Originally Posted by tseekins

I get where you're going Tom but, Ford and GM shared the R&D costs of the 10 speed and the 9 speed transmissions. Very smart IMHO as it opens the doors for better parts availability, lower costs and hopefully, just hopefully better reliability.

Ford's Hybrid technology has been raved as perhaps some of the most reliable in the market and is well on par with Toyota, or better. Not questioning it's ability to perform. But compare the cost of a Fusion Hybrid to a 2.5L four cylinder base model Fusion. There's easily a 20% + price difference. I'd compare trucks but th ere aren't any in Ford's line up.

My daughter's 2015 Fusion base model 2.5L gas gets 20+ in town and well over 30 on the freeway. We were able to negotiate her price to below $19,000 two years ago. The car has been flawless tot his point except for the oil life monitor needed a reflash.

I can see these trucks as being able to perform light duties which is what most of us need anyway. Get the price in line with a gas burner and I'll be all over it.

Originally Posted by Tom

I think that would be much harder to do with current battery technology. It would take a substantially bigger battery to power a full electric truck than it would a hybrid. The Tesla Model S has a 60Kw battery, compared to 1.5 Kw for a Prius.

The cost for the battery for the Model S is over $30,000...how big of a battery would it take to power a pickup truck with any capability? How much would the truck cost? I think it's much more likely that a $2-3,000 battery pack could be integrated into a pickup truck than a $50,000+ pack needed to go full electric.

Originally Posted by elemint

The 2017 Toyota Highlander hybrid is now only a $1500 option! Probaby will be our next car because of that.

Originally Posted by Frdtrkrul

I'm curious as to why Ford would spend money on hybrid tech, rather than ***** to the wall full electric. They are already planning more electric vehicles in the future, according to some sources, so why not just skip the in-between and just go full on. Electric motors are instant torque and require no transmissions.

Originally Posted by Frdtrkrul

I'll bet the F150 will be two wheel drive only. Last rumor I heard from a few years ago said it'll only be 2wd. Hybrid mustang might be interesting. I mean McLaren has the P1 which is a hybrid super car, so it's nothing too special and it should not have a huge backlash. However, it won't have a manual transmission, which is a turn off for me. If I'm buying a mustang, it'll be a GT and a manual.

Originally Posted by theboom

Why would it only come in 2wd? There is literally no reason it can't be 4wd. Also have you met the mustang community? This will and is causing a GIANT outcry. To me right now, at least for the mustang, the battery technology is not there both in weight and energy storage. The p1 can get away with it because of a 700 something hp gas motor and a carbon fiber everything which something tells me is not going in a mustang.

Originally Posted by Tom

To my knowledge the Highlander Hybrid is the only hybrid that's rated to tow. It's rated for 29 city/27 highway MPG, and weighs almost as much as an F150. Most interesting to me is the lack of driveshaft; the rear wheels are powered exclusively by an electric drive.

If my F150 were to catch on fire tomorrow I'd probably be at a Toyota dealer the following day. I'd love a beefed up system like this in an F150.

Originally Posted by Frdtrkrul

Didn't the Hybrid Tahoe have any towing capability?