New video & photos: Ford Fathom in the Wild (Las Vegas detour during hot weather testing)

[Administrator]

The team was out in the desert doing hot weather testing on the new Ford Fathom and took a detour through Las Vegas to share the new name. Our new midsize electric truck. Coming 2027.

 

[WXman]

Hmmm... belt line looks really high, but roof line looks low. Like a late model Camaro. Visibility could be an issue. I understand that it's camo'd right now, but the proportions look terrible.

Edit: after further inspection it appears they may be intentionally throwing the proportions off with attachments to the door sills and bed sides and that cover that extends beyond the rear glass. So perhaps the production version doesn't follow these lines at all.

 

[thum]

Hmmm... belt line looks really high, but roof line looks low. Like a late model Camaro. Visibility could be an issue. I understand that it's camo'd right now, but the proportions look terrible.

Edit: after further inspection it appears they may be intentionally throwing the proportions off with attachments to the door sills and bed sides and that cover that extends beyond the rear glass. So perhaps the production version doesn't follow these lines at all.

I’m pretty sure there is padding at the bottom of the windows to make the belt line look higher. Also looks like there is padding around the bed side.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

Just because I was curious, I walked out to my Maverick just now with a measuring tape. The beltline is a solid 12" beneath my eyes. They could raise that 6" and it wouldn't affect my visibility at all - well, it would affect my ability to look at the pavement 6" away from the truck. The Maverick blocks my forward visibility (like most trucks) with that "manly men only drive square things" blocky hood.

I suspect visibility is more about A, B, C pillars and hoods blocking sightlines more than the beltline. After doing my little experiment, I'm not gonna worry. If it's a problem during a test drive, oh well...

 

[Tdubz]

I agree, I think there’s extra padding on the bed to make it look tall and extra camo covering part of the windows. It will probably still have a high belt line, but not as extreme as we see on these.

 

[PowerShift]

Since we first starting seeing photos I've believed the real beltline is about an inch lower than where the camo puts it. One photo gives a good look at the side view mirror and you can see where the bottom edge is. This also proves there is no mini-window in the a-pillar like the rendering from TopElectricSUV. Also, the headlight shape is getting clearer. There's almost certainly no vertical light bar like most of the renderings have.

Also, there's a magnet that says "Camo off in 2027". Does that rule out an LA Auto Show reveal?

 

[The Electric Duo]

They've been saying a reveal is in early 2027 but I wouldn't be surprised if they drive this around DTLA during the LA Auto Show.

 

[Tdubz]

I can’t imagine them not showing it at the LA Auto Show. Especially with all the California references they’ve been throwing out there. It’s at the end of November so it’s basically 2027 lol.

 

[Garbone]

Door handles.....

 

[ColoradoFordFan]

Asked Grok what’s under the camo. A few renderings later… not bad.

 

[Snakebitten]

It's a guess, of course. But as good a guess as I've seen so far.

But I've seen so many of them by now that statistically speaking, I've probably seen one or two pretty good guesses. I just can't determine which one(s).

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I'm sticking to my Detroit Auto Show full reveal date. Media day is 14 January.

• It supports/boosts the region Ford lives and works in
• It vibes with the general time guidance Ford interviewees have been hinting at
• It vibes with Ford getting some "ground truth" about order quantity early enough to give decent guidance to suppliers - assuming Job 1 starts late summer or fall 2027. I think that matters to Ford because they so badly misjudged the Maverick release.

I see Ford continuing to drop hints and videos and interviews from the UEV team between now and then. But here's my question: When do we see the first spy shot of the second vehicle on the UEV platform?

 

[commadorebob]

The barcode only takes you to the Ford Fathom site. Nothing hidden that I can see.

That said, they need to bring it to central Alabama this weekend if they really want to test the A/C.

 

[Snakebitten]

One thing I'm not concerned with is the ability for Ford's electrified (High Voltage) cold air generation.

I own and have owned 2 of their vehicles that are sans a belt driven ac compressor. And not only do they keep the cabin at 68F in the brutal Texas Heat, but they do so sitting parked for hours while I work from the laptop.

The only negative that I can think of is I bet the price of that 240V compressor is steeper? And they have it buried somewhere more difficult to get to than bolted up on the engine block.

 

[atomguy245]

I'm sticking to my Detroit Auto Show full reveal date. Media day is 14 January.

• It supports/boosts the region Ford lives and works in
• It vibes with the general time guidance Ford interviewees have been hinting at
• It vibes with Ford getting some "ground truth" about order quantity early enough to give decent guidance to suppliers - assuming Job 1 starts late summer or fall 2027. I think that matters to Ford because they so badly misjudged the Maverick release.

I see Ford continuing to drop hints and videos and interviews from the UEV team between now and then. But here's my question: When do we see the first spy shot of the second vehicle on the UEV platform?

I found this image on the US Patent website in April. The patent was for the assembly method Ford is using for the UEP. Looking through the other drawings, this is a dual motor EV crossover. Perhaps the new Escape EV?