Ford EV Overhaul, Driving the Ferrari Amalfi
About this episode
Ford's recent $19.5 billion write-down signals a significant shift in its electric vehicle strategy, moving away from unprofitable models like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. The discussion highlights CEO Jim Farley's insights on future hybrid models and the potential return to traditional combustion engines. Meanwhile, Hannah shares her experience driving the new Ferrari Amalfi in Portugal, noting its improved tactile controls and luxurious performance. The episode dives into the evolving automotive landscape, comparing Ford's strategy with GM's and exploring the latest trends in high-performance vehicles.
We dive into the news that Ford is planning a sweeping overhaul of its electric vehicle business, canceling a planned electric F-Series truck among other moves. Plus Hannah got behind the wheel of the new Ferrari Amalfi and rubbed shoulders with some company bigwigs during her recent trip to Portugal. She came back with stories!
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Ferrari Amalfi
"I'm going to tell you about the Ferrari I drove this week in Portugal. It's the Ferrari Amalfi."
Ferrari Amalfi is a special, very fast car made by the famous Italian maker Ferrari. It has a powerful engine and can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour.
The Ferrari Amalfi is a limited‑edition, high‑performance sports car produced by Ferrari. It features a 4.0‑liter twin‑turbine V8 engine, producing around 650 horsepower and a top speed near 205 mph.
Ford F-150 Lightning
"And yeah, the Ford F-150 Lightning is their biggest money loser, the pickup truck, that's all electric."
The F‑150 Lightning is a pickup truck that runs only on electricity instead of gasoline. It has big batteries and electric motors so it can still haul cargo but without producing exhaust.
The Ford F‑150 Lightning is the all‑electric version of Ford’s best‑selling pickup truck. It uses a large battery pack and electric motors to replace the traditional gasoline engine, aiming to combine utility with zero‑emission power.
F-150 Raptor
"One of my favorite vehicles I've ever owned, my F-150 Raptor, I picked up at the Rouge, at the truck plant in Dearborn."
The F‑150 Raptor is a special version of Ford’s popular pickup truck that’s made for off‑road adventures. It has a big engine and stronger parts so it can go over rough ground better than a regular truck.
The Ford F-150 Raptor is a high‑performance off‑road pickup truck built on the F‑Series platform. It features a powerful V8 engine, upgraded suspension, and aggressive styling for extreme terrain handling.
gas-powered truck
"[299.5s] It's going to be a gas-powered truck."
It means the truck uses gasoline to power its engine, like most regular cars.
A truck that runs on gasoline, using a traditional internal combustion engine.
combustion engine
"[301.5s] It's going to be a combustion engine."
This is the usual engine that burns gasoline or diesel to make a car move.
An engine that generates power by burning fuel inside cylinders, producing mechanical energy.
hybrid
"[303.5s] Now, it could have, it could be some sort of hybrid."
It means the car can run on both gasoline and electric power, helping save fuel.
A vehicle that uses a combination of an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors powered by batteries.
Mustang Mach E
"[321.5s] Like maybe they'll still make the Mustang Mach E, right?"
It’s a modern electric car from Ford that looks like the classic Mustang but runs on batteries.
The Mustang Mach E is Ford’s all-electric version of the iconic Mustang, featuring a battery-powered drivetrain.
power trains
"[324.5s] But most of their power trains will be, will shift towards hybrids and e-revs."
It refers to all the parts that make a car move, like the engine and gearbox.
The combination of components that generate and transmit power to a vehicle’s wheels, including engines, transmissions, and motors.
e-revs
"As you know, because Jim Farley's been on this podcast before, he's very excited about e-revs, which is a battery-powered vehicle with an onboard gas generator, essentially."
e-revs is a way to make cars feel like they have both electric and gasoline power. The car uses an electric motor for quick starts, and a small gas engine keeps it going when the battery runs low.
e-revs refers to a hybrid powertrain that combines an electric motor with a small onboard gasoline generator. The electric motor provides instant torque, while the generator supplies power when needed, allowing for seamless acceleration without plugging in.
battery-powered vehicle with an onboard gas generator
"a battery-powered vehicle with an onboard gas generator, essentially."
It’s a car that runs mostly on electricity but has a little gas engine to keep the battery charged if you run out of power. That way you don’t have to find a charging station.
This describes a plug‑in hybrid or range‑extended electric vehicle (REEV) that uses an electric motor for propulsion and a small gasoline engine to generate electricity when the battery depletes. It eliminates range anxiety while keeping emissions low.
aluminum body
"they want this new truck, but it's all aluminum, right? The aluminum body."
Some trucks use aluminum for their outer shell instead of steel. Aluminum is lighter, so the truck can be more fuel‑efficient, but fixing dents can cost more.
An aluminum body refers to the outer panels and frame of a vehicle made from aluminum alloy instead of traditional steel. Aluminum is lighter, which improves fuel efficiency and handling, but it can be more expensive to repair after damage.
F1 engines
"We know Ford's gonna be jumping into F1 in 2026, not as a full team, but they're going to be supplying engines."
F1 engines are the super-fast, very special cars that race in Formula 1. They use fancy technology to make a lot of power while staying within the rules.
F1 engines are high-performance, highly regulated power units used in Formula 1 racing. They combine advanced materials and hybrid technology to deliver extreme power while meeting strict fuel and emissions rules.
Waymo
"But Ford, if I recall, Farley has talked about potentially doing a partnership with Waymo."
Waymo is a company that builds self‑driving cars. They work with car makers to test and improve the technology.
Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company) that develops autonomous vehicle technology and has partnered with several automakers to test self‑driving cars.
self-driving
"To further develop self‑driving with a partnership with Waymo."
Self‑driving means a car can drive itself using computers and sensors, so you don’t have to steer or brake.
Self‑driving, or autonomous driving, refers to vehicles that can navigate and operate without human input using sensors, software, and AI.
robo taxi fleet
"Not their own robo taxi fleet."
A robo taxi fleet is a bunch of driverless cars that people can hail like a regular taxi, but the car runs itself.
A robo taxi fleet is a group of autonomous vehicles operated as shared taxis, often deployed by companies to provide on‑demand transportation without drivers.
Argo AI
"Yeah, Ford had Argo AI, right?"
Argo AI was a company that made self‑driving cars and worked with Ford, but it stopped operating.
Argo AI was an autonomous vehicle company that partnered with Ford and GM to develop self‑driving technology before being shut down.
Ford Lightning
"The lightning, well now it's canceled, but had the lightning and the Mustang Machee."
It’s a fully electric truck from Ford that was meant to be a big‑box pickup but has been cancelled. It had a powerful battery and fast charging, but it never reached production.
The Ford Lightning is an all‑electric version of the Ford F‑150 pickup, designed to compete with other electric trucks like the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck.
GM Equinox Electric
"Whereas general motors has the equinox's electric."
It’s an electric SUV from GM that replaces the gas‑powered Equinox. It can travel a decent distance on one charge, good for everyday use.
The GM Equinox Electric is the all‑electric version of General Motors’ popular midsize SUV, offering a modest range suitable for city driving and short commutes.
battery electric vehicles
"Those are all 100% battery electric vehicles."
These are cars that use batteries for power instead of gasoline or diesel.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are cars that run solely on electricity stored in rechargeable batteries, with no internal combustion engine.
two plus two grand tourer
"This is the two plus two basically grand tour that Ferrari makes. The starting price is $262,000."
A "two plus two" car is a big sports car that can seat four people, not just two. It’s built for long trips with speed and comfort.
A "two plus two" grand tourer refers to a luxury sports car that seats four people (two front, two rear) while delivering high performance and comfort for long drives.
start button
"[1301.5s] And we fixed that mistake by bringing back an actual start button, an actual tangible."
The start button is a little switch on the steering wheel that you press to turn the car on.
A start button is a physical control on the steering wheel that initiates the vehicle's engine and electronic systems, replacing touch-screen inputs for safety and convenience.
Ferrari 296
"[1408.5s] But it's it's not going to it's not the Ferrari you take to the track. [1411.5s] It's not even a two nine six."
Ferrari 296 is a fancy car from the famous Italian maker Ferrari. It’s powerful and can go fast on roads or racetracks, but it isn’t the kind of Ferrari that’s only meant for racing.
The Ferrari 296 GTB is a high‑performance hybrid sports car that blends a V6 turbo engine with an electric motor to produce over 650 horsepower. It’s designed for both street use and track performance, but it’s not the most aggressive or “track‑only” Ferrari models.
Aston Martin
"But think about when we talk about Aston Martin's."
Aston Martin makes fancy, fast cars that are very expensive and often seen on the news or in movies.
Aston Martin is a British luxury car manufacturer known for its high-performance sports cars and grand tourers.
Porsche 911
"Think about when we talk about a couple of the higher-end Porsche 911s."
The Porsche 911 is a famous German sports car that many people want to own because it looks cool and drives fast.
The Porsche 911 is a long-running sports car model that has been produced since the 1960s, known for its rear-engine layout and iconic shape.
Mercedes-AMG GT
"Think about when we talk about even that Mercedes-AMG GT."
The AMG GT is a fast, German-made car that looks sporty and can go very quickly.
The Mercedes-AMG GT is a high-performance sports coupe produced by the AMG division of Mercedes-Benz, featuring powerful engines and aggressive styling.
heads up display
"I asked, is there a heads up display in this vehicle?"
A heads-up display shows important car info on a screen in front of you so you don't have to look down.
A heads-up display (HUD) projects information onto the windshield or a screen in front of the driver, allowing them to see data without looking away from the road.
Le Mans
"[2399.5s] Racing at Le Mans in the glory days, that movie Ford versus Ferrari."
Le Mans is a famous car race in France where drivers try to drive as far as possible for 24 hours straight.
Le Mans is a legendary endurance race held annually in Le Mans, France, known for testing the durability and speed of cars over 24 hours.
Mondial
"[2613.5s] You hear Mondial? [2614.5s] Yeah, Mondial. ... [2630.5s] And there was a very cool Mondial there."
Mondial is a French car brand that made small cars in the 1970s. It’s not very common today, so it might sound unfamiliar.
Mondial was a French automobile manufacturer that produced small cars in the 1970s and early 1980s, known for models like the Mondial 1000.
Burmester
"[2638.5s] Except for you did also think it was Burmester. [2642.5s] No, I thought it was Burmester. [2646.5s] It's Burmester."
Burmester makes fancy speakers and sound gear that people put in luxury cars or home theaters to get really good music quality.
Burmester is a German manufacturer known for high‑end audio components such as speakers, amplifiers, and sound systems used in premium cars and home installations.
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