First Sight! $30k Midsize EV Pickup Prototype

[Prickly Pear]

How did every other manufacturer's research not understand that customers want a compact pickup? But yeah, Ford is the worst for not knowing exactly how many people wanted to buy the hybrid version of their breakthrough vehicle.

Yeah, it's like "why are so many people buying the Maverick? It can't be the size, so it must be the Blue Oval"

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[pigsareus]

How did every other manufacturer's research not understand that customers want a compact pickup? But yeah, Ford is the worst for not knowing exactly how many people wanted to buy the hybrid version of their breakthrough vehicle.

They must have used a different research team or possibly they determined that the ROI wasn't substantial enough to add that to their line. Of course it appears that they all used the same firm that told them that there's a high demand here in the states for EVs and they need to all get in on it. Yeah, that didn't work out so well either. Be interesting when they did their post mortums to find out how they guessed so wrong...

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I get very strong explorer sport track vibes from this design.

 

[Prickly Pear]

We just bought a 2027 Chevy Bolt, and it really reminds me of the Maverick.
Cheapest EV available at launch
Lots of (all) plastic interior - cheap on the inside but fine on the outside
Small but can fit 4 (much more room than the Maverick)
Fun to drive
Killer economy

I might be in the honeymoon phase of owning an EV, but right now I'd probably trade my Maverick for a similar size/price electric truck.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

How many electric Lightnings did you buy?

None, because they were overpriced...until they were supposedly clearing them out for under $30k, and if I saw that while I was looking at Mavericks, I would have picked one up. A guy I know that owns a logging company in Oregon has several in his fleet and is very happy with them.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

How did every other manufacturer's research not understand that customers want a compact pickup? But yeah, Ford is the worst for not knowing exactly how many people wanted to buy the hybrid version of their breakthrough vehicle.

I think the majority of customers want an affordable vehicle. With the average new vehicle price now at $50k, the majority of Merkuns are priced-out and seeking something about half that price. The Mav was about the cheapest new vehicle available, and has the utility of a pickup, so it's a hit based largely on that. I suspect it's a lot of people's first pickup.

If Ford made a Bronco Sport sized SUV starting at $20k, ICE or EV; it doesn't matter, it would sell like hotcakes. If ANYONE made something similar at that price it would be the #1 selling vehicle in the country. But, there are at least 3 small SUV style vehicles starting under $25k, two by Chevy and one by Hyundai. As low quality of materials as the Maverick (like the interior plastics), but lower MSRP. Worse MPG by about 10 compared to the Mav Hybrid, though.

 

[Blue_Max]

I think the majority of customers want an affordable vehicle. With the average new vehicle price now at $50k, the majority of Merkuns are priced-out and seeking something about half that price. The Mav was about the cheapest new vehicle available, and has the utility of a pickup, so it's a hit based largely on that. I suspect it's a lot of people's first pickup.

If Ford made a Bronco Sport sized SUV starting at $20k, ICE or EV; it doesn't matter, it would sell like hotcakes. If ANYONE made something similar at that price it would be the #1 selling vehicle in the country. But, there are at least 3 small SUV style vehicles starting under $25k, two by Chevy and one by Hyundai. As low quality of materials as the Maverick (like the interior plastics), but lower MSRP. Worse MPG by about 10 compared to the Mav Hybrid, though.

Again, Ford offered something no one else did. But people complain that they didn't offer it exactly according to individual desire.

 

[Blue_Max]

Yeah, it's like "why are so many people buying the Maverick? It can't be the size, so it must be the Blue Oval"

I have it on good MTC authority that nobody wants to buy a Ford.

 

[Clarkdonbran]

Looks like my next vehicle. Damn you, Ford!

 

[Scott Asheville]

For anyone complaining about window size, when you get interior shots you can see a bit of that white camo stuck to the window itself if you look through the interior. Looks like it's maybe an inch or two of tape, so the windows are at least an inch or so lower than they're made out to be in these images.

I just went outside and looked at how my Maverick windows, door handles, and door were arranged. I came away with the same conclusion. There's a styling trend towards raising beltlines and shrinking visibility over the last decade, but not that severely.

 

[commadorebob]

Looks like an EV Maverick. We'll see what the price and range look like.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

So talking to people who've seen it, the front slopes like a Tesla model y, but blocky instead of bulbous. It'll have mach-e style door handles as well. The holes in the camo for the headlights show you kinda how far the hood slopes down.

 

[tiktokbrainrot]

Watch MeTV and you'll see plenty of ads aimed at Boomers and older.

That because only Boomers watch TV anymore (the average age of a TV viewer is 74 years old)

 

[OneAlienBoi]

Still funny how companies are all catering to the young and mid crowds, the youngsters claim to not have any money, the mids are struggling to get by, the boomers have the money and most are willing to spend it yet they don't seem to have many suitors coming at them with products that they'd pony up for.

Young people are buying affordable new cars left and right, this new EV truck and platform are centered around affordability. Additionally, younger consumers are far more willing to accept new tech, like EVs.

So targeting young consumers with your line of small, affordable EVs makes more sense than trying to appeal to someone who's 70 who doesn't want an EV and half the time is convinced they need a truck the size of Montana. Young people like small cars, EVs, fun and sensible cars.

If Ford uses this platform to make a series of affordable small vehicles that are fun, I'll buy one, prob a hatchback/sedan which we know they're working on.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

I think Ford may have a grand slam with this one. Too much camo to figure out any details for sure, but in general it's got a good shape and size. For $30K it's going up against some stiff EV competition from Chevy, Nissan/Mitsubishi, Hyindai/Kia. Anyone looking for a 4-passenger EV is going to cross shop this against well equiped entry-level EVs so Ford has to be on top of their game to get buyers who aren't specifically looking for a pickup bed. I think this EV may do it as long as the ride/interior and specs are equal to what else is out there.

Assuming it has good EV range (250+ miles), quickish level-3 charging (150kw+), and a good set of safety and comfort features with the base trim (BSM, emergency braking, cruise control) and REAL FREAKING BUTTONS AND SWITCHES, they'll have a hit.

Slate buyers (I was one of them) are going to be hard pressed to justify the SLATE vs this if they add up the options for the larger battery, power windows, and especially the extra $$$ for the SUV kit assuming you want to seat more than 2. I got my reservation money back from Slate a few months ago after I decided they made too many compromises on safety and comfort in their quest to market a no-frills vehicle. When it was $20K I could live with that, but not at $30K. They wanted to make it / market it as simple, but they made it dumb.

Yeah, it's less blocky under the camo, the front end angles downward near the leading edge of the hood, you can kinda see how much it drops down if you look where the headlights are and imaging the hood being a little bit above that. But it looks good imo.

Slate is gonna die as a result of this thing. I've heard rumors that there won't be a ton of options with this truck, but a ton of customization like Slate offers. Maybe one trim level where every truck essentially comes fully loaded in terms of interior quality and niceness, which benefits consumers. But it also benefits Ford because that makes the manufacturing process a lot simpler, and more streamline/affordable. But that's just a rumor.

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