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Earlier this year, Ford announced a strong focus on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles, with plans calling for a $ 4.5 billion investment to develop and produce 13 new electrified models by 2020. While two of those projects seem especially daunting—creating desirable hybrid versions of two icons, the F-150 and the Mustang—we’ve learned a little more about other vehicles that are part of this initiative.
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For 2019, expect plug-in hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and the Lincoln MKC, along with hybrid versions of the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator. These new offerings are likely to give Ford’s fleet fuel-economy average a healthy nudge upward.
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As reported by Automotive News, citing “sources with knowledge of Ford’s product plans,” all of these models are planned and will be joined by the Mustang and F-150 hybrids in 2020.
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The previous Escape hybrid was sold through the 2012 model year but was dropped in favor of the C-Max conventional hybrid and the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid. Both Ford C-Max models are expected to be discontinued within the next year.
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The other missing piece is an electric-only crossover, potentially called the Model E, which Ford plans to have in showrooms by 2020. Ford has already said that it’s aiming to make the model affordable, meaning it would take on the upcoming Tesla Model Y and all-electric crossovers from Volvo and Volkswagen, among others.
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- Ford’s 300-Mile All-Electric Crossover: Affordability Is Job One?
- Volvo Electric Car to Be Priced against Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Electrified Icons: Ford Mustang and Ford F-150 Hybrids Coming by 2020
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Ford also is in the midst of reassessing its global product plan and perhaps even increasing the number of electrified projects beyond the already confirmed 13. Last week, the company announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to create a new joint venture with Anhui Zotye Automobile, a Chinese electric-vehicle maker and, according to Ford, one of the market leaders in all-electric small vehicles. It’s exploring the possibility of setting up a new EV brand as well as a joint venture but hasn’t yet begun either of those processes.
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Will Ford become even more bullish on EVs? It should all become much clearer on October 3, when CEO Jim Hackett is expected to provide a “strategic update” to investors.
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