Ford has kicked off 2017 with a ‘spark’ by announcing a raft of new ‘electrified’ models to be launched over the next five years.

FORD HAS ANNOUCED it will launch 13 “new global electrified” vehicles over the next five years, including a petrol-electric hybrid Mustang and F-150, “a plug-in hybrid Transit Custom van in Europe, and a fully electric SUV with an expected range of at least 300 miles for customers globally”.

Unfortunately, the petrol-electric hybrid F-150 and Ford Mustang are slated for release only in the US at this stage. But the all-new electric SUV, intended to compete with the Telsa Model 3, will be available around the world and boast a range of more than 450km.

In addition to its electrification program, Ford also announced it would be investing $700 million to expand its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan “that will build high-tech autonomous and electric vehicles along with the Mustang and Lincoln Continental. The expansion will create 700 direct new jobs”. This news followed a scrambling by General Motors to reinvest in local plants after US President-Elect Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticise GM after it announced it would build the Chevy Cruze in Mexico.

Ford also announced that its global utility lineup, which includes Ford Ranger will become the company’s first hybrids powered by “EcoBoost rather than naturally aspirated engines, furthering improving performance and fuel economy”. Ford didn’t say anything more about this, but it suggests the current 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine in Ranger and Everest could be dropped in favour of a turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

“As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles, Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles, services and solutions that make people’s lives better,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years.”

The seven global electrified vehicles announced today include:

“An all-new fully electric small SUV, coming by 2020, engineered to deliver an estimated range of at least 300 miles, to be built at the Flat Rock plant and sold in North America, Europe and Asia;

“A Transit Custom plug-in hybrid available in 2019 in Europe engineered to help reduce operating costs in even the most congested streets;

“A high-volume autonomous vehicle designed for commercial ride hailing or ride sharing, starting in North America. The hybrid vehicle will debut in 2021 and will be built at the Flat Rock plant;

“A hybrid version of the best-selling F-150 pickup available by 2020 and sold in North America and the Middle East. The F-150 Hybrid, built at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, will offer powerful towing and payload capacity and operate as a mobile generator;

“A hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque. The Mustang Hybrid, built at the Flat Rock Plant, debuts in 2020 and will be available in the North America to start; and

“Two new, pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles. One of the two new hybrid police vehicles will be built in Chicago, and both will be upfitted with their police gear at Ford’s dedicated police vehicle modification centre in Chicago.”