► Ford announces five new European cars by 2029
► ‘Rally-bred’ small EVs and ‘multi-energy’ crossovers
► Plus: a new Bronco variant built and for Europe
Finally – after what has felt like years on the wane and some of its most respected models being discontinued, Ford has confirmed its product plan for Europe up to 2029.
As part of its new ‘Ready, Set, Ford’ programme, the brand has announced that it will launch five new cars in Europe between now and the end of the decade, including an electric supermini and a Bronco model manufactured in and for Europe. The news comes not long after Ford put out a statement confirming it was working with Renault Group to use its AmpR Small battery-electric architecture to create new small cars.
With this new Ready, Set, Ford initiative being launched, Ford has confirmed that two new battery-electric cars will be a B-segment hatchback and small crossover – likely an EV replacement for the Fiesta as well as a new-generation Puma. These will be derived from Ford’s work with Renault using the AmpR Small platform, with ‘race to road’ technology being applied – though how and in what capacity is so far unclear.
Jim Baumbick, Ford of Europe president, is quick to assure that these cars will feel like Fords, commenting that the likes of Ford’s partnerships with Volkswagen and the more recent Renault tie-up ‘aren’t just deals, they’re strategic levers. We partner with the best to move with speed and scale, and we obsess over the product to deliver passionate, unmistakably Ford vehicles.’
Baumbick then goes on to tell CAR: ‘One thing I want to make exceptionally clear. We are not farming out development of our vehicles to anybody. We’ve made choices with Renault because they have an incredibly competitive platform – not just because of cost but because of attributes and capability. We are co-developing and we will own it – we will hold the pen.’
Ford doesn’t provide a lot of other details on these cars at this stage, besides saying the new electric supermini ‘combines distinct design with Ford’s signature driving dynamics.’ The brand also leans heavily into its rally and motorsport heritage across the board with these new car announcements, saying that it will ‘inject race to road capabilities’ into its new passenger cars.
The term ‘rally-bred’ is thrown around, with Christian Weingärtner, head of passenger cars for Ford Europe, clarifying that that largely means Ford’s engineering teams focusing on handling dynamics – something Ford’s team can easily influence when developing its version of an AmpR Small-based car. ‘Dampers, suspension tuning, steering ratio… these are all things that we can control and this is all in our hands. That’s also besides being able to entirely do the design – interior and exterior – and the experience around the car.
‘Things that also speak to ‘rally’ are details like having easily accessible buttons in the car because, when you’re in a car, you can’t be playing around [with the interior],’ adds Weingärtner, hinting that the cabin will still have a reasonable amount of physical controls.
As for the Fiesta name returning, Weingärtner is quick to say that a name hasn’t been confirmed yet but says there are ‘pros and cons’ for using the name for its small electric hatch. ‘We will decide in the next couple of months.’
On top of those two small EVs, Ford has also announced. two ‘multi-energy’ crossovers that will also have this ‘rally-bred’ DNA in them. These two crossovers will likely launch in 2029 and are expected to come with ‘some kind of hybrid,’ according to Weingärtner, as well as a battery-electric powertrain. It’s unconfirmed as to whether these cars will be developed in partnership with another manufacturer or developed solely by Ford.
Ford is also keen to push against current zero-emission targets slated for Europe and the UK, with Baumbick saying: ‘we don’t build vehicles to meet regulatory mandates, we build them for people. The fastest route to zero emissions is the one customers will actually take.’
Baumbick also adds that this plan is designed to make sure Ford is ‘here to play to win, and move with speed. You can’t talk about racing and not move quickly, and that’s why you see this product offensive.’