Ford Performance launching electric 'crate motor'

For decades, hot rodders and drag racers have been making their ordinary cars extraordinary with crate motors.

The engines – usually big V8s – are delivered to owners like a heart without a body, and installed in whatever deranged project they’re working on.

Now, Ford Performance is taking the concept into a new era with its Eluminator.

Set to debut at the SEMA Show in November, the motor will have 210kW of power and 430Nm of torque.

It won’t replace the range of V8 crate engines Ford Performance currently offers, then, but it does give people turning their classic cars into EVs a plug-and-play solution with the backing of the Ford name.

Measuring up at 570mm long, 345mm wide and 370mm tall, the crate motor will fit into a huge range of cars.

It’s not clear what battery Ford suggests pairing it with, or if it will leave that up to owners’ ingenuity.

Ford’s new e-motor will go head-to-head with a crate motor from Chevrolet.

Dubbed eCrate, the Chevy motor has 149kW of power and 361Nm, and is part of a conversion kit including a battery pack.