Ford has big plans for the future of the timeless American automotive company through innovations in offering more electric vehicles (EVs) but is looking to the past for design inspiration. Ford might be looking to the future of the auto industry by focusing on producing more electric vehicles including the rollout of the “all-electric Ford F-100 Eluminator concept truck” inspired by the antique Ford F-100 pickup truck.
The design of the pickup truck might be inspired by the past but everything under the hood is inspired by the future with batteries and electric motors from Ford’s 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition with similar interior screens and controls. Ford built the new EV pickup to showcase the new “e-crate motor” that is currently on sale online and in dealerships.
Ford’s e-crate motors producing 218 horsepower with 317 foot-pounds of torque that is also street-legal in all 50 states according to Ford with the motor retailing for $3,900. The “crate” motors or engines are assembled by Ford but aren’t available for general purchase for purposes such as customizing, building, or fixing vehicles.
The Ford global director of licensing and accessories, Eric Cin, revealed in a press release, “Our F-100 Eluminator concept is a preview of how we’re supporting customers as they go all-electric and embrace zero-tailpipe emissions performance, even for our heritage vehicles.” The concept EV pickup can produce 480 horsepower with 634 foot-pounds of torque that was designed and created by Ford Performance.
Ford worked in a partnership with aftermarket companies including Roadster Shop and MLe Racecars. Ford unveiled the F-100 Eluminator concept in Las Vegas for an annual conference for the aftermarket industries and automotive specialty known as the SEMA Show.
The aftermarket business is crucial to the automotive industry with automakers annually unveiling unique vehicles at the show to showcase new aftermarket products and gauge consumer interest such as Ford’s e-crate motor. The aftermarket parts industry is a $44.6 billion industry according to Specialty Equipment Market Association.
The unveiling of this new EV pickup will also generate additional interest in the new all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup that is set to launch during the first half of 2022. The release of the F-150 Lightning will also be a test to see whether pickup truck customers that dominate annual U.S. sales charts are ready to make the shift to electric vehicles. The research for this article was sourced from CNBC.
