Is This Ford's New Mustang-Based Mach 1 Crossover?

Is This Ford's New Mustang-Based Mach 1 Crossover?

When Ford announced earlier this year that it had plans to revive the Mach 1 nameplate, it certainly garnered some attention. When it was revealed the storied Mustang moniker would be a crossover, it grabbed even more attention, not all of it being friendly hugs and cute puppies. Whichever side you fall upon, a new Mustang-based CUV is coming and this could well be our very first look at it. The thing is, this curious camouflaged test vehicle leaves us with more questions than answers. For starters, those bulging amber lights up front haven鈥檛 been seen before, and looking closer it seems the whole face could be different. The lower fascia appears closer to the ground, and check out those gigantic disc brakes. That鈥檚 definitely not anything like we鈥檝e seen on other Escape test vehicles. The Mach 1 looks beefier overall while sitting lower to the ground, but there's still a striking similarity between the designs. There are other mysteries, too. The Mach I is supposed to be electrified in some way, but we can鈥檛 see any such access ports on this vehicle for plug-in power. Ford鈥檚 new modular platform does allow quite a bit of flexibility to accommodate a range of models. Or perhaps this could be a new performance variant of the Escape? So many questions, but one thing is for certain. Ford is dead set on bringing more performance SUVs and crossovers to market, and judging by the big brakes on this one, that process is well underway. We鈥檒l be keeping our eye peeled to dig up more information on this much-anticipated model.

V6 growls, booms unpleasantly as revs rise. V8 has throaty muscle car tone. Total Fuel Used: 24.801 gals. Major Options: 5-speed Auto. 25K GT coupe with a stick. But that's just me--someone who likes cars. Rick Cotta I'd argue that the V6 is a much better value than we rate it. Total Fuel Used: 32.043 gals. Major Options: 5-speed Auto. Transmission, Active Anti-Theft System, Interior Upgrade Pkg., Exterior Sport Appearance Pkg. 23,000 this V6 Mustang remains an excellent value in a fun-to-drive package. I'd like Ford to work on a manual gate for the auto shifter and perhaps a little more engine isolation, but otherwise this is the first Mustang in nearly 10 years that I would recommend to anyone. Rick Cotta Ford expects the V6/automatic combination to be the most popular, and I can see why. Power is sufficient and mileage acceptable, making this a good choice for style-conscious buyers on a budget. Total Fuel Used: 40.928 gals. Major Options: Black Convertible Roof, Shaker Audio System, Active Anti-theft System, Interior Color Accent Pkg.

Chuck Giametta Ouch. A really nice car, and a great Mustang. 34,000-plus sticker of our test car gets you into an S2000, Z3 2.5i or 350Z Roadster--genuine sports cars. On the other hand, if you're looking for 4 seats, V8 muscle, a decent ride, and the latest head-turning styling, a Mustang GT convertible with the 5-speed manual is, somewhat by default, the place to go. 34,000 delivered. If you can live without some of the frou-frou, the lively Mustang GT convertible becomes a better deal. Mark Bilek The Mustang GT convertible is a wonderful summer car. Its rides smoothly enough and goes when you need it to. 34,000 price of entry is a little steep. Though there aren't many other "liveable" convertibles with this much performance at that price point. 32,000 will buy you a very nice Mustang GT convertible. Sure, the back seat is nearly useless and the trunk isn't large either, but this kind of style and performance can't be found anywhere else at anything near this price.

It is surreal climbing into one of those camouflaged prototypes made iconic by spy photographers. It feels all too familiar, but eerily different. It鈥檚 like being transported into a futuristic sci-fi film that reimagines the icons we know and love. The masked vehicle鈥檚 styling hints are clear even obscured by the vinyl disguise, but sliding into the passenger seat the juxtaposition was clear. The familiar doubled-browed Mustang dash aesthetic and pony on the steering wheel said we were home, but the expansive 15.5-inch Sync 4 screen taking centerstage says the future is now. A pro driver is behind the wheel to chauffeur us around in this early version of an all-new machine. Putting the media in a prototype is something that just doesn鈥檛 happen, as auto makers don鈥檛 want to be judged before the final product is refined. This move shows that Ford is pushing all-in on battery-electric vehicle technology, and nothing screams that louder than making a BEV SUV part of the Mustang family.