Ford "Mustang-inspired" E-SUV? What the Berkeley?

I've seen a lot of news blurbs about an unveiling next month, though no sources I particularly want to single out for a link. It won't be hard to find it in a quick search.

I... I don't know. Even if it's a really neat vehicle, I'm not a little bit put off by the attempt to trade on the Mustang's image for a vehicle so totally unrelated. I'm trying not to let that be the primary thing I notice about it, but unfortunately that's most of the info that's available. There's mention of a 300-mile range, but we're totally in the rumor and innuendo phase. At least if they actually unveil 11/17/2019 we'll be put out of our underinformed misery relatively quickly.

its likely going to be based on the mustang platform since that is all they have left

Meh.  BMW, Mercedes, and a number of other companies are making a lot of money selling lifted sedans with squashed rooflines.

For whatever reason.  I don't understand it.  But they are.

Ford might as well cash in on the stupidity, too.

also see mazdas MX-30 concept

Duke said:

Meh.  BMW, Mercedes, and a number of other companies are making a lot of money selling lifted sedans with squashed rooflines.

For whatever reason.  I don't understand it.  But they are.

Ford might as well cash in on the stupidity, too.

 

So people can see out of them. It's a negative feedback loop.

People started buying SUVs/Trucks because "reasons" then people in normal-sized vehicles lose visibility (both seeing and being seen) in traffic, so now they want something that is higher up for better visibility and the circle continues. 

I remember when I had my lowered BRZ. My eye level was at the near the bottom of the door for most normal trucks and SUVs. Lifted ones? Sometimes I could see the frame without tilting my head down. 

The original reported name was going to be the ford Mach 1 now it sounds like it will be the ford Mach e. Either way still trading on a legendary mustang name.

Who cares what the name is? Judge the vehicle.

Mustang-inspired just means it will share some styling cues, like a Porsche Cayenne was 911-inspired.

It'll be a lifted mustang, four doors, eco toast power (Or is it just E-toast now?), look like a mustang in front, exploder in back, and annoy everything around you. 
 

cue "flight of the bumblebee". 

Psst! You missed the part about it being an EV.

Keith Tanner said:

Who cares what the name is? Judge the vehicle.

Absolutely. Kinda wish I hadn't heard anything in advance, as there's no substance to judge yet, and the info they've chosen to tease with makes it a somewhat unpleasant curiosity.

Keith Tanner said:

Psst! You missed the part about it being an EV.

Yeah I know. I use that terminology broadly. Basically anything from ford that "eco" minded gets the "eco toast" dub. But E-toast sounds better now. 

I think it's a risky, but possibly smart move.  The Mustang is iconic, but they're not changing the Mustang itself a-la the nearly Mustang Probe fiasco.  Also the "Mach-whatever" name I think is a great choice.  Mach is word associated with fast.  The Mach-1 itself is not that iconic outside of "car guy" circles (who probably won't buy an electric CUV in the first place), and while 1st gens are cool, let's not pretent like it hasn't already been adorned on a V6 Mustang II, and the Mach-E twist gives enough legacy to let you know it's (potentially) a special model.  

The mention above about Porsche design influenced SUV's draws heritage to a sporting past, with a functional future.  

I don't know if they have the brand cache to pull it off, but CUV's matter more than cars in the sales game, so winning the "electric car war" is a losing game in the first place.  The first real winner in the electric CUV space will move the metal.  

Give it range, solid dynamics, and real character (possible with the Mustang design influence) and I will absolutely judge it on it's own merits.  Not holding my breath they'll get it all right, but it has potential.  Lincoln's SUV design team has been killing it lately, so the talent is there within the corporate umbrella.  

The vague profile image I've seen is interesting... kinda looks like a Mustang wagon, which is something I'd want. 

I'm still more interested in an EV van than anything else, but I'll also withhold judgment until we see it next month.

Guys, I watched this thing grow for several years.  It started as a bare bones Prius fighter that (thankfully) changed direction into what you'll soon see. It's an awesome looking all electric crossover on a new platform.  It looks stunning and the interior is awesome too.  Ford may have downsized me, but I can honestly say this thing is awesome and I wish them well with it.  The original suggestion of naming it the Mach-1 was stupid and everyone outside of marketing laughed and cringed as soon as it was mentioned, luckily they moved away from that.   There are Mustang design cues, but nothing that compromises it, or takes away from the Mustang as a stand alone sports/GT/Muscle car.

This outline basically shows you what will be revealed.  I think you'll all like it.

I wonder of the launch will be this bad or worse

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-21/ford-botches-explorer-launch-putting-ceo-back-on-the-hot-seat

https://jalopnik.com/the-launch-of-the-new-ford-explorer-has-been-a-mess-1839224574

Adrian_Thompson said:

This outline w/ mustang or even focus roof height will be awesome. If it is as tall as an escape or explorer it'll be lame. My opinion, of course.

In reply to barefootskater :

My WAG: it'll be similar to a BMW X6 in profile.

Secret spy shot

In reply to Ian F :

Adrian_Thompson said:

I wonder how much (if anything) it will share with the i-pace?

Jaguar hasn't been owned by Ford for over a decade.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Point taken. I guess that shows how closely I've been following things...

I guess it goes along with still thinking of our 2010 and 2011 cars a fairly new, until I do the math and realize they are coming up on 9 and 10 years old. 

Ian F said:

In reply to barefootskater :

My WAG: it'll be similar to a BMW X6 in profile.

I concur, which makes me an outlier in Adrian's "I think you'll all like it" dataset.  I hate X6s with the white-hot fury of a thousand suns, and I generally like BMWs.  Or used to, anyway.

No Time said:

I wonder how much (if anything) it will share with the i-pace?

That would be SO MUCH BETTER if the wheels were 2" smaller, the wheel arches correspondingly rescaled, and the shoulder line was pushed down to approximately where the top of the taillight is now.

Instead it looks like a pinheaded fashion victim wearing oversized clown shoes.

No Time said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

I guess it goes along with still thinking of our 2010 and 2011 cars a fairly new, until I do the math and realize they are coming up on 9 and 10 years old. 

I can identify with that!