- The aerodynamic crossover would have offered over 350 miles of electric range.
- A range-extended version was planned with a potential range of 550 miles.
- Ford confirmed the prototype is now used to “inform” its next-generation EVs.
When automakers kill a project, it rarely sees the light of day. However, there have been a few exceptions as Volkswagen showed a near-production prototype of the second-generation Phaeton in 2022. A handful of ill-fated Saabs also appeared after their demise including a 9-3 prototype and a Subaru Tribeca-based 9-6X.
We can add one more to that list as Ford’s Doug Field has quietly been showing the company’s axed three-row EV on LinkedIn. The surprising discovery was first noticed by Ford Authority and a Blue Oval spokesperson told The Drive it’s the “3-row SUV we cancelled in 2024.” They added the model is “now a research vehicle that is informing our next generation of electric vehicles” and we’ll see “its significant influence” on future EVs.
More: Flip-Flopping Ford Delays Electric Truck And Axes 3-Row EV Plans, Will Build Hybrids Instead
The model is apparently a “development prototype” and it looks like nothing else in the Ford lineup. As you can see, the crossover has an extremely aerodynamic design with a rounded front end and a rakish windscreen that flows into a long, sloping roof.
Designers also gave the crossover streamlined bodywork and minimalist door handles that appear to echo those found on the Mustang Mach-E. They’re joined by aerodynamically optimized wheels and a nearly vertical rear end.
The model vaguely recalls the Honda 0 SUV, which was axed last month. However, Ford billed it as a seven-passenger “bullet train” that would have a range in excess of 350 miles (563 km). When the battery was low, a DC fast charger could provide up to 100 miles of range in as little as six minutes. There were also apparently plans for a range-extended variant that would have been able to travel 550 miles (885 km) without stopping.
Of course, none of that came to pass and the automaker has significantly dialed back its EV plans. However, Ford is still working on a range of affordable electric vehicles including a $30,000 pickup.
