How can courier companies deliver parcels on time while dodging high fuel prices these days? Ford may have just unveiled the answer at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K., with the Pro Electric SuperVan that packs a 2,000-horsepower punch.
Ford Pro Electric SuperVan: The Fastest Transit Yet
This is the latest in a line of one-off enhanced commercial vehicles built for Ford U.K., taking on the appearance of a Ford Transit van enhanced with a sports racing car chassis and powertrain. The newest iteration is notable for ditching the traditional V8 power unit in favor of four electric motors powered by a liquid-cooled 50kWh battery.
Ford claims that the all-wheel-drive and instantaneous torque allow the Electric SuperVan to reach 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in under two seconds. The truck, developed secretly by Ford Performance in partnership with STARD Motorsport of Australia, was demonstrated in a hill climb by Le Mans winner Romain Dumas.
“We’re bringing the SuperVan into the 21st century with 2,000 PS of all-electric power for unmatched excitement and unmistakable styling inspired by the new E-Transit Custom,” said Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook.
The exterior was handled by the Ford Design team in Cologne, Germany, comprising a muscular, race-ready aesthetic. A large front splitter has been fitted on the fascia, accompanied by massive side skirts and large wheel arches. Race-spec door mirrors and fixed windows reduce drag.
Look at that eye-catching rear end
A prominent tailgate spoiler sits on top of the rear body’s large cutaway that integrates a dorsal fin, the better to generate more downforce. The steel spaceframe and lightweight composite body panels feature cargo space behind the driver’s seat, with loading and unloading made possible through a door on the side.
The rest of the cabin has been stripped out and fitted with a full roll cage, FIA regulation seats, race-spec steering wheel, and 12-inch infotainment system running Ford’s SYNC 4 operating system. That touchscreen also enables five user-selectable drive modes, from Road to Rally settings, and sends real-time data for remote vehicle management.
The Electric SuperVan features a race-ready cockpit
Ford U.K. has cooked up SuperVans as early as 1971, when the first version sported a 5.0-liter V8 rated at 400 horsepower, eventually redesigned as the Mark 2 in 1978. The SuperVan 2 debuted in 1984, also equipped with a V8 that yielded a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour. In 1994, the SuperVan 2 was rebuilt as the SuperVan 3, carrying an F1-derived V8 engine within its chassis.
As with its predecessors, the Electric SuperVan will not be mass produced. However, the E-Transit Custom that inspired will enter production in the second half of 2023.
Be impressed with more electrifying rides at Philkotse.com.