The All-Electric 2019 Ford Mustang Mustang Mach-E SUV Is Here

The All-Electric 2019 Ford Mustang Mustang Mach-E SUV Is Here

After months of speculation and a corporate lockdown that just almost, very nearly kept its appearance a secret, the 2020 Ford Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUV emerged today at a gala in Los Angeles ahead of this week's auto show. Mach-E exterior designers took several cues from the traditional Mustang, including its shark-like nose, wide rear haunches, and "tri bar" tail lights, and applied them to what is, outwardly, a traditional compact crossover SUV. The so-called "implied grille" mimics the car's functional one in a nod to heritage, though like most EVs, the Mach-E doesn't have a front radiator. In person, the Mach-E looks both smaller and longer than in pictures, with attractive side-panel shaping and ground clearance lower than a traditional crossover. Inside, an available full-length panoramic roof adds a greater sense of spaciousness to the cabin. In its most efficient layout -a 93 kWh extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive-Ford expects the Mach-E to deliver an EPA-estimated range of "at least 300 miles," with AWD extended range pegged at 270 miles. That would give it the longest legs of any electric vehicle on sale today that's not a Tesla.

Standard-range versions are projected to reach 230 miles on a charge for RWD and 210 miles for AWD. It's important to note that the Mustang Mach-E does not share an architecture with the standard Mustang; it's a unique EV platform built around an underbody lithium-ion battery. The standard pack is rated at 75.7 kWh total-usable amount TBD-while the extended-range is 98.8 kWh total with around 93 kWh usable. Excepting the more-powerful GT models, AWD Mach-Es will get a primary 210 kW (282 hp) motor at the rear and a 50 kW (67 hp) motor at the front. Similar to the Tesla Model 3's setup, these are permanent-magnet motors delivering power through a single-gear transmission. The various battery-drivetrain combinations are available across multiple trims, which we'll detail in a second. All-important zero to 60 mph times will vary from the mid-six-second mark for the extended range RWD setup to mid-fives for either AWD Mach-E. The real fireworks are reserved for the 459 hp/612 lb-ft GT Performance Edition, which will scoot to 60 mph in the mid-three-second range.

Arriving in Spring 2021, the GT and GT Performance Edition will get functional aero, 20-inch wheels, and optional Brembo brakes. That slightly-quicker Performance Edition will also sport the MagneRide adaptive dampers available on the fuel-burning Mustang GT, plus some cosmetic extras like a "carbonized grey" grille insert. All Mach-E variants will come with three driving modes-Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled that combine adjustments to controls-steering, acceleration, and regeneration-with changes in ambient lighting, sound design, and dash-cluster animations. Each mode applies different synthesized sounds, piped through the stereo speakers, to fill out the whine of the electric motor during acceleration. As The Drive found out during a short demo ride, it's a faint whoosh in Whisper and a throaty undertone in Unbridled. Mach-E is also the launch platform for Ford's next-generation SYNC 4 infotainment system, which will now support over-the-air updates for maintenance, new features, and performance enhancements. A 15.5-inch, portrait-oriented screen with touch, swipe and pinch controls sits prominently in the center stack. Interface designers added a knurled metal volume knob below the screen in response to market-research feedback (Ford's also included a Model S-style digital dash binnacle behind the steering wheel).

The new system takes advantage of the large screen's extra real estate with a clean, unadorned UI, and developers added machine learning to identify and aggregate drivers' preferences. Three wireless charging pads lie in the center console below the screen. In addition to its own SYNC apps, the system enables both Apple Car Play and Android Auto sans cables. An available premium audio package will include fabric-wrapped speakers developed for the Mach-E by Bang & Olufsen. While using the Mustang brand to bootstrap a new electric vehicle, not to mention a crossover SUV, is a risky move, Ford's betting the strength of the name will elevate the Mach-E's profile in a cluttered marketplace. No doubt, the company can use the advantage as it goes head to head with EV leader Tesla. 7,500 Federal EV tax credit, as Ford is still under the phase-out threshold of 200,000 EVs sold per automaker. The Mach-E is the most unorthodox marketing play from an automaker since Porsche introduced the Cayenne SUV, and Ford faces a similar risk of diluting the marque. But if stretching the Mustang brand into EVs can keep Mustang relevant to both aging pony-car fans and younger, tech-savvy buyers, Ford may be backing the right horse.