FORD'S ELECTRIC FIESTA' TO BE BASED ON RENAULT 5

New Ford-Renault tie-up will also result in a crossover based on the 4

- FELIX PAGE

Ford has reached a landmark partnership with Renault and will launch at least two new "affordable" cars based on the French firm's Ampr EV platform - including a Fiesta successor.

The first of these new EVs will arrive in early 2028 and is expected to be a successor to Ford's hugely popular supermini, closely related to the Renault 5 and built alongside it at the ElectriCity complex in Douai, France.

The second EV is expected to be a small crossover derived from the Renault 4 and could sit alongside the Puma Gen-E, but no timeframes or specific details for this car have yet been given.

Unlike the Nissan Micra, which is effectively a rebadged 5, Ford's small EVs will be highly bespoke models. The company pledges they will be "distinct Ford-branded electric vehicles" designed entirely in-house. They will also "feature distinctive driving dynamics" with "authentic Ford-brand DNA and intuitive experiences".

Otherwise, the new Ford EVs are likely to share most of the Renaults' hardware. That means a front motor producing between 121bhp and 215bhp and a choice of a 40kWh or 52kWh battery, which by 2028 will have been swapped from NMC chemistry to more cost-efficient LFP.