Ford Performance commits to electrification

Ultra-fast Ford Performance versions of the battery-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning are on their way.

The Blue Oval brand’s tuning shop will also add electric assistance to its range of internal combustion models and is confident it will boost the capability of even its hi-po desert-runner Raptor range including the Aussie-developed Ford Ranger.

“We are the dominant company, Raptor is dominant in its segment and we are going to continue to be dominant when we start to go to electrification in that segment,” Ali Jammoul, Ford global vehicle director for vehicle programs, Icons and Ford Performance, told carsales.

Electrification is a big step for Ford Performance, which is associated with powerful internal combustion engines. It is positioned within the new Ford structure in the Blue (ICE) division. EVs are in the ‘Model e’ division.

Ford has so far launched the five-door Mustang Mach-E crossover and is about to start rolling out the F-150 Lightning electric pick-up. But an ongoing flow of electrified models is promised and Jammoul says Ford Performance will upgrade them.

“We have some wonderful platforms that we are working on, so clearly as we go towards the future we will be electrifying some of these vehicles, for sure, absolutely,” he added.

Ford Performance has dabbled in electrification with the current flagship of the Mach-E range, the GT Performance Edition, which already makes 358kW and 860Nm. It also has shown off the seven-motor Mach-E 1400 Prototype and released an e-motor crate engine.

But Jammoul says Ford Performance can take the Mach-E further. Ford’s traditional Mustang coupe and convertible models including the Shelby GT350 and GT500 are already Ford Performance models, but not the EV.

“The Mustang has been known for its capability, agility, dynamics and fun to drive, so the current Mustang Mach-E platform can for sure go into even higher performance as we go into the future.

“There is nothing in the books that says you can’t deliver that wonderful performance, that kind of DNA we have in Mustang in the future, even beyond what we have in Musang Mach-E today.”

Local confirmation of the Mach-E range is expected soon.

The F-150 Lightning has been met with an overwhelming response in North America, where 200,000 reservations have been placed so far.  Its most potent mainstream variant makes 420kW from dual e-motors and accelerates to 97km/h (60mph) in under 4.5 seconds.

That’s 0.7sec better than the standard twin-turbo V6-powered F-150 Raptor and about the same as the forthcoming supercharged V8-powered Raptor R.

The top speed of the Lightning, however, is only claimed to be 177km/h (110mph), which is lower than either ICE F-150 Raptors.

Jammoul is bullish about what Ford Performance can deliver to the electrified pick-up, especially when combined with existing chassis and dynamics expertise within the division.

“That’s really what excites me about what we have here. I have some really good architectures to do that and frankly that goes not only for F-150 architecture, but Ranger architecture, Mach-E architecture. The opportunities are great.”

Jammoul was most enthusiastic about the upside of electrification for Ford Performance’s Raptor line-up, which also includes the 300kW Bronco Raptor.

He cited the instant torque and response e-motors deliver as a key asset.

“There will be new capability that comes with electrification, electric vehicles, that even makes the Raptor even more capable and that’s the part that excites me the most.”

The new Ranger’s third-generation T6 architecture has been designed to accommodate multi-energy solutions (as Fords dubs them), which means mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and potentially even full-EV applications.

Jammoul stressed Ford Performance would have to ensure its electrified models are capable of repeatable performance and did not derate, as some EVs are prone to do.

He acknowledged, as has Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann recently, the challenge of building a great ‘fun to drive’ EV. Jammoul was more optimistic, suggesting future generations that grow up with EVs won’t miss the ICE experience.

“Is it a different experience?” he asked. “Is it more the exhilaration, the digital aspects of the vehicle?”

One thing Jammoul wasn’t inclined to expand on was whether a high-performance electric off-roader could be called a Raptor.

“That remains to be seen, but that DNA is here to stay.

“I really do see in the future the capability of these BEVs to deliver Raptor-type performance.”

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