- First Name
- Dave
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2021
- Threads
- 6
- Messages
- 207
- Reaction score
- 374
- Location
- Barberton, OH, US
- Vehicle(s)
- '73 Ford Mustang
- Engine
- 2.5L Hybrid
- Thread starter
- #1
My prediction, pure speculation on my part, is that Ford will offer the EB 1.5L 3 cyl engine in the Maverick, perhaps as soon as next year. I have not seen this anywhere, but it only makes sense from a business standpoint for the following reasons:
1. I expect the parts for Hybrid Mavericks will continue to be constrained for the foreseeable future, limiting production, particularly when a base drivetrain is usually the volume seller.
2. This engine is already offered as the base engine for the Escape and Bronco Sport
3. It's made in the same Ford plant as the 2.5 Hybrid engine (Chihuahua, Mexico)
4. It's already in production in Hermosillo in the Bronco Sport, so the Hermosillo plant has been dealing with it for a while, even building it in the Ford Fusion before the Bronco Sport.
5. If initially offered in FWD only, it could like be a quick design swap. AWD could come later, or maybe even at the same time
Power would be similar to the Hybrid drivetrain, but with significantly lower MPG (but still better than the EB 2.0)
Pricing? Could be a no-cost option to the Hybrid, or maybe less or more? Not sure, but it could definitely be the alternative base engine. Or Ford could just make it the new base engine, and the Hybrid optional, like it is on the Escape.
With so many Hybrid orders likely to roll to MY2023, it's a viable alternative to get more Mavericks sold now rather than later. While not offering the mileage of the Hybrid, it would be better than the EB 2.0, and at a lower initial cost. The transmission would be same as the Escape and Bronco Sport: the 8-speed conventional automatic, with the ratios already used in the EB 1.5 L 3 cyl applications today.
I would definitely consider it for my still unscheduled June-ordered XL Hybrid. Would have to weigh waiting versus getting the EB 3 cyl a lot quicker, but with lower gas mileage. A key consideration for me is that it would still have to have the current 2000 pound tow rating, which I think it would, or at least could.
It gets product out the door for Ford with more powertrain options for the customer. Yes, it vibrates some, but there are tradeoffs for everything. Lots of Bronco Sports and Escapes are sold with it today.
Something to think about.
I'm dating myself, but the original 1965 Mustang 6 cyl was upgraded from the 170 to the 200 cu. in model in September, 1964. Also, there were shortages of the 2.8L V6 in the 1979 Mustang, so yet again, Ford substituted the 200 cu. in six. So, there is definitely precedent. Things change.
What does this forum think?
Update 3/8/2022: Average US price of gas today for regular per AAA is $4.17/gallon
After sleeping on this and checking both price of oil and Presidents Biden's announcement of a ban on all Russian oil and refined product imports, along with many European counties having effectively having a "soft" ban on them, I think having another small engine option is even more important. I think the whole industry is going to find that full-size pickups and even mid-sized are going to be a harder sell for someone who does not really need them, and if the Maverick is indeed to be the entry-level vehicle for Ford, you need to able to sell a lot of them. We saw this in the 70's in 1974 and 1979 with all the emphasis on better gas mileage with the first and second energy crises. Hybrids are great, I still want my ordered XL Hybrid, but they are so hard to come by. It's a crap shoot whether you get scheduled. Full electrics are still a long way away for Ford, because I think the parts will just not be there be there in volume for several years. They will continue to be expensive and hard to get for some time. The F-150 Lightning is very critical to Ford, but I think it's going to take years to ramp up production. Given many folks are impatient and just want their truck, having the EB 1.5L 3 cyl option opens things up some. I know a lot of buyers and potential buyers are geezers or near geezers like myself, and that 3 cyl would work fine. The Maverick XL with that would weigh about 200 pounds more than the base Escape S with that engine, but would offer the chance to put more Mavericks in customer's hands.
I know a lot of folks would not touch that engine, but there are also a lot of folks who would not touch a Hybrid. I would never touch the EB 2.0 since it costs more, burns more gas, and I don't need AWD, even in NE Ohio where it snows a lot. If weather is too bad I just stay home that day. I'm retired, and live alone, so no big deal.
By offering three engines, all the bases would be covered. The Escape offers all three, plus the plug-in Hybrid version, so four total. The Hermosillo is already making lots of Bronco Sports with that engine. If Ford can squeeze out some more 3 cyl powerplants, I think they will sell. Ford has a chance to totally dominate the compact truck market, and better engine options helps to make that possible and continue to be ahead of the competition.
But then that's why they pay executives and marketing-types the big bucks at Ford to make these sorts of decisions. We'll have to wait and see. I do see full-size pickups and even-mid size pickup sales declining for the next few years, and Ford selling every Maverick they can possibly make. It's kind of like when the forgettable Mustang II came out in the fall of 1973, just before the first energy crisis. They sold like crazy, and helped to keep the Mustang in continuous production since March, 1964. And by being available before that energy crisis, they were there to sell, just like the Maverick is today. Pinto sub-compacts and those 1st generation Maverick compacts also sold like crazy. The Maverick truck will probably take more sales from the Ranger in the future, and the Ranger will likely take some sales from the F-150. The F-150 Lightning will sell well, but until Ford can sell 4-500,000 a year, it won't dominate the full-size market. Volume production is the issue. Look at how many delays the crazy Tesla Cybertruck has endured. Rivian is having all kinds of problems producing their pickup. You sell what you have, and Ford has the 3 cyl engine now. Also, for cost and tariff reasons, the Maverick is in the right assembly plant. Just need to produce more.
Lots to watch and see. History does not usually repeat itself, but as they say, it often rhymes.
1. I expect the parts for Hybrid Mavericks will continue to be constrained for the foreseeable future, limiting production, particularly when a base drivetrain is usually the volume seller.
2. This engine is already offered as the base engine for the Escape and Bronco Sport
3. It's made in the same Ford plant as the 2.5 Hybrid engine (Chihuahua, Mexico)
4. It's already in production in Hermosillo in the Bronco Sport, so the Hermosillo plant has been dealing with it for a while, even building it in the Ford Fusion before the Bronco Sport.
5. If initially offered in FWD only, it could like be a quick design swap. AWD could come later, or maybe even at the same time
Power would be similar to the Hybrid drivetrain, but with significantly lower MPG (but still better than the EB 2.0)
Pricing? Could be a no-cost option to the Hybrid, or maybe less or more? Not sure, but it could definitely be the alternative base engine. Or Ford could just make it the new base engine, and the Hybrid optional, like it is on the Escape.
With so many Hybrid orders likely to roll to MY2023, it's a viable alternative to get more Mavericks sold now rather than later. While not offering the mileage of the Hybrid, it would be better than the EB 2.0, and at a lower initial cost. The transmission would be same as the Escape and Bronco Sport: the 8-speed conventional automatic, with the ratios already used in the EB 1.5 L 3 cyl applications today.
I would definitely consider it for my still unscheduled June-ordered XL Hybrid. Would have to weigh waiting versus getting the EB 3 cyl a lot quicker, but with lower gas mileage. A key consideration for me is that it would still have to have the current 2000 pound tow rating, which I think it would, or at least could.
It gets product out the door for Ford with more powertrain options for the customer. Yes, it vibrates some, but there are tradeoffs for everything. Lots of Bronco Sports and Escapes are sold with it today.
Something to think about.
I'm dating myself, but the original 1965 Mustang 6 cyl was upgraded from the 170 to the 200 cu. in model in September, 1964. Also, there were shortages of the 2.8L V6 in the 1979 Mustang, so yet again, Ford substituted the 200 cu. in six. So, there is definitely precedent. Things change.
What does this forum think?
Update 3/8/2022: Average US price of gas today for regular per AAA is $4.17/gallon
After sleeping on this and checking both price of oil and Presidents Biden's announcement of a ban on all Russian oil and refined product imports, along with many European counties having effectively having a "soft" ban on them, I think having another small engine option is even more important. I think the whole industry is going to find that full-size pickups and even mid-sized are going to be a harder sell for someone who does not really need them, and if the Maverick is indeed to be the entry-level vehicle for Ford, you need to able to sell a lot of them. We saw this in the 70's in 1974 and 1979 with all the emphasis on better gas mileage with the first and second energy crises. Hybrids are great, I still want my ordered XL Hybrid, but they are so hard to come by. It's a crap shoot whether you get scheduled. Full electrics are still a long way away for Ford, because I think the parts will just not be there be there in volume for several years. They will continue to be expensive and hard to get for some time. The F-150 Lightning is very critical to Ford, but I think it's going to take years to ramp up production. Given many folks are impatient and just want their truck, having the EB 1.5L 3 cyl option opens things up some. I know a lot of buyers and potential buyers are geezers or near geezers like myself, and that 3 cyl would work fine. The Maverick XL with that would weigh about 200 pounds more than the base Escape S with that engine, but would offer the chance to put more Mavericks in customer's hands.
I know a lot of folks would not touch that engine, but there are also a lot of folks who would not touch a Hybrid. I would never touch the EB 2.0 since it costs more, burns more gas, and I don't need AWD, even in NE Ohio where it snows a lot. If weather is too bad I just stay home that day. I'm retired, and live alone, so no big deal.
By offering three engines, all the bases would be covered. The Escape offers all three, plus the plug-in Hybrid version, so four total. The Hermosillo is already making lots of Bronco Sports with that engine. If Ford can squeeze out some more 3 cyl powerplants, I think they will sell. Ford has a chance to totally dominate the compact truck market, and better engine options helps to make that possible and continue to be ahead of the competition.
But then that's why they pay executives and marketing-types the big bucks at Ford to make these sorts of decisions. We'll have to wait and see. I do see full-size pickups and even-mid size pickup sales declining for the next few years, and Ford selling every Maverick they can possibly make. It's kind of like when the forgettable Mustang II came out in the fall of 1973, just before the first energy crisis. They sold like crazy, and helped to keep the Mustang in continuous production since March, 1964. And by being available before that energy crisis, they were there to sell, just like the Maverick is today. Pinto sub-compacts and those 1st generation Maverick compacts also sold like crazy. The Maverick truck will probably take more sales from the Ranger in the future, and the Ranger will likely take some sales from the F-150. The F-150 Lightning will sell well, but until Ford can sell 4-500,000 a year, it won't dominate the full-size market. Volume production is the issue. Look at how many delays the crazy Tesla Cybertruck has endured. Rivian is having all kinds of problems producing their pickup. You sell what you have, and Ford has the 3 cyl engine now. Also, for cost and tariff reasons, the Maverick is in the right assembly plant. Just need to produce more.
Lots to watch and see. History does not usually repeat itself, but as they say, it often rhymes.
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