The Ford Fiesta could return as a small, affordable electric car.
A partnership agreement between the Renault Group and Ford has just been announced, with the headline being two new affordable electric cars.
The cars will be Ford models but will use Renault’s Ampere electric car platform, which currently underpins the Renault 4 and Renault 5.
It’s therefore expected that the new small Ford EV will be Fiesta-sized, and it’s surely going to be called the Fiesta. Ford would be crazy to throw away the Fiesta’s nameplate when it’s so widely recognised (although you could argue that it already has…).
Details are still a long way off, but the Fiesta could use the 40kWh and 52kWh batteries offered in the R5. These offer maximum quoted range estimates of 192 miles and 252 miles respectively.
The 120hp and 150hp electric motors that Renault uses in the 5 would also give the Fiesta nippy performance, in line with the zingy feel of Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.
And, with the Alpine A290 being the more powerful version of the Renault 5, with up to 220hp, this could signal the return of the Ford Fiesta ST.
According to Renault, the first of the two mooted electric cars will arrive in showrooms in early 2028.
The second affordable Ford EV is likely to be Focus-sized. This could use the Renault Group’s larger EV platform, which is used on the Renault Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech and the Nissan Ariya.
Both will be built in Renault’s ElectriCity plant in northern France.
These new offerings will apparently ‘mark the first step in a comprehensive new product offensive for Ford in Europe’.
Ford’s president, Jim Farley, said, “We will combine Renault Group’s industrial scale and EV assets with Ford’s iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable and distinctly Ford in spirit.”
Renault’s CEO, Francois Provost, added, “In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market.”
As part of the agreement between Ford and Renault, the French firm will also benefit from Ford’s commercial vehicle experience. This could mean new Kangoo, Trafic and Master vans based on the Ford Transit lineup.
Can’t wait for the new electric Ford Fiesta?
Now’s a great time to buy a used Ford Fiesta. To see why it’s still a brilliant small car, read our Ford Fiesta review.
