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Ford’s new electric crossover tries to channel the Mustang’s cool, and it works

ByDave Stopher

Oct 7, 2021 #Motoring

The Mustang is an iconic and legendary American muscle car. Instantly recognizable across the globe and loved by many worldwide, the Mustang has created an unforgettable legacy. It has been around for more than half a century now. Millions of Mustangs are around the world and all of them delivered an excitement unmatched by many. Until now. A new car enters the market under the pretentious name of the famous pony car. However, only its name is the same as Mustang’s; but the philosophy is totally different. Yes, we are talking about the Mustang Mach-E.

The Mach-E was recently introduced by Ford and it definitely took the car world by storm. But not necessarily for the better. The Mach-E remains a very controversial car launch from the blue oval. People either hate it or love it. And they have their reasons. Make no mistake, the Mach-E is no slouch and neither is it a bad EV by any means. All the controversy arises from the choice of design and especially the name of the EV given by Ford. It carries the “Mustang” badge, and we do not think of electric when we think of Mustang.

Initially chosen to be a Ford Focus EV redesign, the design team and the marketing team at Ford decided to make a last-minute switch and remodel the car around the Ford’s legendary Mustang badge. Even the name “Mach-E” is a homage to the “Mach-1” badge of the pony. The Mach-E is essentially a crossover with the Mustang’s logo, badge, and name. However, that is where most of the similarities end.

The crossover comes in 5 distinct trims – Select, Premium, California Route 1, GT, and GT Performance Edition. Pricing starts from $43,995 and ends at $66,000. There is plenty to love about this EV, and it is an excellent EV.

The EV comes with electric motors and they can either be mounted on the rear axles or both axles, meaning you can have either RWD or AWD. The standard battery pack is of 68-kWh and the extended range includes an 88-kWh battery pack. The lower trims offer power ranging anywhere from 266 horses and 317 lb-ft of torque to 346 horses and 428 lb-ft of torque. The best that these trims can do is 5.1 seconds to reach 60 MPH; which is impressive but wait, it can go quicker.

The GT Performance makes 480 horses and 634 lb-ft of torque. That shoots it to 60 MPH in a mere 3.5 seconds. So, yes, the Mach-E can get seriously quick. The electric motors have no peak torque range and all that instant torque eliminates any lag and offers blistering performance off the line. That also, unfortunately, means that the Mach-E has no thumping and adrenaline-inducing sound of the V8.

The regular Mustang and the Mach-E’s difference only begins to widen. When it comes to handling, the gas versions are often the ones that will excite you more. That isn’t to say that the crossover EV can’t handle well, but it’s a pretty heavy vehicle with not the most responsive chassis and handling. The biggest difference though is the way in which the Mach-E makes the occupants feel. It is extremely quiet, and the occupants won’t feel a single bump or road imperfection.

Now, don’t get us wrong, that is what any car makers want, right? That is what a regular sane person would want. And that is the goal in a crossover. However, a Mustang – a muscle car – is not supposed to be quiet and have the comfiest ride. The car is meant to offer you that feeling of power when the tune of the V8 hits your eardrums. The Mach-E is totally opposite in this respect, but hey, it is an excellent daily driver and a pretty comfortable one.

Now, coming to the range offered by the E, you shouldn’t be surprised to find out that it is no Tesla. EPA estimates put it at around 211 miles to 305 miles. Of course, the smaller battery pack will have a lower range and the bigger one will have a higher range. It still has a long way to go before it can stand up to Tesla. The AWD will drop the range to 270 miles on the extended battery. Charging is fast, but it is not as quick as a Tesla. Also, Ford currently lacks the infrastructure that Tesla has built over the years. It can be charged at Electrify America stations. A Ford charge station will add 32 miles of range per hour, which is still slower than Tesla charging.

The Mach-E’s interior also completely distinguishes it from the regular Mustang. When you think of a Mustang, you think of a coupe with tight rear seats and not a whole lot of cargo space. The Mach-E, on the other hand, has a pretty great interior with quality materials; loads of room; and a tech load of features. A massive 15.5” vertical screen adorns the center of the dashboard, which surely does not fit in with a Mustang’s vibe. The driver’s gauge cluster is also digital. It is a crossover loaded with tech, and this distances it further from its namesakes.

Perhaps the exterior styling resembles a Mustang? Well, yes and no. Sure, the Mach-E is a gorgeous car. Looks better and has more character than any Tesla, especially since it takes a page out of the Mustang’s book. The long and sleek headlights at the front fascia make it look aggressive and add a touch of anger. There is no grille (since it is an EV), but Ford decided to add a pretty slick and cool arch between the LED headlights. The Mustang logo at the center is one of the few reminders about the Mustang’s moniker. The car rides on 18 or 20” wheels. The hood is long and muscular, but it is no muscle car.

Because it is a crossover; and we only love our Mustang when it’s a coupe. A big and heavy crossover body style cannot be associated with a pony car. But it is what it is. Coming to the rear, the taillights are also the same iconic and unmistakable ones taken from the regular pony. Overall, the car has a pretty sleek and stylish appearance and there are lots of elements reminding us that it’s a Mustang. But as a whole, it is a weird mixture of a crossover and a Mustang’s body.

So, in conclusion, the Mustang Mach-E is a pretty cool car. It is easily one of the best EVs to come out this year. It has a lot of things going right for it and it won’t break your bank to own one. The only controversy arises from using the Mustang badge. Had Ford named it something else, there would have been no upset fanboys. However, we believe that it was necessary. Love it or hate it, our future depends on electric cars, and electrifying one legendary nameplate to grab more headlines is not as sinister of a plan as it actually seems. Think of it as an upgrade, not a tarnishing of the image.

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