The Toyota Prius, despite its arguably unsexy appearance and performance, has been a huge hit with consumers since it first appeared in the late ‘90s. Now it looks like the popular Japanese hybrid may have some fierce competition from the U.S. within a few years, as Ford is reportedly planning a new series of gasoline/electric hybrid cars due to launch in late 2018.
Reuters cited two “sources with knowledge of the company’s plans” in a report Wednesday, saying that Ford’s late-2018 Toyota Prius competitor will be its first “dedicated” hybrid, meaning a vehicle that will be marketed as a pure hybrid, as opposed to being a hybrid variant of a gas-powered model. The model has yet to be named, and will be manufactured at Wayne, Mich., which is near the American automotive capital of Detroit.
Further, Reuters’ sources hinted that Ford may offer different body types to customers, much like the Toyota Prius comes in various forms. There may also be varying twists on the upcoming Ford hybrid’s drivetrain, including a higher-end rechargeable plug-in. The upcoming Ford hybrid, as stated above, is due to be introduced in late 2018, and will debut as a 2019 model-year vehicle; that means it would arrive at dealerships a shade over two decades after the first Prius arrived in Japan.
Ford’s rumored Toyota Prius competitor should also help revitalize the carmaker’s hybrid business if needed, though it would obviously be a few years before such relief arrives; year-to-date C-Max hybrid sales are down by almost 30 percent over the past year. Fusion hybrid sales have been healthier, enjoying a 24 percent year-over-year increase in year-to-date sales, but only a sixth of all Fusions sold in America are hybrids.
Representatives for Ford declined to comment when pressed, saying that the automaker doesn’t provide comment on rumor and speculation regarding unreleased vehicles.