Ford engineers have been noticed with a prototype for a high-riding, mid-size hatchback.

It is a soft-roader of types, designed to problem high-riding wagons just like the Subaru Outback and former Buick Regal TourX, although the Ford’s roof is extra sloped than what you may discover on these alternate options.

A debut is predicted late this yr, which means we should always see it arrive as a 2022 mannequin.

Although it is but to be confirmed, the soft-roader is regarded as a direct substitute for the Ford Fusion sedan which bowed out after 2020. Consequently, the Mustang is now the one car that is not an SUV, pickup truck or van in Ford’s North American lineup.

There are rumors Ford plans to maintain the Fusion title, or a variation of it, so do not be shocked if the soft-roader finally ends up labeled one thing like Fusion Energetic. The Energetic designation is what Ford makes use of for soft-roaders it sells abroad, just like the Fiesta Energetic and Focus Energetic. Ford had deliberate on importing the Focus Energetic from China, however the current commerce warfare put an end to that happening.

For earlier check mules, the engineers used a stretched physique borrowed from the Focus Wagon sold overseas to cowl the underpinnings. These underpinnings are regarded as an up to date model of Ford’s CD4 platform for mid-size vehicles, the present model of which underpins the Fusion. This implies there’s the potential for front- and all-wheel drive, in addition to plug-in hybrid powertrains.

An alternate could possibly be a stretched model of the compact C2 platform that debuted a few years again within the Focus offered abroad. It might clarify why the engineers used a stretched Focus Wagon physique for the check mule as an alternative of the physique of the bigger, Fusion-based Mondeo Wagon additionally offered abroad.

There are no pictures of the inside however there are rumors a big show spanning the width of the sprint could possibly be supplied in some markets, together with probably right here in the USA.

We additionally do not know what’s taking place within the powertrain division, however an providing of turbocharged 4- and 6-cylinder engines is probably going. As talked about above, a plug-in hybrid can also be a risk.

Notice, whereas the Fusion sedan is leaving our market, it stays on sale elsewhere. An replace was simply launched that noticed the sedan obtain a 12.8-inch portrait-style show much like the one within the Mustang Mach-E.