, long held high as a pillar of automotive larrikinism and laughs, is set to gain a hybrid option by the year 2020 — as confirmed in a new release from Ford.
According to the release, Ford will build “a hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque. The Mustang Hybrid, built at the Flat Rock Plant, debuts in 2020 and will be available in the North America to start.”
The hybrid Mustang is one of 13 electricity flavoured vehicles the blue oval have confirmed will roll out over the next five years. The remainder of these include:
• A Ford F150 hybrid
• A “small electric crossover/SUV” (“engineered to deliver an estimated range of at least 300 miles”)
• A high-volume autonomous hybrid (“designed for commercial ride hailing or ride sharing”)
• A police Interceptor hybrid for the US market
• A Transit Custom plug-in hybrid for Europe
• And 20 Transit Connect hybrid taxis that will test in the US
Apart from the Mustang, the F150 also represents a coup for the company, with the platform set to “offer powerful towing and payload capacity and operate as a mobile generator.” That will make it a popular choice among the commercial set, though it's unlikely to see our shores.
It's been reported elsewhere that Ford plan to develop a wireless charging system that utilizes automatic charging mats, to stifle any need for messy cables.
The announcement arrives hand-in-hand with news that Ford have cancelled plans to build a $2.3 billion dollar (NZD) assembly plant in Mexico, reportedly as a direct result of President Elect Donald Trump's focus on domestic jobs and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Simultaneously, $6.5 billion dollars (NZD) have been invested into this electric-car program, with a healthy chunk of that number to be pumped into the expansion of their Flat Rock assembly plant in Michigan.
A hybrid Ford Mustang is somewhat inevitable. Electric power is, as underlined by everything that proudly adorns the ‘Tesla’ name, exceptionally fast thanks to stupendous amounts of torque, as well as better for the emissions and the environment.
However, the proof will be in the pudding as to whether Mustang faithful will adopt the world's first hybrid muscle car in numbers.