Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ready to compete with Tesla
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a five-door all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive electric SUV, which has been produced since 2020. Ford claims that ‘this electric SUV combines the most progressive features of all existing electric vehicles, but at the same time it is worthy of the Mustang name, as it was designed by the same people who create real Ford Mustang models in Detroit’. The traditional legendary Ford Mustang in the USA is still the first sports coupe that easily surpasses its main competitors, and only the Porsche 911 has slightly better sales results in Europe. And now the manufacturer has presented an electric Mustang, which will be produced in Mexico.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E premiered almost simultaneously with Ford vs. Ferrari (the movie is about the creation of the legendary Ford GT40). Interestingly, Ford’s presentation event was held in the hometown of SpaceX rocket building company owned by Elon Musk. The electric Mustang is a perfect combination of the old-school past and innovative future.
The Ford Mustang success is also explained by the fact that the entry-level coupe price starts at $26,000. As for the Mach-E, you will have to pay from 44 thousand dollars for the entry-level version to 60.5 thousand dollars for the GT modification. Sales began with the limited First Edition at a price of $59,900. Following Tesla’s example, Ford even collected deposits ($500 per car). The production cars were finally released at the end of 2020 in the USA, Europe and China, where the Mach-E became the first official Mustang in the local market.
Origins
To create an electric Mustang, the manufacturer used the Ford Focus platform as a basis, installed a large battery, raised the roof and suspension as befits to an SUV. The resulting vehicle was named the Compliance-car. However, the matter did not get any farther. In 2017, Ted Cannis became Ford’s Global Director of Electrification. With his arrival, a new team of effective managers and creative designers decided to turn the Compliance-car into the Hero-car. So the once front-wheel drive electric SUV based on the Focus started becoming the Mustang Mach-E. Design and transformation of the Mustang brand was led by Jason Castriota, former head stylist for Pininfarina and Saab.
The platform of the future electric SUV was almost completely redesigned: the front axle was moved to the nose, the nose itself became vertical, the wheels grew up to 20 inches, the windshield pillar was moved back, the battery became larger and lower, and most importantly, the main traction motor was moved back. However, the signs of a ‘civilian’ mass platform Mach-E were preserved. The vehicle features a McPherson strut suspension at the front and an electric power steering on the steering shaft. Truth be told, the rear multi-link suspension, which according to Ford is completely new, is very similar to the one used on the real Mustang. The new electric Mustang premiered in America on November 17, 2020.
‘This electric SUV combines the most progressive features of all existing electric vehicles, but at the same time it is worthy of the Mustang name, as it was designed by the same people who create real Ford Mustang models in Detroit’
Three months after the official premiere in the USA, the vehicle was presented in London. According to engineers, in order for the electric car to meet local road conditions and customer requirements, they had to fine-tune the suspension and steering, as well as the stabilization system and all-wheel drive. The European Ford Mustang Mach-E differs from the American one even from the outside. Thus, the models have different navigation lights (the vertical sections have disappeared) and an embossed black edging of the central plug on the front face. At the same time, it is impossible not to notice orange side reflectors, which are standard for cars produced for the American market. According to Ford, the vast majority of European customers (about 85%) who pre-ordered the new Mach-E opted for a large 98.8 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive (286 hp) that provide a driving range of up to 600 km (WLTP cycle).
As a result, the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E was chosen the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. Even the Tesla Model Y couldn’t surpass it.
Exterior
In terms of dimensions, the new Ford Mustang Mach-E is almost identical to such vehicles as the BMW X4 and the Mercedes GLC Coupe. It is 4,712 mm long and 1,597 mm high, offering a wheelbase of 2,984 mm. The vehicle has a sloping roofline, reminiscent of a coupe’s profile. Such a roofline is formed by black plastic overlays on the top of the sidewalls, which go into the spoiler of the fifth door and visually hide the “bubble” of the high roof over the rear seats. There are no traditional door handles, as they were replaced by buttons on the roof pillars. Once you press them, the doors slightly jump out of the openings, but you need to pull the front one towards yourself using a special small hook in the rear lower corner of the side window (the hook cannot be removed), while the back one can be opened by grasping the edge. By the way, the owner’s smartphone plays the role of a key, although a traditional key fob is also provided.
Interior
The diameter of the horizontal dashboard display is 10.2 inches, while the vertical central display is 15.5 inches. The interface design is strict and emotionally neutral. You can connect your phone using the Apple CarPlay protocol without a cable and at the same time use the car navigation and the iPhone music interface. The speech assistant can be selected in one click: the built-in Ford intelligent algorithm, Siri or a similar Google service. It is possible to combine touch buttons with analog ones: the volume knob is placed right on the screen and does not have a physical mechanism, but it is monofunctional so far and is only responsible for ‘music’. Unlike the Tesla model, the new Mach-E does not offer a built-in internet browser and streaming video capabilities, although all traditional online services, including traffic jam information channel and on-demand radio, are available.
About 85% of buyers opt for a large 98.8 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive (286 hp) that provide a driving range of up to 600 km (WLTP cycle).
The steering wheel, buttons, deflectors and transmission control unit are standard for Ford cars. Plastic is inexpensive, leather is artificial, although this is part of the modern eco-philosophy: a minimum of damage to wildlife. The seating position is high, so there is enough free space in the back. The acceleration is accompanied by a rumbling sound, vaguely reminiscent of an internal combustion engine exhaust sound. This sound was chosen by customers in a survey. In terms of functionality, the 2020/2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E differs from conventional SUVs only by the presence of a 100-liter front trunk, which can be washed with a hose (there is a drainage hole at the bottom), which will make it easier to transport dirty things. The rear trunk can hold 402 liters. There are only five seats, and the back of the backseat is divided into only two parts.
Powertrains
The new Mach-E Mustang is available in five variants, each with different equipment, driving range, dynamic performance and price. The driving range depends on the selected drive and battery configuration (made by LG Chem in Poland).
- The basic Standard Range version can be equipped with a 75.7 kWh battery, rear-wheel drive and a powertrain with a total output of 258 hp or with all-wheel drive with an output of 258 hp. The driving range can be up to 450 km (with rear wheel drive) or up to 420 km (with all-wheel drive).
- The Extended Range version also allows you to select the number of drive wheels. The rear-wheel drive SUV has an output of 286 hp, while hp. This version is equipped with a 98.8 kWh large battery. The driving range of the rear-wheel drive version with a 98.8 kW/h battery and a 286 hp engine reaches 600 km. The all-wheel drive SUV with a large battery can travel up to 540 km on a single charge.
- The GT top modification can only be all-wheel drive and offers an output of 465 hp. It started being supplied in the spring of 2021. The GT version is equipped only with a large battery and can travel 500 km without recharging. Two identical front and rear electric motors with a total capacity of 465 hp accelerate the electric SUV in 3.5 seconds.
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E does not support ultra-fast charging functions. Thus, the vehicle will accept the maximum charge rate of 150 kW when charging with direct current, despite the fact that Ford is part of the Ionity joint venture, which is creating a trans-European network of stations with a capacity of up to 350 kW. Ford officials explain this by the fact that in 80% of cases, an electric vehicle is still charged at home and it would be wiser to enable customers to choose different home stations to charge their vehicles.
The SUV has a soft suspension, although the Mach-E uses only springs and only passive dampers, with the only exception being MagneRide shock absorbers for the GT version. The front brakes are Brembo’s new Flexira series fixed-caliper brakes, while the rear ones are floating-caliper ones.
