Ford reveals 16 new electrified models

Ford has revealed 16 new electrified models, with eight due to be on the road by the end of 2019.

The vehicles include an all-new Explorer and all-new Kuga, as well as Focus, Fiesta, Transit 2-tonne, Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom models, at the ‘Go Further’ event in Amsterdam.

All of these models are either hybrid, mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid. However a pure electric Transit was confirmed, and a ‘graphic’ of the rear end of a Mustang-based EV was previewed – with a 370 mile electric range. A glimpse was also provided of the all-new Ford Puma, although it was mostly concealed behind smoke and lasers.

Steven Armstrong, group vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, and incoming chairman, Ford of Europe, and Stuart Rowley, incoming president, Ford of Europe, announced the range of new electrified models.

Ford Kuga

The all-new Kuga SUV will be the first Ford to offer mild, plug-in and full-hybrid powertrains.

The line-up includes the Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid (mild hybrid) and Kuga Hybrid (full hybrid) variants, alongside Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel, 1.5‑litre EcoBlue diesel and 1.5‑litre EcoBoost petrol engines.

The Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, available from launch, combines a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, electric motor and generator, and 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery to produce 225 PS. This will be Ford’s first plug-in hybrid in Europe to deliver a pure electric driving range in excess of 31 miles, and it is expected to deliver CO2 emissions from 29 g/km.

The Kuga is also the first SUV to be based on Ford’s new global C2 architecture, delivering 10 per cent more torsional stiffness and up to 90 kg weight reduction versus the outgoing Kuga.

It is anticipated that to fully charge the battery from an external 230 volt electricity supply will take around 4 hours.

Drivers can choose when and how to deploy battery power using EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge modes. When the battery reaches its lowest state-of-charge, the Kuga automatically reverts to EV Auto mode – supplementing petrol engine power with electric motor assistance using recaptured energy for optimised fuel-efficiency.

The Kuga Hybrid uses a self-charging full hybrid powertrain that enables pure-electric driving capability and combines a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine, electric motor, generator, lithium-ion battery and a Ford-developed power-split automatic transmission. The Kuga Hybrid will be available later in 2020 with front-wheel drive and Ford Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, delivering from an anticipated 130 g/km CO2.

The all-new Kuga EcoBlue Hybrid enhances Ford’s 150 PS 2.0‑litre EcoBlue diesel engine with mild hybrid technology. The 48-volt system also enables the all-new Kuga’s Auto Start-Stop technology to operate in more situations for additional fuel savings, contributing to anticipated CO2 emissions from 132 g/km.

All-new Kuga customers can also choose from a range of Ford EcoBoost petrol and Ford EcoBlue diesel engines.

The 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine is offered with 120 PS and 150 PS and is anticipated to deliver 149 g/km CO2 emissions supported by Ford’s industry-first cylinder deactivation system for a three-cylinder engine. The technology canautomatically stop one of the engine’s cylinders when full capacity is not needed, such as when coasting or cruising with light demand on the engine. Cylinder deactivation can disengage or re-engage one cylinder in 14 milliseconds. Particulate emissions are reduced using standard gasoline particulate filter technology.

The 180 PS 2.0‑litre EcoBlue engine is anticipated to deliver 150 g/km CO2 emissions, with the 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine producing 120 PS and 127 g/km CO2 emissions. The all-new Kuga’s 180 PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine is combined with Ford Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.

Ford Puma

Although only a hybrid rather than a plug-in hybrid or pure EV, the Puma is significant for being an-all new crossover model, which will sit between the EcoSport and the Kuga, and is due to go on sale at the end of 2019. The Puma will feature Ford EcoBoost Hybrid 48-volt technology, with a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (BISG) enabling recovery and storage of energy usually lost during braking and coasting to charge a 48‑volt lithium-ion air-cooled battery pack. The BISG also acts as a motor, integrating with a three-cylinder 1.0‑litre EcoBoost petrol engine.

Ford Explorer

An all-new seven-seat Ford Explorer Plug-In Hybrid SUV was unveiled, but this will only be available in left-hand drive markets. The Explorer Plug-In Hybrid will have a 25-mile electric range and a 2,500kg towing capacity.

Ford Focus & Fiesta

The Focus EcoBoost Hybrid, with CO2 emissions of 106 g/km, and the Fiesta EcoBoost Hybrid, with 112g/km CO2, will feature 48-volt mild hybrid architecture and will be introduced next year.

Ford Transit & Tourneo

Ford is also introducing mild-hybrid powertrain solutions to enhance the fuel-efficiency of the Transit 2-tonne EcoBlue Hybrid (144 g/km CO2) and Transit Custom EcoBlue Hybrid (139g/km CO2) vans, and the Tourneo Custom EcoBlue Hybrid eight/nine-seater people-mover (137g/km CO2), on sale later this year.

A plug-in hybrid Transit, which operates as a range-extender, is due later in 2019, with a 31 mile electric range, and a pure electric Transit will follow in 2021. There will also be a plug-in hybrid Tourneo Custom.

Ford may be coming late to the electric vehicle party, but with these announcements the company is certainly making every effort to catch-up. The focus was more on hybrids than pure EVs, in an effort to keep the cars affordable, but good to see that pure EVs such as the Transit – which is a really important vehicle to help improve local air quality in urban areas – will be coming over the next few years.

Paul Clarke