The Ford Fathom($28,350 EV truck thread)

[DeluxeStang]

That being said, this does raise an interesting point that's been on my mind for awhile. Which is I don't know how appealing this truck is gonna be if it has to ditch most of the truck attributes to be good as an EV. 

 

It won't be able to tow much. It won't be able to do offroading. It won't be able to look like a blocky traditional truck. It's not high off the ground and will be pretty comparable in height to a hatchback or sedan. 

 

So a lot of the things people flock to trucks for, this thing isn't gonna have. I personally like it. Because it's this cool, RWD, techy, low slung fun sporty truck/ute. But I can recognize what appeals to me as an enthusiast may not appeal to the broader market. 

 

I suppose some things like the lower ride height aren't a huge deal breaker. Seeing as it's mostly older individuals who want taller vehicles that are easier to get in and out of. Whereas as an affordable techy EV, this thing is aimed more directly at younger buyers who are used to lower vehicles in many cases. 

[pictor]

As an owner of a Maverick and Tesla model 3LR, it would great if I could I replace  both with a Fathom. But since I tow my 19 foot Eastern from time to time as well travel 300 mile round trip every couple of weeks on a single charge on the Tesla, the specs on the Fathom won’t work for me. Ideally I would like 360 mile range non towing and 180 miles range towing 3500 lbs if I were replace both vehicles with one vehicle.

[rmc523]

3 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said:

What’s the percentage hybrid vs. non-hybrid? That should be a decent indicator 

 

I seem to recall articles for some time talking about a roughly 50/50 split, but that more recently it's skewed more hybrid?  I could be wrong on that.

 

3 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

That being said, this does raise an interesting point that's been on my mind for awhile. Which is I don't know how appealing this truck is gonna be if it has to ditch most of the truck attributes to be good as an EV. 

 

It won't be able to tow much. It won't be able to do offroading. It won't be able to look like a blocky traditional truck. It's not high off the ground and will be pretty comparable in height to a hatchback or sedan. 

 

So a lot of the things people flock to trucks for, this thing isn't gonna have. I personally like it. Because it's this cool, RWD, techy, low slung fun sporty truck/ute. But I can recognize what appeals to me as an enthusiast may not appeal to the broader market. 

 

I suppose some things like the lower ride height aren't a huge deal breaker. Seeing as it's mostly older individuals who want taller vehicles that are easier to get in and out of. Whereas as an affordable techy EV, this thing is aimed more directly at younger buyers who are used to lower vehicles in many cases. 

 

That's why I've been saying to not set the expectation bar too high on design (and therefore sales), as this thing has to in a way both thread a needle customer wise, and appeal to a broader audience to succeed.  It'll have to appeal to a picky EV crowd for features, range, etc, while also broadly appealing to enough ICE/hybrid buyers to get them to switch.

 

I also think it helps that Maverick is already around, as it's a proof of concept of at least the sizing and capabilities of the vehicle.  Customers like the smaller size, but also based on reports, only do mild truck activities like throw some mulch in the bed on a Home Depot run, with largely limited towing.....doesn't mean it won't tow, but if you really want to tow, you go up to Ranger or beyond. 

But as you point out, Maverick also benefits from "trucky" styling, whereas the Fathom is more aero-first design.  Who knows, maybe it'll look different than we're thinking, but we'll see.......I'm picturing a modern take of the '97-03 aero F-150 look.

 

3 hours ago, pictor said:

As an owner of a Maverick and Tesla model 3LR, it would great if I could I replace  both with a Fathom. But since I tow my 19 foot Eastern from time to time as well travel 300 mile round trip every couple of weeks on a single charge on the Tesla, the specs on the Fathom won’t work for me. Ideally I would like 360 mile range non towing and 180 miles range towing 3500 lbs if I were replace both vehicles with one vehicle.

 

Well, we don't have any official numbers yet, so the jury is still out whether it'd be able to do what you want.

[Texasota]

Another rendering for the Fathom.

 

 

https://topelectricsuv.com/news/ford/ford-fathom-electric-truck-rendered/ 

Edited September 9 by Texasota

[Sherminator98]

I'm gonna guess that the Fathom front end is going to have a front end similar to the Bronco Basecamp/Dodge Charger where it looks larger then it is visually, but is opened up through the hood to cut down on the frontal area

see photo for what I'm talking about

[rmc523]

12 hours ago, Texasota said:

Another rendering for the Fathom.

 

 

https://topelectricsuv.com/news/ford/ford-fathom-electric-truck-rendered/ 

 

Isn't this the same rendering they've had for a while?

 

Funny that we can see a headlight shape that looks nothing like that.

 

 

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

I'm gonna guess that the Fathom front end is going to have a front end similar to the Bronco Basecamp/Dodge Charger where it looks larger then it is visually, but is opened up through the hood to cut down on the frontal area

see photo for what I'm talking about

 

That hideous "Ferrari" does that too.

 

I don't know if there's enough real estate for that.

 

 

[Sherminator98]

15 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

I don't know if there's enough real estate for that.

 

Why wouldn't it have it? I'm assuming that the "grill" is just window dressing-there is an part there that looks like a grill but has minimal impact to the frontal aera because the air is directed around it and then vent out the dip down in the hood-the only parts that count against the frontal area is the bumper and headlights, if that makes sense. You still have a hood that covers the frunk. 

[rmc523]

8 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

Why wouldn't it have it? I'm assuming that the "grill" is just window dressing-there is an part there that looks like a grill but has minimal impact to the frontal aera because the air is directed around it and then vent out the dip down in the hood-the only parts that count against the frontal area is the bumper and headlights, if that makes sense. You still have a hood that covers the frunk. 

 

I'm just thinking with it already being a low vehicle with a shorter (length) hood, would that approach cut into frunk room?  But I guess we don't know what all they'll have to stuff under the hood in addition to a frunk compartment (maybe not as much as say Mach E) with the new assembly approach.

[Zestyg]

On 9/4/2026 at 9:57 AM, fuzzymoomoo said:

What’s the percentage hybrid vs. non-hybrid? That should be a decent indicator 

50/50, slight majority hybrid.

[T-dubz]

16 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

I'm gonna guess that the Fathom front end is going to have a front end similar to the Bronco Basecamp/Dodge Charger where it looks larger then it is visually, but is opened up through the hood to cut down on the frontal area

see photo for what I'm talking about

I wish it was part of the design so it could look more like a traditional truck, however I think the hood is low and sloped enough to achieve the aerodynamics.

[DeluxeStang]

16 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

I'm gonna guess that the Fathom front end is going to have a front end similar to the Bronco Basecamp/Dodge Charger where it looks larger then it is visually, but is opened up through the hood to cut down on the frontal area

see photo for what I'm talking about

It's a cool idea, but I don't see it happening. Maybe for a second gen fathom if we get that far. But it seems like it's just gonna go old school with a lower, rounded off front end. 

 

Similar to the front end design of this is my guess. Thought it does seem like the fathom will have a (slightly) longer hood than this. So hopefully it'll look more appealing from this angle. 

Edited September 10 by DeluxeStang

[Sherminator98]

7 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

It's a cool idea, but I don't see it happening. Maybe for a second gen fathom if we get that far. But it seems like it's just gonna go old school with a lower, rounded off front end. 

 

I think it still will have it to improve aerodynamics.

 

This shows what I'm trying to explain better-you can see something similar on the Bronco basecamp

 

It looks like just cuts down on the frontal area by lowering the angle of the hood for better aerodynamics and the Fathom will have a false grill that would direct air around it. 

 

Found this shot of the Bronco basecamp-the grill camouflages it 

 

Edited September 10 by Sherminator98

[HotRunrGuy]

20 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I think it still will have it to improve aerodynamics.

 

This shows what I'm trying to explain better-you can see something similar on the Bronco basecamp

 

It looks like just cuts down on the frontal area by lowering the angle of the hood for better aerodynamics and the Fathom will have a false grill that would direct air around it. 

 

Found this shot of the Bronco basecamp-the grill camouflages it 

 

 

The 4th Gen Camaro called, they want their rear spoiler back,,,,,

 

HRG

 

 

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I think it still will have it to improve aerodynamics.

 

This shows what I'm trying to explain better-you can see something similar on the Bronco basecamp

 

It looks like just cuts down on the frontal area by lowering the angle of the hood for better aerodynamics and the Fathom will have a false grill that would direct air around it. 

 

Found this shot of the Bronco basecamp-the grill camouflages it 

 

 

We know what you're talking about.

 

The covered tarp vehicles from way back when show an already quite tapered front.  There is a crease line on the top that could possibly support what you're saying, however, it looks narrow, and the taper would have to be drastic to make that fit in there under that existing taper, IMO.

 

 

[DeluxeStang]

5 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I think it still will have it to improve aerodynamics.

 

This shows what I'm trying to explain better-you can see something similar on the Bronco basecamp

 

It looks like just cuts down on the frontal area by lowering the angle of the hood for better aerodynamics and the Fathom will have a false grill that would direct air around it. 

 

Found this shot of the Bronco basecamp-the grill camouflages it 

 

I would personally love it if that's the direction they went in. But it doesn't seem to line up with the winter mule that essentially showed us the angle of the front end. 

 

This is a sort of styling element I'd love to see on future bronco, truck, and mustang models. Stuff where it needs to be blocky and muscular really look it's best. 

 

But I don't know if we'll get it for this affordable EV. How much more expensive would it be to have a more complex sheet metal mold for a hood shape like that compared to a more conventional hood?

[DeluxeStang]

4 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

We know what you're talking about.

 

The covered tarp vehicles from way back when show an already quite tapered front.  There is a crease line on the top that could possibly support what you're saying, however, it looks narrow, and the taper would have to be drastic to make that fit in there under that existing taper, IMO.

 

 

I see what you guys are referring to. But this just looks like a bit of hood surfacing. It looks a lot like the middle surfacing of my 5th gen explorer hood. 

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

I would personally love it if that's the direction they went in. But it doesn't seem to line up with the winter mule that essentially showed us the angle of the front end. 

 

This is a sort of styling element I'd love to see on future bronco, truck, and mustang models. Stuff where it needs to be blocky and muscular really look it's best. 

 

But I don't know if we'll get it for this affordable EV. How much more expensive would it be to have a more complex sheet metal mold for a hood shape like that compared to a more conventional hood?

 

I don't know how much more "complex" it really is from a mold standpoint.  You'd have the upper portion bolt to the hood, which would have a recessed/pre-stamped mounting area for it.

 

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

I see what you guys are referring to. But this just looks like a bit of hood surfacing. It looks a lot like the middle surfacing of my 5th gen explorer hood. 

 

Correct....I agree it's hood surfacing.......my point was that was about the only thing you could potentially point to in order to support the theory of that channel approach.

[Zestyg]

7 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

We know what you're talking about.

 

The covered tarp vehicles from way back when show an already quite tapered front.  There is a crease line on the top that could possibly support what you're saying, however, it looks narrow, and the taper would have to be drastic to make that fit in there under that existing taper, IMO.

 

 

I totally forgot we had this photo. It actually could be a hood scoop like that. They also consistently have an opening right below there, which is either sensors and/or could be airflow.
 

Meanwhile, if you take the lines from this picture and impose it on the spy shots, it ends up looking quite trucky like the F-150/expedition’s front face. The camo makes the hood-line look lower because it obscures the lights, but that bump in the middle of the hood-line is present in all of the camo.

[Zestyg]

New patent, could be fathom. Interesting, although it seems likely that this is a new concept that they are just using the Fathom shape to demonstrate. 

[T-dubz]

I think that’s the best implementation of a frunk I’ve seen. A front tailgate adds more seating and easier access. Hope that makes production on some vehicle.

[DeluxeStang]

I wonder if this is essentially the fathom design revealed in terms of general shape and proportions. You have the heavily raked windshield that looks even more cab forward that what we see on the mules, as well as a slanted and angles down front end. 

 

Some Ford employees have said the camo is hiding the design very well, and throwing people off. I hope this is what it looks like with the camo removed, because that's pretty sleek. 

 

Add it finer touches like mach-e door handles and arch lines you can see from this additional patent image and we might be getting a pretty good idea of the final design. It looks solid. 

[Zestyg]

27 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

I wonder if this is essentially the fathom design revealed in terms of general shape and proportions. You have the heavily raked windshield that looks even more cab forward that what we see on the mules, as well as a slanted and angles down front end. 

 

Some Ford employees have said the camo is hiding the design very well, and throwing people off. I hope this is what it looks like with the camo removed, because that's pretty sleek. 

 

Add it finer touches like mach-e door handles and arch lines you can see from this additional patent image and we might be getting a pretty good idea of the final design. It looks solid. 

the hood isn’t flat and recessed like that (we can see in skunkworks covered photo), but besides that yeah probably

[Willwll313wll]

I don’t think this is the fathom. We’ve seen shots and the a pillar doesn’t align to what we see here. The fathom doesn’t seem to be as

cabin forward, by inches…

[DeluxeStang]

19 minutes ago, Willwll313wll said:

I don’t think this is the fathom. We’ve seen shots and the a pillar doesn’t align to what we see here. The fathom doesn’t seem to be as

cabin forward, by inches…

But there's a bunch of thick camo stacked on the front end. The mules are almost as cab forward as that patent image, and if the windshield is extending even further beyond what we're seeing, it would line up with the patent basically like for like. 

[Zestyg]

48 minutes ago, Willwll313wll said:

I don’t think this is the fathom. We’ve seen shots and the a pillar doesn’t align to what we see here. The fathom doesn’t seem to be as

cabin forward, by inches…

its because the patent features a recessed hood surface that is lower than the actual hood. This is what it would look like if you raised it up (I added a dip in the middle like the skunkworks tarp pic)