Ford Plans Rival to Toyota Prius Hybrid

Ford Motor Co. intends to introduce a hybrid-only sedan in late 2018 to compete with Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid, according to Reuters.

The news service cites two unidentified sources who say the car code named C240 will be produced at Ford's assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., at a rate of about 120,000 units per year. The factory currently makes the Focus electric sedan and both hybrid and plug-in versions of the C-Max compact MPV.

Ford will offer a plug-in variant of the C240's hybrid powertrain, according to Reuters. The car will be Ford's first vehicle designed specifically as a hybrid rather than a hybridized version of a conventionally powered model.

The car will ride on Ford's new "C2" small-car platform. The same chassis also will carry next-generation Focus small sedans and Escape small crossover vehicles, according to Reuters' sources.

The news service says powertrain components for the car, such as the propulsion motors, batteries and system controls, will be adapted from Ford's existing parts bin. But the new model is expected to deliver superior fuel economy and greater all-electric range than the company's current array of hybrids.