Ford reveals budget SUV, four-door Mustang to dealers – report

Ford has revealed two new models addressing two quite different sets of buyers at a conference for dealers in Las Vegas.

According to Automotive News, the first vehicle shown off by Ford was a new entry-level SUV, which will reportedly be priced from around US$25,000 (A$35,300), and will be available with a choice of petrol and hybrid drivetrains.

If true, this new SUV would have a starting price US$5000 (A$7000) less than the Escape that it effectively replaces. The Escape went out of production in the US at the end of 2025, although existing stock remains on sale in North America at the time of writing.

It would also mean the new SUV will undercut both the Bronco Sport (US$31,845) and the Maverick ute (US$28,145), which is the cheapest model available in Ford's American showrooms. Last week Ford announced the Fathom electric ute, due to go on sale next year, will start at US$29,945 (A$42,400).

The trade publication's sources say a video of an early prototype of the vehicle was shown featuring a wide and boxy design that bears a resemblance to the first-generation Escape. Executives on stage emphasised the design wasn't final and was being shown to provide an indication about the car's size.

Other sources indicate the new SUV will be built in Hermosillo, Mexico, where the Bronco Sport SUV and Maverick ute are currently produced. Both of these vehicles are based on the C2 platform, which was also used by the now-discontinued Escape.

It's unclear what platform the new budget SUV will be based on. Ford recently announced a deal with Geely, in which the Chinese automaker will take an ownership stake in Ford's plant in Valencia and produce two EVs there.

Ford will in turn use a Geely platform for a new "multi-energy" SUV due out in 2029 that will replace the Kuga, the Escape's European sibling. Ford of Europe is also planning to launch a Bronco-branded model based on the C2 architecture in 2028.

The other vehicle Ford revealed at the Las Vegas dealer conference was a prototype of a four-door Mustang, which attendees likened to a Porsche Panamera both in terms of size and general styling.

Executives told dealers the four-door Mustang would have a starting price under US$40,000 (A$56,500). It would also be capable of a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of under four seconds and feature more rear-seat space than a Panamera.

Although no name for the four-door Mustang was discussed, previous reports indicate it will wear Mach 4 badging. This isn't the first time Ford has displayed a four-door Mustang prototype, with a similar model shown at last year's dealers' conference in Las Vegas.

For reference, the Dodge Charger sedan starts at US$51,995 (A$73,500) with a 313kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six engine. Meanwhile the base Panamera costs US$113,000 (A$160,000) when equipped with a 260kW turbocharged 2.9-litre V6.

No timeframe was given for the four-door Mustang's launch.

MORE: Explore the Ford showroom