Highlights
Features a 15.5in vertical touchscreen display
10.2in digital instrument cluster displays relevant driving information
Will be offered in a slew of variants and trims
Mustang Mach-E GT has 459 total horsepower
Options include panoramic glass roof, and B&O Play sound system
The electric vehicle is scene is hotting up, fast. Even as major German and British carmakers are joining the EV party and giving Tesla a run for its money, the Silicon Valley tech brand has never had a credible pretender to its throne from the US. It’s all changing now with Ford unveiling its all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV ahead of the Los Angeles Motor Show.
And it’s bringing some serious performance credentials to the arena, with the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition claiming a blisteringly quick 0-100kph acceleration time in the mid-3-second range and an estimated 459 horsepower and a whopping 830Nm of torque. It also boasts an EPA-estimated range of at least 300 miles (483 kilometres) with the available extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive, and offering built-in charging solutions that route customers to nearby public charging stations, recommending where to charge on trips, and providing access to over 12,500 public charge stations in the FordPass charging network.
“At the first-ever Detroit auto show, Henry Ford said he was working on something that would strike like forked lightning,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “That was the Model T. Today, the Ford Motor Company is proud to unveil a car that strikes like forked lightning all over again. The all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E. It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s freedom. For a new generation of Mustang owners.”
When it arrives in late 2020, the Mustang Mach-E will be available with Brembo’s all-new performance Flexira aluminium callipers, which maintain the functionality of a fixed calliper while being designed with the dimensions of a floating calliper. The GT Performance Edition is equipped with a MagneRide damping system, adaptive suspension technology that enhances road holding capabilities while delivering an exciting, comfortable ride.
“The Mustang Mach-E wholeheartedly rejects the notion that electric vehicles are only good at reducing gas consumption,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product development and purchasing officer. “People want a car that’s thrilling to drive, that looks gorgeous and that can easily adapt to their lifestyle – and the Mustang Mach-E delivers all of this in unmatched style.”
Mustang Mach-E offers three modes – Whisper, Engage and Unbridled – featuring custom-designed vehicle responsiveness such as sportier steering controls, ambient lighting, sounds tuned for an authentic all-electric experience, and dynamic cluster animations that are tied to driving behaviour.
A new Mach-E 4 all-wheel drive system will be available at launch that can apply torque independently to the front and rear axles to deliver impressive acceleration and improved handling over the rear-wheel drive model. The Mach E has been tuned by the Ford Performance team utilising Ford’s racing simulator in North Carolina tuned this system to provide excellent traction on the road, rigorously testing the vehicle in wet and snowy terrain to help control for slippery conditions.
“Whether you want to really feel its performance capability or are looking for the quiet atmosphere that electric vehicles can offer, the Mach-E harnesses the power of electrification to create a unique driving experience while retaining that unmistakable Mustang feeling of freedom,” said Ted Cannis, Ford enterprise product line director, global electrification.
Also making its debut in the Mach-E is the next-generation SYNC communications and entertainment system, an interface that uses machine learning to quickly learn drivers’ preferences, and can be modified further over time thanks to advanced over-the-air updates. Ford says the new SYNC’s 15.5-inch screen and simple interface ditches complicated menus, making it easier to access features with touch, swipe and pinch controls that every smartphone owner will be comfortable using. “Next-generation SYNC actively starts adapting to you as soon as you start using it, quickly learning your preferences and making personalized suggestions,” said Darren Palmer, Ford global director for battery electric vehicles. “It can suggest going to the gym if it learns Mondays are workout days or calling home if you do that every day after work. The result is a cloud-connected assistant and interface that’s intuitive, beautiful and ready for the future thanks to fast over-the-air updates.”
The Mach E also gets technology that makes getting in and starting the vehicle easy and effortless. The “Phone As A Key” technology, which makes its debut in the Mustang Mach-E uses Bluetooth to detect customers’ smartphones as they approach, unlocking the Mach-E and allowing them to start driving without getting their phones out of their pockets or using a key fob. A backup code can be entered on the center touch screen to start and drive the vehicle in the event a phone battery dies.
Customers can visit the Mustang Mach-E reservation site to make a $500 reservation deposit. A limited First Edition will be available in extended-range all-wheel drive, with red painted brake callipers, metallic pedal covers, contrasting seat stitching and a scuff plate marked First Edition. Those looking for the the Mach-E GT can make reservations now for deliveries starting in spring 2021.
