Ford Explains Why Mach-E GT Looks Different Than Other Trim Levels

Ford Explains Why Mach-E GT Looks Different Than Other Trim Levels

The age of the all-electric Ford Mustang is upon us, like it or not. Perhaps of bigger issue to purists and fans of the iconic pony car is that this new Mustang Mach-E isn鈥檛 a pony car at all, but a modest five-door crossover with available all-wheel drive. Several times during the Mach-E鈥檚 lengthy reveal, Ford executives pledged the crossover 鈥渄rives like a Mustang鈥?and can hit 60 mph in the mid-three-second range. However, only one Mach-E derivative can make that claim - the GT model. As such, it鈥檚 also styled a bit differently but in the world of electric cars, 鈥減erformance鈥?means range as well as acceleration and speed. Autoblog asked about different styling cues for the GT Performance edition of the Mach-E since it clearly stands out from the rest of the lineup. In short, Ford determined that performance-oriented buyers still favor a more traditional look, hence why the GT has an actual grille up front versus a solid body-color piece seen on other Mach-E trims. Or rather, it looks like a traditional grille. In reality, the GT鈥檚 grille is just as smooth because it has a clear cover so it can slice through the air as efficiently as possible. The GT also gets a slightly different lower fascia that has added vents and a prominent chin spoiler. Again, the name of the game here is increased efficiency, as the vents achieve some aerodynamic witchcraft that help offset extra drag from the GT鈥檚 larger wheels and tires. The lower spoiler, however, is said to add downforce for more grip at the front. That鈥檚 at least one bit of traditional performance this electric GT gets. It will be quite some time before folks can sample the Mach-E鈥檚 highest performance offering.

GM and Ford's market dominance in the pickup segment is expected to continue with sales of an additional 12 million trucks by 2026, followed by RAM Pickup of 3.7 million. But Toyota's prospects are looking up with Toyota Tacoma (1.7 million) - 4th place and Toyota Tundra (769K) 6th place, with Chevrolet Colorado at 5th place (1.1 million). Newer pickups from Toyota tend to get the most attention from accessorizers, especially the mid-size Tacoma. With 3.2 million Tacomas on the road today and 2 million Tundras, it is an indication that strong market exists for specialty-equipment markets within the Toyota pickup space. On Tuesday, the company announced significant changes in its North America division, such as establishing the Manufacturing Project Innovation Center and naming new leaders to enable its manufacturing team to better respond to customers' needs. 13 billion in its U.S. Ford Ranger (648K) took 7th place, but the list also introduces Nissan Motor Co's (OTC:NSANY) Frontier (506K). Nissan just unveiled its Ford Ranger Raptor rival, also as a tease for the 2019 SEMA auto exhibition. At the recent Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan executives said the company is working on hybrid technology.

Speaking of hybrid, one of the companies that will surely benefit from this light truck accesorization is Worksport that is owned by Franchise Holdings International Inc. (OTC:FNHI). The company which is one of the fastest growing manufacturers of truck bed covers in the US, just won its third U.S. Patent for innovative and affordable truck bed cover system, surely a monetizable development for the company. The patented hybrid model will be officially launched later this year. The company also launched a new website in its effort to become synonymous with the experience of driving a pick-up truck. Bright future for pickups- even brighter for specialized equipment! The conclusion is that consumer demand for pickups is expected to continue well in the future, so they should remain highly accessorized platforms. Yet, as large and often more expensive vehicles, trucks can be more susceptible to changes in the economy. So, in case of a weakening economy, consumers may tend to hold on to their older vehicles or switch to more economical options, but this is even better news for specialized equipment industry. But provided consumers feel confident in the current economic environment, both pickup sales and of their accessories will continue to grow. So, either way, specialized equipment for light trucks has a bright future ahead!

The interior presentation of the Mustang is very good, but it isn鈥檛 perfect. I mean, for a survivor of this age it is impressive, and it would easily serve as a daily driver. The carpet is showing some fading, and the kick panels are also scuffed and discolored. The original factory radio has made way for a vintage-look radio/cassette player, but the rest of it looks pretty impressive. Lifting the lid on the engine bay reveals an H-Code 351ci V8, producing 250hp. Shifting duties are taken care of by a 4-speed manual transmission, while your money will also get you power steering. Presentation of the engine bay is quite neat and tidy, while the car is said to be mechanically strong and sound. In fact, the owner claims that it could easily be used as a daily driver and that he would have no hesitation in driving the car from one side of the country to the other. As I said earlier, I really want this Mustang, and I would be pretty willing to bet that I鈥檓 not alone in feeling this way. If the vehicle is as original as the owner claims, and a personal inspection would soon verify this, then it is a really stunning survivor. For the perfectionists amongst you, it really wouldn鈥檛 take much to bring the car close to that sort of standard.