The EV demonstrator can handle 6,900 lbs of downforce at 150 mph — which, you know, is insane.
The Blue Oval aims to tackle America’s mountain with a new Mustang Mach-E derived demonstrator with French racing impresario Romain Dumas behind the wheel. This is the third consecutive year that Ford is competing with an electric demonstrator at Pikes Peak, following the SuperVan 4.2 and F-150 Lightning SuperTruck.
China has implemented new export controls for rare earth minerals and magnets. The changes could upend the shift to electric vehicles.
Beginning May 2nd, prices on vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E EV could jump as much as $2,000, which Ford says will arrive in US dealer lots by late June. The news comes after Ford declared the Trump administration’s tariffs are adding about $2.5 billion of costs for the company in 2025.
The automaker’s software chief Doug Field explains why the company cancelled its ‘FNV4’ project, and why a domain-style system may work better for Ford’s gas and hybrid vehicles.
The automaker started by offering nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries in its electric vehicles, and later added lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2023. “LMR is the answer to ‘what next?’” writes Charles Poon, Ford’s Global Director for Electrified Propulsion Engineering. LMR stands for “Lithium Manganese Rich,” which Poon says is safer, denser, and more cost-effective than other chemistries. And they’re coming close to fruition.
This isn’t just a lab experiment. We’re actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade. The team is already producing our second-gen LMR cells at our pilot line.
That stands for “extended range electric vehicle,” basically plug-in hybrids with a small internal combustion engine to recharge the EV battery for more range. Ram and VW-backed Scout were the first to announce EREV plans, and now the Blue Oval is working on its own, according to Bloomberg. Ford is getting its clock cleaned by Tesla and GM on EV sales, so the automaker is turning to new powertrains to tide customers over while they wait for its Silicon Valley-based skunkworks team to crack the code on cheap EVs.
[bloomberg.com]
Canadians can now take advantage of the recently extended Ford Power Promise promotion, which includes a free home charger plus standard installation, 24/7 live EV support, and access to the BlueOval charging network. You must buy or lease a new Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, or an E-Transit vehicle between February 1st and March 31st to take advantage. In Quebec, the charger plus installation costs $2,450 plus tax.
As reported by TechCrunch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expanding the investigation into the driver-assistance software, which was announced last April.
The NHTSA’s analysis found that “system limitations relating to the detection of stationary vehicles while traveling at highway speeds and in nighttime lighting conditions appear to be factors in collisions under investigation and several apparently similar near-miss, non-crash reports.”
Ford UI supervisor Ruth Vann shares news on a Sync 4A update that puts all the camera feeds on one screen, migrates settings like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Zone Lighting into easier-to-access apps, and merges audio sources into one Media app.
Less touching and more eyes on the road is probably better for anyone driving an almost 7,000-pound electric pickup.
Jim Farley relayed his experience driving the Xiaomi SU7 EV in the US for the last six months on the Everything Electric podcast recently. Ford flew one out from China so he could live with it every day. “I don’t want to give it up,” Farley said. That said, he said he’s confident that Ford is taking the threat of Chinese EVs seriously, touting the company’s “skunkworks team” in Silicon Valley that’s at work on the next-gen EV platform.
An annual subscription to BlueCruise will now cost $495, down from $800, while a monthly subscription is reduced to $49.99 from $75. Ford’s also offering a new one-time payment for BlueCruise at $2,495, or a one-year purchase of $495 — for those that are ready to fully embrace the hands-free lifestyle.
Ford has a good thing going with its next-gen infotainment system — whether you use CarPlay or not.
In another sign that automakers are confused about how their customers want to spend their time while confined in their vehicles, Ford released a new karaoke app for the F-150 Lightning and (eventually) the Mustang Mach-E. The process only works while the vehicle is parked, leading Ford to assume this will be a popular activity while EV charging. Me? I’ll take “wandering aimlessly through a Walmart” over this.
Predictably, the actual process to use the new app is hilariously complicated.
The driver-side door keypad was once standard on America’s best-selling vehicle. No longer, reports The Drive, as it will now become a $455 dealer option. I suppose the silver lining is that Ford isn’t trying to turn it into a subscription.
The Drive also points us to this excellent essay about the difference between “tiered permissions and variable access” which is totally worth a read in light of this news.
These high-speed electric models follow in the footsteps of 120 years of Ford racing.
