AWD! Please!

[Letas]

Any bets closer to $35-40k than $30k?
still no pics or anything really to see

Even if Ford does come in at the $30k target, AWD will obviously add a few thousand. I'm of the personal opinion that Ford sees the market and is pretty set on the price point, but only time will tell. Same as Slate.

 

[KevinRS]

Even if Ford does come in at the $30k target, AWD will obviously add a few thousand. I'm of the personal opinion that Ford sees the market and is pretty set on the price point, but only time will tell. Same as Slate.

On the other hand there has only been one image at all of it, and it's that one at the top of the article I believe, showing the grill area and nothing else. To me it seems they are nowhere close to releasing a truck if it's still that top secret. I suppose they could be holding back even the concept art to release just when Slate or another company is opening for orders.

 

[Letas]

On the other hand there has only been one image at all of it, and it's that one at the top of the article I believe, showing the grill area and nothing else. To me it seems they are nowhere close to releasing a truck if it's still that top secret. I suppose they could be holding back even the concept art to release just when Slate or another company is opening for orders.

Perhaps it’s a total bluff, sure. Ford is not on the same timeline as Slate. Slate needed to drum up excitement and pre orders, in order to drive PE funding, to be able to even build a car. Ford could be building this thing behind the curtain and release it at the drop of the hat, rolling to dealers just weeks after a full press release. Recent example is the Subaru Uncharted, announced EOY and hitting dealers in Q1.

Any fan of Slate should route for the success of this Ford- competition breeds innovation.

 

[KevinRS]

Perhaps it’s a total bluff, sure. Ford is not on the same timeline as Slate. Slate needed to drum up excitement and pre orders, in order to drive PE funding, to be able to even build a car. Ford could be building this thing behind the curtain and release it at the drop of the hat, rolling to dealers just weeks after a full press release. Recent example is the Subaru Uncharted, announced EOY and hitting dealers in Q1.

Any fan of Slate should route for the success of this Ford- competition breeds innovation.

I have to think that things would leak at the least when they went into production. They will have suppliers for things like batteries and other parts, and someone is going to notice when large quantities start getting shipped to the Ford factory, especially since they have dropped the Lightning. ALL we have from Ford is their big platform announcement, and these few interviews. I would really think that since they did announce it, and are trickling out these interviews, they would also show at the least some concept renders.

 

[Johnologue]

Ford could be building this thing behind the curtain and release it at the drop of the hat, rolling to dealers just weeks after a full press release. Recent example is the Subaru Uncharted, announced EOY and hitting dealers in Q1.

Any fan of Slate should route for the success of this Ford- competition breeds innovation.

The Subaru might've been quiet because it's one of their rebadged Toyotas. It's a Subaru-brand C-HR.
Regardless, I don't think Ford has the ability or motivation to cover up the production of their upcoming "Ford's $30K EV Truck"; which will hopefully have an actual name soon so everyone can stop writing/saying "Ford's $30K EV Truck".

 

[metroshot]

Even if Ford does come in at the $30k target, AWD will obviously add a few thousand. I'm of the personal opinion that Ford sees the market and is pretty set on the price point, but only time will tell. Same as Slate.

Correct.

Ford when they first launched the 2022 Lightning EV truck, their Pro (base) trim was $39K.

That's the one I wanted - stripped down to the basics but never had a chance to order it because when it came time to order & customize it - Ford said very few Pro being made but tons of Lariat and Platinum trims.

I am sure Ford's $30K truck will be a base Maverick style EV, 2WD, base trim and steel wheels.

 

[AKrietzer]

On the other hand there has only been one image at all of it, and it's that one at the top of the article I believe, showing the grill area and nothing else. To me it seems they are nowhere close to releasing a truck if it's still that top secret. I suppose they could be holding back even the concept art to release just when Slate or another company is opening for orders.

These are the pictures Ford showed in October. Who knows what the final product will look like.

 

[Driven5]

These are the pictures Ford showed in October. Who knows what the final product will look like.

This is NOT from Ford. It's pure fantasy from insideevs.com.

 

[KevinRS]

These are the pictures Ford showed in October. Who knows what the final product will look like.

AI generated concept, not from Ford at all.

 

[metroshot]

These are the pictures Ford showed in October. Who knows what the final product will look like.

Sort of like that Mach E front - like my Mach E!

 

[ElectricShitbox]

When a Mach-E and a Santa Cruz love each other very much...

 

[phidauex]

When a Mach-E and a Santa Cruz love each other very much...

I'm glad this was just a random mockup from insideevs, but I really hope the real vehicle does not look like this. It has the same problem the Maverick and Santa Cruz do, which is that they don't know what they are. They look like an unfinished station wagon, and somehow attempt to look "rugged" and "futuristic" at the same time, achieving neither.

I do have a MachE, and I do like how it looks. It has a clear design language, the lines are consistent across the vehicle, it does some clever things with the darker colored roof to accentuate the fastback look, etc. Eye of the beholder and all that, but I think it knows what it is, and how it wants to look, and achieves that well.

I hate to be vain, but the look of the vehicle, as well as a few specs, are really what will determine whether I stay on the Slate track or move to the Ford mid-size truck-thing track. I'm not sure I'll be interested in something that looks like a weird compliance vehicle that tries to be everything and nothing at the same time.

 

[beatle]

Are there unibody trucks or utes that appeal to you? Not trying to be argumentative (I agree, that mockup is a disaster) but I'm wondering what an appealing shape would be. I like the Maverick, but I think the Santa Clauz is hideous. Maybe because it's too car-like, or that I just don't care for most of Hyundai's design language. I thought the Jetta pickups were awesome:

Will it look like the Canoo or Telo? Subaru Brat? Farley seems to be focused on aero and a unique silhouette, so I don't think it'll be truck like. I wonder how many style points they'll trade for aero, as I don't think the truck buying public is too keen on trucks that don't look like trucks (see Cybertruck). Even the Cybertruck doesn't have monster efficiency, though it does sip electricity a bit better than its rivals. I think Slate is doing it right. It may not have the lowest drag coefficient, but it does have a lower total drag due to its relatively small frontal area, and that's what really matters for efficiency.

 

[phidauex]

Are there unibody trucks or utes that appeal to you? Not trying to be argumentative (I agree, that mockup is a disaster) but I'm wondering what an appealing shape would be. I like the Maverick, but I think the Santa Clauz is hideous. Maybe because it's too car-like, or that I just don't care for most of Hyundai's design language. I thought the Jetta pickups were awesome:

Good question... Now that I think about it, no, there aren't really any that appeal to me. I'm not quite sure why that is, I'm not opposed to unibody as a construction method. I think it is more that I find most modern cars to be bland in appearance, and confused about whether they are trying to look sleek, or look bulky. Its like each part was designed by someone else and then they just mashed them all together.

I'll keep an open mind on the look, but I suppose what I'm looking for is some evidence that someone had a very clear idea of what they wanted it to look like, and then achieved that. And yes, I know I'm in a good position in life where I can wait around for things I like, in addition to just things that I need.

 

[KevinRS]

Good question... Now that I think about it, no, there aren't really any that appeal to me. I'm not quite sure why that is, I'm not opposed to unibody as a construction method. I think it is more that I find most modern cars to be bland in appearance, and confused about whether they are trying to look sleek, or look bulky. Its like each part was designed by someone else and then they just mashed them all together.

I'll keep an open mind on the look, but I suppose what I'm looking for is some evidence that someone had a very clear idea of what they wanted it to look like, and then achieved that. And yes, I know I'm in a good position in life where I can wait around for things I like, in addition to just things that I need.

Most modern cars look similar because the manufacturers are nearly all working towards a min-max solution on aerodynamics and capacity. Need for MPG or eMPG ratings when "style" means you drop a few points means most are dropping the style instead.