Posted on 04/07/2016 9:00:37 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Two years ago, Ford successfully fought efforts by Tesla Motors to register the name "Model E" for what we now know as the Tesla Model 3, unveiled last week to great fanfare.
Now it appears that the Detroit automaker may plan to use that name itself on a dedicated vehicle coming in 2019 that will be offered as a hybrid, a battery-electric car, and a plug-in hybrid.
If that lineup sounds slightly familiar, it should: it's the same suite of versions that will be offered in the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq.
Adding battery-electric versions of dedicated green vehicles seems to be a new trend, in fact.
Dedicated electric and plug-in hybrid vehcles will be spun out of the upcoming 2017 Honda Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell sedan, according to reports last year.
This week, industry trade journal Automotive News noted that Ford may join the party with a new vehicle to be launched in 2019.
It would be built in a brand-new factory in Mexico that will start producing cars in 2018.
Ford announced this week that it would invest $1.6 billion in the new plant, its first all-new North American assembly plant in more than 20 years.
While the company refused to specify what models would be built there, it is widely assumed that the next-generation Focus compact sedan and hatchback are slated to move to Mexico from their current home in Wayne, Michiganwhich will be converted to production of crossover SUVs and trucks.
The Ford Model E would be derived from the same compact architecture as the next Focus, but with a new and dedicated body that wouldn't have a gasoline-only version.
It would collectively replace the current C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, along with the low-volume Focus Electric
(Excerpt) Read more at greencarreports.com ...
I will never buy a Ford again. Ever. I sure wont pay the tariff.
RE: I sure wont pay the tariff.
We still have NAFTA don’t we?
Ford? Made in Mexico? How’s it going to get over the wall?
Probably the same way Trump’s ties get over the wall.
Actually, Ford fought and won the trademark rights to Model E 14 years ago against a friend of mine. We did parts of our MBAs together at Oxford University.
The guy (the youngest person to ever reach the Executive Ranks at Ford) left to start a specialty automobile manufacturing company in California.
He named it Model E and Ford sued the pants off him to capture the name.
Ford won and the car manufacturing dream died.
The guy is now CEO of Knightscope. They make autonomous robot security guards (of all things).
But Model E has been Ford’s for years...
I grew up in a GM family. I’ve had 5 of them. I’ve also had a British (Triumph, what a POS), a Dodge, Mitsubishi, 4 VW’s (2 classic beetles, 1 new Beetle, and a Rabbit). After the bailout, I bought a Ford.
No more GM’s, Chryslers, or Fords. I’ll be keeping my Nissan Titan and my 69 VW Beetle Convertible.
DC thinks the tax code is a suicide pact.
Eventually the DC class will be left marooned pushing papers around making new rules nobody cares about or enforces.
Ford was said not to have been bailed out but the Government bought their commercial paper which was the same thing. As bad is ford is I wouldn’t buy a Government Motors car if I had to ride the fricken bus!!
I wish Trump would explain how it will be a huge opportunity for those who stay in the States — including startups.
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