Ford’s Upcoming Affordable EV Pickup Truck Is 'Really Not a Pickup,' Says CEO Jim Farley
On August 11, Ford revealed what it called a 'Model T Moment' with the announcement of a very flexible EV platform meant to support several vehicles with a relatively low base price, the first of which would be a pickup truck starting around $30,000. Now, CEO Jim Farley is fleshing out some details about that debut machine—and from the sound of it, the vehicle might be a bit less conventional than we had anticipated.
According to Farley, the vehicle won't actually fit into that 'pickup truck' box so neatly. Speaking on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, Farley described the upcoming truck as borrowing utility cues from pickups while delivering the driving feel of a sports car.
The EV’s new production system will be one component of bringing it to market at a reasonable price, according to Ford.
“Our first body style will be a pickup, but it’s really not a pickup,” Farley said. “I would say it’s a new silhouette. What I mean by that is that it has more room than a RAV4, the best-selling passenger car in the U.S. That doesn’t include its frunk and pickup truck bed. It is very fast, it’s rear-wheel-drive, it’s super fun to drive, and it has a digital experience that no one’s seen—even in China.”
Did you pick up on what we did? Rear-wheel-drive for good dynamics, 'fun to drive,' more spacious than a RAV4, cargo space that includes a bed and a frunk, and a digital experience that will also make waves. That indeed is something we've never seen before ... and would be eager to lay out hands on. And while we don't know exactly what form this new 'silhouette' will take, we do have a few educated guesses on what to expect.
Ford Maverick
The 'pickup' that isn't a pickup will likely slot between the Maverick and Ranger in size. It'll almost certainly leverage aerodynamic styling to make the most of its EV powertrain, and it's clear now that Ford will imbue it with a lot of useful interior technology. Previously, Ford hinted it'll be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost. Rear-wheel-drive is clearly in the cards, and we can't help but think AWD will be as well.
The Ford Ranchero.
One other note: Ford has filed a trademark for the Ranchero name, which was previously used on a two-door car with a truck bed. That would indeed be a newish shape for today's American market; a four-door trucklet hasn't existed here since the Subaru Baja, and domestic brands haven't built anything like that for several decades.
Production is supposed to start in 2027 at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant. Until then, Ford's 'not a pickup' truck will remain an intriguing mystery.
