Tag Archives: EVs

News

Ford’s Big Bang Theory: The $30k EV Truck That Might Save the West

Jim Farley isn’t mincing his words these days. China is eating the West’s EV lunch, and Ford’s CEO is done watching from the sidelines. His answer? A “Model T moment” — Ford’s own moon landing, only with more lithium and fewer horses. Today, the Blue Oval pulled the covers off something bigger than a single vehicle: a brand-new Universal EV Platform paired with a Universal EV Production System. Think of it as Ford’s Lego baseplate for the electric age — one architecture to rule them all, and to do it cheaply.

The first baby from this new techno-womb? A four-door electric pickup arriving in 2027, designed to be quicker than an EcoBoost Mustang (high 4-second 0–60 mph range) and roomier than a Toyota RAV4, even before you count the frunk. No official name yet, but Ford recently trademarked “Ranchero” — a nod to its ‘70s ute-with-attitude. Price tag? Roughly $30,000, which in EV-land is almost mythical.

Power comes from advanced prismatic lithium-iron-phosphate batteries that double as the floor and structure. No cobalt, no nickel — just lower cost, lighter weight, better handling, and a centre of gravity that’s practically subterranean. The whole setup frees up space for passengers, which means you can sprawl like you’re in a big SUV, only without the guilt trip at the petrol pump.

But the magic isn’t just under the floor. The Universal EV Platform is about stripping complexity to the bone. The truck’s wiring harness is 4,000 feet shorter than what’s in Ford’s first electric SUV. That’s not just a win for weight and cost — it’s a wiring diet that shaves 20% of the parts, 25% of the fasteners, and 40% of the workstations. Louisville Assembly Plant will be able to build this truck 40% faster than anything else it currently cranks out. Efficiency isn’t sexy, but it’s what makes $30k EVs possible.

Of course, reality check — you can’t drive it yet. Ford’s still two years away from rolling one off the line, and the specs sheet isn’t final. Range, battery sizes, charge times, and that all-important reveal date? Coming later.

Still, if Farley delivers, this could be Ford’s second coming of the Model T — only this time, the goal isn’t just putting the world on wheels. It’s keeping the West in the EV game.

Source: Ford

NEW CARS

AMG’s Electric SUV Hits the ’Ring – 1,341 hp of Silent Thunder

Affalterbach’s next big thing is here — and it’s massive. Not in size (though it’s hardly a shrinking violet), but in ambition. Earlier this summer, Mercedes-AMG lit the fuse on its all-electric future with the GT XX four-door coupe concept — a bright orange bullet hiding a colossal 1,341 hp (1,360 PS / 1,000 kW) under its skin. Now, the same recipe is being baked into something taller, meaner, and arguably more market-friendly: an SUV.

And if you’re wondering how seriously AMG is taking it — the prototype is already tearing up the Nürburgring.

Spy Game on the Green Hell

Our spy shooters caught the camouflaged two-row EV pounding the 12.9 miles (20.8 km) of Germany’s most unforgiving asphalt. AMG’s engineers were in full stealth mode, sometimes sneaking in and out through obscure access points along the track — either to dodge lenses or to keep unflattering lap times from leaking. But this time, there was no hiding; the prototype took every one of the ’Ring’s dozens of bends head-on.

The shape? Less blocky SUV, more steroid-fed crossover — think Lamborghini Urus or Ferrari Purosangue rather than a Bentayga or Cullinan. It rides low, with flush door handles, frameless glass, and an air-suspended stance that drivers will be able to raise or drop at will.

Under the Skin: Shared DNA with the GT XX

You won’t see the final face yet — AMG’s keeping the front-end design under wraps — but don’t expect it to look like your neighbour’s electric GLC. The GT XX sedan concept reimagined AMG’s Panamericana grille with a glowing outer frame and unlit vertical bars, and there’s a good chance this SUV will borrow that signature.

Beneath the bodywork, the SUV shares the AMG.EA platform with the XX, as well as Yasa’s cutting-edge axial flux motor technology. Powertrain specs remain locked in AMG’s vault, but the smart money says there will be two- and three-motor variants. The top dog? Almost certainly the full 1,341 hp hit from the XX.

For context, that’s nearly double the output of Ferrari’s Purosangue and its 6.5-litre V12. Sure, the AMG won’t have the Maranello howl, but it won’t be a whisper, either. AMG is developing a synthesised soundtrack — potentially replicating the rumble of a V8 — and simulated gearshifts to make the experience more visceral.

Launch Date and the Bigger Picture

We’ll see the finished product in 2027, one year after the sedan version lands. And make no mistake — this isn’t just an SUV with a big battery. It’s AMG declaring war in the hyper-SUV segment, fusing EV tech with the kind of drama that petrolheads assumed would vanish in the electric age.

The only question is whether the world is ready for a 2.5-tonne missile that can outgun almost anything on the road, yet creep silently past your local café.

Source: Mercedes-AMG; Photo: SHProshots

News

Ferrari Details Multi-Stage Reveal for First-Ever Electric Model

Three years after Ferrari sent shockwaves through the automotive world with the announcement of its first fully electric car, the Prancing Horse is finally ready to show its hand—at least in part. On October 9, during Ferrari’s Capital Markets Day, the marque will unveil what it calls the “technological heart” of its inaugural EV. This marks the beginning of a multi-phase reveal process that will stretch into 2026, culminating in a full public debut later next year.

Though the car remains cloaked in secrecy, Ferrari has confirmed that an interior design preview will follow in early 2026. Beyond that, details are scarce—but expectations are not. For a brand built on the passion of naturally aspirated engines and track-honed dynamics, moving to electric propulsion is no small shift.

Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna struck a confident tone during the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, stating there is “not a single hour of delay” in the development process. He even disclosed that he had personally driven a prototype on track just weeks prior, describing the experience as exhilarating. While Vigna remained tight-lipped on specifics, sightings of test mules using Maserati Levante bodies suggest that the new EV could lean more towards a grand tourer than a pure-bred supercar—though not necessarily an SUV.

What it won’t be, at least officially, is part of a broader EV lineup—yet. Recent reports from Reuters claimed Ferrari’s second EV has already been delayed twice due to “zero demand,” citing unnamed sources. But Vigna swiftly shut down such speculation, emphasizing that Ferrari has never announced a second or third electric model. “There’s nothing to delay if nothing has been planned,” he said. Whether internal projects exist behind closed doors is another story, but publicly, Ferrari is sticking to its script.

Pricing details for the EV remain under wraps, although early rumors place the price tag north of $500,000. The model is expected to be a low-volume offering, setting the stage for future electric endeavors—should customer response and regulatory pressures align.

Ferrari is still targeting a bold sales mix by 2030: 40% EVs, 40% hybrids, and 20% pure combustion models. Despite this electric pivot, the company has pledged to preserve its iconic V12 engine as long as regulations allow. The naturally aspirated 6.5-liter unit lives on in the Purosangue SUV and the new 12Cilindri, and it’s likely to return in limited-run specials from the exclusive Icona Series.

As Ferrari prepares to enter the EV fray, rivals are taking different approaches. Lamborghini has delayed its Lanzador EV until 2029 and may still include a combustion engine via a plug-in hybrid setup. Pagani and Koenigsegg have voiced skepticism about customer interest in full electrification, and even Bugatti Rimac has admitted demand for electric hypercars is weaker than anticipated, despite the Nevera’s record-breaking feats.

Ferrari, however, appears to be taking the long view—eschewing headline-grabbing specs in favor of a more measured, strategic rollout. In an era where instant torque and straight-line speed are no longer the exclusive domain of exotic marques, it may be that emotional appeal, driving engagement, and heritage will define success in the electric age.

And in that realm, Ferrari still plays a very different game.

Source: Ferrari; Photo: Derek Photography