Ford has finally unveiled the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, a dedicated electric SUV. Putting the aside the
obvious sullying of the Mustang name, the Mach-E is a relatively stylish crossover
with an aggressive front fascia and a fully enclosed grille. The latter is
surrounded by slender LED lighting units and a sporty lower bumper.
The aggressive design language continues
further back as the Mach-E has a rakish windscreen, a coupe-like roofline and
softly curved surfaces. The model also boasts bulging rear fenders, a dynamic
greenhouse and hidden door handles that bring a touch of class to a mainstream
brand.
Unfortunately, the rear end isn’t as
lucky. It features a bloated tailgate with Mustang-inspired taillights that
appear to have been tacked on with little thought to aesthetics. Putting those
criticisms aside, the crossover also has a rakish rear window, a
tailgate-mounted spoiler and a black lower bumper. While the exterior has
hints of Mustang, the interior says Explorer. However, it’s not as bad as that
reference would suggest as the Mach-E has higher quality materials and an
improved design.
Drivers sit behind a Mustang-branded
steering wheel and find themselves looking at a freestanding 10.2-inch digital
instrument cluster. To their right is a 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment
system with a portrait orientation.
Other notable highlights include a stylish dashboard with slender air
vents and aluminum-like trim.
An assortment of options will be available
including a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a panoramic glass roof
and ambient lighting. Customers can also
get a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and alloy pedals. In terms of space, the
Mach-E has a front trunk – or frunk – that provides 136 liters of storage. The rear luggage compartment
has a capacity of 821 liters, but that can be expanded to 1,688 liters by folding the rear seats down.
Five different variants will be available
including an entry-level Select grade that starts at US$ 43,895 before tax credits
(up to US$ 7,500). The model is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, and both
feature a 75.7 kWh battery pack and a output of around 255 hp. The rear-wheel drive variant will have around 414 Nm of
torque, while the all-wheel drive model will up that number to roughly 565 Nm. The rear-wheel drive model will accelerate
from 0-96 km/h in the low six second range and have an overall range
of approximately 370 km. The
all-wheel drive variant drops the 0-96 km/h time to the mid five
second range, but the range also falls to 338 km.
Moving up the trim ladder is the Mach-E
Premium which starts at $50,600. It will be offered in standard and long range
configurations, with and without all-wheel drive. The specs are a
mouthful, but the standard range variant will have the same powertrain as the
Mach-E Select. However, the big news is the extend range Mach-E which has a
larger 98.8 kWh battery.
The extended range variant also has more
power as the rear-wheel drive model will have around 282 hp and 414 Nm of torque. This will enable the crossover to run from 0-96 km/h in the mid six second range, and have an estimated range
of 300 miles (483 km). Likewise, the all-wheel drive variant will
have approximately 333 hp and 565 Nm of torque.
This lowers the 0-96 km/h time to the mid five second range, and
also drops the overall range to around 435 km.
Things are less confusing from there as
the US$ 52,400 Mach-E California Route 1 is simply an extend range variant with
rear-wheel drive. As a result, it uses the aforementioned powertrain that
develops 282 hp and 414 Nm of torque. The model
also has a range of around 483 km. The US$ 59,900 Mach-E
First Edition is the opposite as it’s a long-range model with all-wheel drive.
This means it has 333 hp and 565 Nm of torque, as
well as a range of around 435 km.
The last of the five models is the
high-performance Mach-E GT which starts at U$ 60,500. The company is keeping detailed
specifications under wraps, but said the crossover will have around 459 hp and 830 Nm of torque. The model will be
available exclusively with all-wheel drive and the 98.8 kWh battery. The focus on performance lowers the range to
around 378 km, but the 0-96 km/h time falls to the mid
three second range.
Putting aside the performance specs,
owners will need to recharge their vehicles.
In order to do this, each Mach-E comes with a mobile charger than can
deliver 35 km of range for every hour of changing when connected to
a 240V outlet. Customers can also purchase an optional
Ford Connected Charging station. It uses
a 240V outlet, but delivers 51 km of range for every hour of charging. When traveling,
customers can use a growing network of DC fast chargers. Ford says the standard-range Mustang Mach-E
can go from a 10 to 80 percent charge in approximately 38 minutes using one of
these 150 kW chargers.
People interested in the 2021 Mustang
Mach-E can make a reservation for a US$ 500 deposit. However, they’ll have a bit of wait as the
first vehicles won’t arrive until late next year. Fans wanting the entry-level Select and
high-performance GT will need to wait even longer as a launch isn’t scheduled
until 2021.