We have nonetheless one more Ford thriller mule on our arms. This Ford Maverick was spotted on the company’s proving grounds sporting an odd mixture of camouflage and blend-and-match entire body elements, main us to believe that Ford is tests either a new or upgraded powertrain.
Let us start out with the exhaust retailers, for the reason that they are certainly a departure from what we have witnessed on creation trucks. Alternatively than a solitary, less than-bed outlet on the driver’s aspect, this prototype seems to have retailers exiting from what are now rear bumper inserts. Our spy integrated an outdated photograph of the EcoBoost turbo engine’s current solitary exhaust setup, which we’ve modified for the needs of this speculation publish-up.
The pink circles spotlight the inserts exactly where the bushings for the exhaust hangers go. Due to the fact the EcoBoost has only a single outlet, it would stand to explanation that the one on the right (passenger facet) in this photograph, which does not currently have everything inserted, was engineered for that objective. The latest outlet exits just beneath the inserts in the bumper (just out of body abide by the yellow arrow), which is what look to have been reduce out for this mule:
But wait around, there’s a lot more. The grille and entrance fascia have been modified way too. Typically, an EcoBoost Maverick has a reduce bumper fascia with a grille insert driving which the intercooler lives. That in change is flanked by tow hook recesses and small fog lamps or inserts. This bumper seems to be from the base (hybrid) product, but there however appears to be some kind of heat exchanger in that heart portion. Whether or not that is an intercooler for the turbo, portion of the air conditioning process, an oil cooler or just an optical illusion is difficult to say from this length.
We can see one more warmth exchanger juuuust peeking out previously mentioned the lessen grille insert, but be aware that driving it Ford has utilized its camo tape to include up the remainder of the opening main to the motor bay. Taken alongside one another with what we pointed out above, this looks backwards for a significant-general performance software, which we would hope to need additional cooling, not less. Specifically taking into consideration this is a pickup truck.
It appears odd that Ford would go to any lengths at all to disguise what are probable unfinished wheel properly openings. The wheel layout by itself staying disguised is also weird Ford could have simply just applied a wheel from an additional product of Maverick if they have been just going to protect them up.
Is higher effectiveness the completely wrong examine here? Is Ford alternatively doing work on a different hybrid variant? Potentially a PHEV? The exhaust routing could be needed to distinct a much larger underneath-bed battery pack. So, exactly where does that depart us? Puzzled, for positive, but similarly intrigued.
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