Ford of Europe has teased an upcoming electric SUV, which it’s referring to only as Medium-size Crossover for now, ahead of its reveal on March 21.
It will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric architecture, which underpins models like the Volkswagen ID.4.
Ford Model e Europe general manager Martin Sander posted a short 12-second video on Twitter with Ford of Europe design director Amko Leenarts previewing about the upcoming crossover’s wheel design.
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“I think you deserve to show a little bit more of the car,” said Mr Leenarts.
“So this is the final design model that we’ve signed off quite a while ago.”
The wheel has a silver and black two-tone finish with a pentagonal design. It doesn’t look like any other wheel design in the current Ford line-up.
This latest teaser appears to be part of a longer video as there are other vehicles under wraps in the background. The teased crossover also appears to be the same car as the one posted by Mr Sander on Twitter late last year.
Another shadowy teaser image of the yet-unnamed SUV was published on Ford of Europe’s blog at the same time.
As previously reported, this SUV has a fairly upright body, with LED daytime running lights up front somewhat reminiscent of the Explorer and Edge, and an upkick of the belt line towards the C-pillar.
The body appears more crisply styled than the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 it’ll share its underpinnings with, with the boxier than the unrelated Mustang Mach-E it’ll share showroom space with.
Ford had already previewed this electric crossover along with another MEB-based EV called the “Sport Crossover”. Both of these will be built at the Blue Oval’s plant in Cologne, Germany.
It’s unclear how large the so-called Sport Crossover will be, though it could be a sleeker but similarly sized counterpart to the Medium-size Crossover.
At this stage, no plans have been announced to sell either outside of Europe.
The company is also reportedly looking to launch EVs from the middle of the decade with its own in-house electric architecture instead, which is being engineered in the US.
Ford plans to have nine EVs on sale in Europe by 2024, which includes five van or van-based models.
The company has invested US$2 billion (A$2.97 billion) in modernising its Cologne, Germany plant, which currently builds the Fiesta, and will start production of one EV there from late next year. Fiesta production wraps up in June.
Ford will have an entirely electric passenger vehicle range in Europe by 2030, with each model line being “zero-emissions capable” by 2026 – whether that be a plug-in hybrid or a full EV.
Its commercial vehicle range will be zero-emissions capable by 2024, with the E-Transit to be joined by the E-Transit Custom and a plug-in hybrid Ranger. By 2030, it expects two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales to consist of PHEVs or EVs.
Ford is ending production of the Fiesta and Focus – following the axing of the European Mondeo – and focusing on SUVs, commercial vehicles, and the Mustang in Europe.
It also says it’s rediscovering its “adventurous spirit”, and will emphasise its American identity.
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