One of the world’s largest car companies, Ford, recently unveiled its first serious entry into the electric car market, the Mustang Mach-E. The model has received much applause and much criticism.
The usual ‘noise’ about electric cars, you know those spurious comments around range anxiety, batteries and charging were absent and the focus was on the use of the so-called sacred, Mustang name.
This really is a turning point for electric motoring. Drivers and many journalists have focused on the car’s use of the iconic pony badge and the styling (which doesn’t look like a muscle car to be fair).
It seems the Mach-E is just another SUV entering the bloated soft-roader market, the method of propulsion is now irrelevant and something we should be thanking Ford for.
This isn’t actually Ford’s first all-electric car. This was the Focus Electric, sold in small numbers in an almost deliberately unattractive spec and price, something many would refer to as a compliance car – a model sold to meet local regulations and enable the brand to continue selling in certain regions – California for example.
When it arrives in late 2020, Mustang Mach-E will be available with standard and extended-range battery options with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Equipped with an extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive, Mustang Mach‑E has a targeted pure-electric driving range of more than 370 miles according to the WLTP calculations.
In an extended-range all-wheel-drive setup, Mustang Mach-E is set to deliver 337PS (248kW) and 565Nm of torque.
The 75.7kWh and 98.8kWh battery packs will be capable of taking up to 150kw of charge. This translates into an increase in range of 57 miles within 10 minutes of charge time on a DC fast-charging station.
Ford also will offer a special performance version. The Mustang Mach-E GT is targeting 0-62mph time of sub five seconds from an estimated 465PS (342kW) and 830Nm of torque.
An entry price of £40,270 is quoted and is available to pre-order now.
A compliance car this is not.
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A SUV coupe design of now common place on UK roads -
Rear lights are a clear nod at the Mustang models of old -
Plenty of Tesla simplicity used on the interior design.
Using the Mustang brand name as quite a clever move by Ford, something I suspect they agonised over for some time. The Mustang name evokes a certain feeling with buyers, ‘representing freedom, progress, fast performance and a touch of rebellion’ – this isn’t something usually associated with a bulky soft-roader, maybe this move will add some needed spark to what is quite a dull market.
Additionally using the Mustang brand for their electric models allows them to continue selling their fossil fuel burners and offer an alternative for buyers to explore and aspire to – something I believe will work well.
All-new, purpose-built, all-electric model symbolises the beginning of a new electrified era for Ford. One of 14 electrified Ford vehicles coming to Europe by the end of 2020.
Stephen Brown
The Founder of driveEV. A driving and new technology fan enjoying learning all about the future of motoring. I drive a BMW i3.