But a fiercely loyal following of those that did buy them. 

No. It was explicitly stated that all the products will be new nameplates, nothing will be "updated" in this context: "the products will all be new nameplates, not redesigns."

Hopefully by multi-energy powertrains, the Ford big shots mean that all five of the new products will offer a pure BEV version, plus other combinations of gasoline, diesel, and electric power within the lineup where appropriate, and none of the EREV only bullshit like they're plannin' to do for next gen F-150 Lightning.

To me it just looks like green painters tape that might be holding up the plastic material at the bottom that is either protecting something while its being detailed or its hiding something in the photo. 

No, Ford stated this: https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/ford-affordable-electric-vehicle-platform-midsize-electric-truck I'm guessing it will be around $35K or so for starting MSRP   The sub 40K price point is to fit in the other products that are coming   There are five new products coming:   One is the CE1 Pickup   We can infer the other is going to be the new van going in Ohio, which will be C1 based hybrid replacement for the Transit Connect   So that leaves us with three more products-   My assumptions: A new Bronco nameplate to replace the Edge/Escape...but might be just an updated Bronco Sport   EV CUV on the CE1, which apparently is going to be called the Escape   Some sort of sedan, not sure if it will be a hybrid or based on the CE1.     

The average cost of a new car is around $50K in the USA at least

I had this issue on my 2024 F250.  It drove me nuts.  I could see the top left corner of the tailgate just ever so slightly out compared to the upper right corner.  It started about 6 months after I bought it.  I was thinking the lock in the tailgate wasn't quite closing 100%.  The post that the lock wraps around is adjustable, so I loosened it and moved it out, or towards myself to see if the lock would wrap around the post more.  I worked, and the corner of the tailgate was more flush.  I haven't had that light in 6 months.  

There was one year in the twenty teens where Louisville produced a combined 430,000 Escapes and MKCs 2016 I think….

A subtle shift of the goalposts as the reality of continued price increases sinks in.

Weren’t they originally supposed to be sub 30k? Sub 40k probably means 39,999 and that’s already more expensive than other EVs out there. I thought the new manufacturing process was supposed to save a lot of money, yet they might not even undercut the equinox ev that’s been out for a few years?   The rivian r2, which should be a big step up from these vehicles, is supposed to be only 45k.