The 2019 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Has 459 Hp And 612 Lb-ft Of Torque

The 2019 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Has 459 Hp And 612 Lb-ft Of Torque

The new Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric crossover that is owning the spotlight of the Los Angeles Auto Show well before the show even starts, faces a daunting uphill battle. For one, Ford is clearly confident it can convince a significant number of buyers to give up gas and switch to an all-electric vehicle. Ford says there will be 100 new battery-electric nameplates in the United States by 2025, and the Blue Oval鈥檚 strengths鈥攑ickups, commercial vehicles, and performance vehicles鈥攁re the best avenues to cut through that clutter and catch consumers鈥?attention. How else to get people鈥檚 attention? Slap one of the most popular, beloved nameplates its automotive history on a brand-new EV. Ford is leaning heavily on the Mustang鈥檚 heritage and emotional appeal, drawing parallels to how the Mustang attracted new buyers to the brand 55 years ago. The Mach-E isn鈥檛 intended to replace the Mustang, of course; it鈥檚 simply a new addition to the family, complete with a bespoke new platform and fresh technology.

The Mach-E鈥檚 new architecture also houses Ford鈥檚 biggest battery system yet鈥?5.7 kWh for the base vehicle, and 98.8 kWh for the optional extended-range battery. With the bigger battery and rear-wheel drive, Ford is estimating at least 300 miles of range. From there the range goes down depending on configuration. With the big battery and all-wheel drive the range should come in at 270 miles; equipped as standard with rear-wheel drive, the Mach-E鈥檚 range is estimated at 230 miles, or 210 miles with all-wheel drive. The batteries are designed and assembled (but not produced) in Michigan. The battery temperature is optimized by heating and cooling plates and protected by the vehicle鈥檚 structure. In most all-wheel-drive trim levels, a 110-kW motor drives the front and a 50-kW motor powers the rear, independent of each other and capable of adapting to optimize either performance or efficiency. The rear-drive Mach-E with the standard battery uses a 225-hp, 210-kW motor, versus a 282-hp, 210-kW motor for the rear-drive extended-range model. Output ratings are anticipated to come in at 332 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque for the extended-range all-wheel-drive model, and as little as 255 hp and 306 lb-ft for the standard-range rear-wheel-drive model.

Yes, there is indeed a GT as well. These all-wheel-drive-only performance models swap out the base 50-kW motor for a second 110-kW motor, bringing estimated specs to 459 horsepower and 612 pound-feet, which should be good for a sub-4-second sprint to 60 mph. The top-spec GT Performance Edition, with forged 20-inch wheels fitted over Brembo front and rear brake calipers, gets MagneRide dampers as well. Ford says it can sprint from 0-60 in the mid-3-second range. Ford will include a mobile charger that works with both 120v and 240v outlets, good for 3 and 22 miles of charge per hour, respectively. For more flexibility, Amazon Home Services can install the Ford Connected Charge Station, which fully powers overnight; this will also be available at Ford dealers and can be financed along with the vehicle. The Mach-E began its journey from idea to finished product as a compliance-motivated vehicle intended to help Ford meet fuel economy targets. 11 billion investment form Ford in electrification by 2022, covering hybrids and EVs.

From the outside, it鈥檚 clear Ford is leaning on the Mustang nameplate to help ease the transition for people into electric driving. Mustang is clearly now a brand all its own, with overt badging and visual cues that abound. The Mach-E has a slick profile that plays tricks on your eyes; the crossover proportions are definitely there, but cleverly downplayed. As an example, the roof of every Mach-E is gloss black, but you may not notice it at first; the visual representation of the roofline is lower thanks to the contrast between the gloss black and the main body color. In other words, it鈥檚 a fastback silhouette that hides SUV-like rear passenger and cargo space. There are no traditional door handles, which improves aerodynamics as well as looks. LED headlights with tracer lamps is a fresh approach to the classic Mustang tri-bar lighting; the tri-bar makes an appearance out back. Each trim level gets a distinctive wheel design.

The GT features a unique version of the 鈥渋mplied grille鈥?smooth polycarbonate face and a geometric honeycomb-like pattern underneath. Functional air shutters and air curtains, and an illuminated Mustang badge, complete the look. Eight colors will be available at launch. Ford鈥檚 classic Grabber Blue gets a touch of sparkle for a unique, modern look, and is a front-runner for an early favorite, but the glossy, shimmery Space White is sure to be popular as well. The interior design caters specifically to SUV buyers, who Ford notes, tend to tote around more stuff than more traditional car buyers. There鈥檚 a tech tray to hold and charge devices and dedicated storage for bags and purses. The cargo hold can accommodate 29 cubic feet of gear, and there鈥檚 another storage area, measuring 4.8 cubic feet, tucked under the hood. A massive moonroof makes the cabin feel modern and airy. The infotainment display, at 15.5 inches, is a deliberate focal point; it鈥檚 enormous. This screen houses the next-gen version of Ford鈥檚 Sync infotainment system that features a 鈥渇lat architecture鈥濃€攖hat is, it shouldn鈥檛 take more than one or two clicks to reach any setting or command.