In Ford's EV push, 3 gas models out

The Ford brand has taken a two-pronged approach to its product lineup, offering high- margin gasoline models in select segments while slowly ramping up electric vehicle production.

Although the company is finding the electric transition to be harder than previously expected — it delayed some production goals this year — executives are speeding ahead with development of a second-generation platform to underpin EVs assembled at the new Blue Oval City plant in Tennessee and a retooled plant in Oakville, Ontario.

CEO Jim Farley recently said the company plans to quadruple hybrid sales in the next five years, following success with hybrid Maverick and F-150 pickups.

Meanwhile, three longtime products — the Escape, Edge and Transit Connect — are slated for the scrap heap.

E-Transit: Ford Pro, the company's commercial business unit, boosted the range of the E-Transit this year by 48 percent with a model that can travel up to 186 miles on a charge. The longer-range option, with faster charging capabilities, is an improvement over the base model's 126-mile range. Ford plans to redesign the E-Transit on a new EV platform and shift production to Ohio Assembly in 2026.

F-150 Lightning: Ford continues to ramp up production of its electric pickup, with plans to reach an annual run rate of 150,000 per year by the end of 2023. The company is expected to launch Lightning variants aimed at specific customer groups. Farley teased a high-performance model this year, although it's unclear if that's a concept or a production vehicle. The Lightning's future, however, is murky. It's expected to stay in production after another full-size electric pickup launches in 2025 but could be discontinued as early as 2026.

Electric pickup: The exact nature of Ford's second-generation electric pickup, to be built at Blue Oval City in 2025, remains unclear. Officials this year said the project's internal name is T3, short for "trust the truck," a mantra engineers and designers have used while developing it. Farley has said it will be a "platform for endless innovation and capability" that will require significantly fewer parts than today's pickups. It's still unclear if the truck will be badged as an F-150 Lightning or carry a new name. Ford says Blue Oval City will be able to produce up to 500,000 pickups a year.

Explorer-size EV: Details of the long-awaited Explorer-size EV have started to trickle out. Ford executives this year said the "affordable" three-row crossover will have a 350-mile range. What remains unclear is whether the vehicle will keep the Explorer moniker. It will be built at Oakville Assembly once it converts to an EV facility in 2025.

Mustang Mach-E: U.S. sales of the Mach-E are down 21 percent this year through July, though Ford says demand for its electric crossover remains strong. It attributes part of the sales slump to extended downtime at its Cuautitlan, Mexico, plant to boost production capacity. Ford said all standard-range models soon will offer lithium iron phosphate batteries, enabling all-wheel-drive configurations to gain 45 hp and improving the driving range of rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models. These models will also be able to charge faster, Ford said. The standard-range, rwd Mustang Mach-E now has an estimated range of 250 miles, while the awd model has a range of 226 miles. Ford plans to introduce a Rally performance variant this year. A next-generation Mach-E is planned in 2027. Production will continue in Mexico.

Super Duty: A recent redesign to the Super Duty lineup has helped push U.S. sales of Ford's F-Series pickups up 25 percent this year through July. The redesign included two new engine options, an embedded 5G modem with over-the-air update compatibility, an onboard generator and an upfit integration system for fleet buyers. It's one of Ford's most profitable line of products, so expect regular updates, including a freshening in 2026.

F-150: The crown jewel of Ford's lineup will be freshened early next year. Ford plans to unveil the midcycle updates, which will apply to both the gasoline and hybrid versions, at the Detroit auto show in mid-September. Cosmetic changes will include updated designs of the taillights and grille, according to recent spy photos. The company this year launched a 700- hp Raptor R variant, meant for desert-racing enthusiasts. The F-150 is due for a redesign on a new platform in 2026.

Ranger: The next-generation 2024 Ranger, which should be shipping to customers within weeks, has an expanded engine lineup that includes a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, larger interior touchscreens and more aggressive exterior styling that mirrors the design of Ford's larger F-Series trucks. Ford's also — finally — introducing a Ranger Raptor variant, powered by the 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 from the Bronco Raptor that shares its platform. Ford says the Ranger can tow 7,500 pounds and carry a 1,805-pound payload. The product will receive a midcycle freshening in 2027, when Ford is expected to add a hybrid powertrain.

Maverick: Ford's small truck is a big hit, and the automaker can barely keep up with demand. Farley recently said the hybrid version is particularly popular, making up nearly 60 percent of all orders. Executives have suggested the Maverick could become its own subbrand akin to Bronco and Mustang. An off-road Tremor version was unveiled last year. The package, available on XLT and Lariat models, includes a 1-inch lift for improved ground clearance as well as specially designed front and rear suspensions to boost off-road capabilities. Expect a freshening late next year, followed by a redesign in 2027.

Transit: Ford is spicing up its van lineup with the Transit Trail, a lifestyle vehicle aimed at a younger crowd. It's expected to go on sale in the coming weeks. Beyond that, the company has no major updates planned for the van, which will continue to be built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.

Transit Connect: Ford confirmed this year that it will discontinue the Transit Connect in the U.S. after the 2023 model, although the product will live on in Europe.

Expedition: Ford's full-size SUV is having an excellent sales year, with U.S. deliveries up 48 percent through July despite increased competition from the recently redesigned Chevrolet Tahoe and the Jeep Wagoneer. To help keep pace, a redesign is planned for the first half of next year.

Bronco: The Bronco is at the core of Ford's strategy to offer exciting gasoline-powered brands that can extend to multiple performance-oriented derivatives. Expect a freshening in the second half of next year, with a potential hybrid variant to directly compete against the Jeep Wrangler 4xe.

Explorer: The Explorer remains one of Ford's most profitable utility vehicles, although this generation has been plagued by quality issues since launch. Ford plans to freshen the Explorer early next year with exterior design tweaks and updated infotainment screens. No major updates are planned in the foreseeable future.

Edge: The Edge will be discontinued next year as Ford prepares to convert the Oakville Assembly plant where it is built to an EV facility.

Bronco Sport: The Bronco Sport has been a hit, nearly outselling the Escape, with which it shares a platform. U.S. sales are up 15 percent this year through July. Last year, Ford introduced a Heritage model with a two-tone paint job that pays homage to retro-styled Broncos of the past. This year, it introduced the Free Wheeling edition, also paying tribute to past designs. The automaker is expected to freshen the crossover in the second half of 2024. A hybrid variant will be part of that midcycle update.

Escape: Ford freshened the Escape crossover this year with the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, over-the-air software update compatibility and an updated front end with an optional light bar. The plug-in hybrid Escape, introduced in 2021, continues but has become a separate trim. A standard hybrid variant also is available. As things stand now, however, Ford has no plans for a next-generation gasoline or hybrid model. Production is expected to end in 2025 before an electric crossover replaces it.

Mustang: The seventh-generation Mustang is arriving at dealerships in the coming weeks. The interior has a curved digital display made up of a 13.2-inch center screen and 12.4- inch instrument cluster. Ford removed physical buttons for the radio and climate control, moving those functions onto the center screen. Some of the digital displays and instrument gauge settings are similar to those found on the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. The redesigned Mustang also gets a new steering wheel design with a flat bottom. In terms of power, Ford is offering updated versions of the current 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder and 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 with a manual transmission. The company also is launching a 500-hp Dark Horse variant. Ford this month said it will expand the Mustang subbrand with the $300,000-and-up GTD, billed as the fastest street-legal pony car. It's a road version of the Mustang GT3 race car, and will go into limited production in late 2024 or early 2025. The Mustang will be the last of the gasoline-powered pony cars. Expect multiple special editions and variants, but no major updates are currently planned.