Ford Reveals All-Electric Mustang Mach-E, Arrives 2019

Ford Reveals All-Electric Mustang Mach-E, Arrives 2019

Ford has revealed its new, all-electric SUV in an event in Los Angeles. It bears the name Mustang Mach-E, in a rather opinion-splitting decision from the Blue Oval. The Mach-E represents Ford鈥檚 attempt to reinvent the Mustang name for a new era of driving. It will still produce the Mustang as the regular coupe and convertible, but it now includes more practical motoring too. Although it鈥檚 an SUV, the new Mustang certainly carries the performance credentials. Ford has penciled in the base model Mach E at 332hp and 417lbft, running to 60mph in around five seconds with the standard all-wheel drive configuration. There鈥檚 two hotter variants, both using a 459hp/612lbft variant of the motor set up, and capable of hitting the same mark in under four seconds. Ford hasn鈥檛 revealed the exact motor layout of the Mustang Mach-E, however both rear and all-wheel drive are available, suggesting at least two motors 鈥?one on each axle. There鈥檚 a standard range variant with a 75.7kWh battery and an extended range option packing a 98.8kWh battery.

The latter gives a range of 370 miles in rear-drive mode under the new standard WLTP test cycle. Performance and range depend on which drive mode you choose. Ford calls them Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled (roughly equivalent to eco mode, normal, and sports), and they change vehicle response, driving dynamics, steering weight and ambient lighting. The all-wheel drive system can apply torque to the two axles independently. Mach-E鈥檚 platform is entirely new, and it accommodates the battery pack in the vehicle floor between the axles. The standard battery includes 288 lithium-ion cells, rising to 376 in the extended range, with liquid heating and cooling to control battery temperature and optimize charging times. On the inside, Mustang Mach-E gets a five-seat configuration and 402 liters of load space in the rear. There鈥檚 another 100 liters of storage in the nose, and that comes with a rather unusual feature: it鈥檚 drainable. Although there鈥檚 nods to the car鈥檚 name heritage in the cabin, it鈥檚 an entirely modern design, dominated by an enormous, 15.5-inch infotainment screen.

It鈥檚 the next generation of Ford鈥檚 SYNC system, which features touch, swipe, and pinch controls that should be familiar to smartphone users. The system includes machine learning to pick up on driver preferences. There鈥檚 more smartphone inspiration, with the Phone As A Key system also making a debut in the Mach-E. That detects registered smartphones, allowing the driver to unlock and start the car without needing a key. The system has a backup passcode in case your phone runs out of charge while you鈥檙e out and about. 鈥淎t the first-ever Detroit auto show, Henry Ford said he was working on something that would strike like forked lightning. 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鈥檚 fast. It鈥檚 fun. Ford is taking orders now, but you won鈥檛 be able to get hold of a Mach-E until late 2020 at best. 59,900, with extended-range, all-wheel drive and model specific detailing.

The overdrive fifth was geared at 0.82:1 for economical highway cruising. It was just what the base Mustang needed -- almost. At the time, one transmission engineer noted that Ford thought most drivers would want to downshift from fifth directly to third, bypassing fourth. A more logical reason was that putting fifth over-and-up would have entailed excessively long arm reach. The "official" explanation was that the U-shaped shift motion better emphasized the economy benefits of the long-striding fifth gear. Whatever the reason, it just didn't work. Overall, though, the "New Breed" worked beautifully, another Mustang just right for its time. But the turn of the Eighties was another unhappy time for car lovers of every persuasion, and the future promised to be no better as far as anyone could see. It was in this dour atmosphere that Motor Trend picked Mustang to kick off a series of nostalgic "Now Vs. Then" comparisons in its November 1980 issue. In an age of behemoths and excess, it wasn't particularly difficult for something as trim as the original Mustang to stand out from the crowd. But in the age of the Big Shrink, it is much more difficult for a designer to achieve something truly striking. Thus, we are comparing not only two cars but two eras. On a straight point-for-point comparison, each contender scores鈥? But in the perspective of today's world, the 1966 Mustang is an anachronism -- a collector's item. Of course they don't build 'em like they used to.

If you see Dennis McGrath鈥檚 Grabber Blue 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 drive by, you鈥檙e going to turn your head until it disappears down the road. It鈥檚 such an eye-catching a car, you don鈥檛 want to lose sight of it. When asked about his small-block powered 1969 鈥楽tang, McGrath told us he鈥檚 just always liked Mustangs, and who can blame him? Since its introduction, the Ford ponycar has been a winner, both on track and on dealer lots. In 1969, the Mustang got a tough new facelift too, with quad headlights, high-hipped quarterpanel scoops, and a variety of ferocious engine and graphics packages. For Dennis and Jenny McGrath, there鈥檚 no need for stripes or big blocks. Getting the Mustang into beach-cruising shape was a 17-year-long process. Backing the small block is a C6 automatic, beefed up with a hardened shaft, racing servo, shift kit, and 2400-stall B&M torque converter. In the back is a Ford 9-inch limited slip with 3.50 gears. The McGraths wanted the Mustang to handle, so a CPP front sway bar and KYB shocks take on the turns and bounces. To keep the car stable and straight, a Total Control brace counteracts body flex. Inside the Mustang Mach 1, Dakota digital gauges keep tabs on the temps and TMI leather bucket seats let the McGraths lean back and enjoy tunes through the Sony receiver, JL Audio amps, and 10-inch subwoofer and Focal speakers. So if McGrath鈥檚 car catches your eye on the road or at a show, nobody will blame you for keeping an eye on it, it鈥檚 just that perfect pony stance, sound, and style.