- Ford will launch a mid-size, four-door electric ute in 2027 starting at around $NZ50k.
- The ute will match Mustang Ecoboost acceleration and offer RAV4-level cabin space.
- New modular EV platform with lithium-iron-phosphate structural batteries will reduce weight and production costs.
Ford has pulled the covers off plans for a brand-new, all-electric mid-size ute, and the price tag is going to make a few rivals sweat.
Due in 2027 and starting from just US$30,000 (about NZ$50,000), the four-door EV will roll out of Ford’s Louisville plant and slot beneath the North American-exclusive F-150 Lightning in size.
Far from a stripped-back eco special, Ford says this new ute will match a Mustang Ecoboost for speed, hinting at a 0 to 100km/h time in the mid-five-second range, while offering Toyota RAV4-level cabin space.
There’s also a frunk up front for car-like storage and a lockable tray long enough for surfboards or other awkwardly sized cargo.
Room to move (and room to grow)
The ute will ride on Ford’s brand-new modular EV platform, which the carmaker says can underpin everything from compact vans to three-row SUVs. This architecture is leaner than traditional designs: 20% fewer parts, 25% fewer fasteners, 40% fewer assembly workstations - and, according to Ford, 15% quicker to build.
CEO Jim Farley says the wiring alone is 1.3km shorter and 10kg lighter than in its first-generation electric SUV.
Battery tech will also be different, with lithium-iron-phosphate packs forming part of the vehicle’s structure. These are lighter, more compact and cheaper to produce, helping Ford aim for a five-year running cost lower than a Tesla Model Y.
Production line, reimagined
Ford’s Universal EV production system will ditch the traditional straight-line assembly for a branching “assembly tree,” building the front, rear and battery pack in parallel before combining them.
Large single-piece aluminium castings and pre-organised part kits are designed to make life easier for workers, boosting build speed by up to 40% for this model.
It’s not all about the new, though, as the shift to EVs at Louisville will spell the end for the Escape SUV and its Lincoln Corsair twin, both of which will bow out as production gears up for Ford’s cheaper electric ute and the wider family of EVs set to follow.