It's hard to imagine Mustang, one of the most iconic marques of the automotive industry, becoming an electric vehicle, but that's exactly what happened. The legendary pony has always been famous for two things—style and engine. Now, the 2-door coupe/convertible with eight cylinders becomes an all-electric crossover.
Purists and car enthusiasts were shocked when Ford management announced they would use the Mustang name for an EV. Once again, the management did an excellent evaluation—the sales numbers are great, and the orders are even better. Ford can't make enough of these, which may be why we are still waiting for the Australian debut. According to some sources, that could finally happen by the end of this year.
The First Generation of Ford Mustang Mach-E (2021-present)
Not long ago, Ford started working on the all-electric lineup, like many other carmakers. The engineers weren't the only ones struggling—the marketing team also couldn't find a name to jumpstart the project.
Mach was the ideal nameplate for the new model, considering the pedigree, but enthusiasts weren't happy that their beloved pony was about to become an all-electric SUV. The marketing team went so far that they even considered the Mustang Mach-1 moniker, but that was definitely the red line for everyone. Eventually, the compromise was found, with the new model debuting in 2021, as the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Design
Different manufacturers have different design approaches when it comes to electric vehicles. Most of them are developing dedicated platforms, which would be used for complete all-electric lineups.
However, Ford didn't have enough time to start from scratch, so engineers came up with something that would later become the Global Electrified 1 platform, a heavily modified C2 architecture that underpins models like Ford Kuga and Escape, for example.
Eventually, the model debuted in 2021, and its design surprised most of us. The all-electric Mustang came as a crossover with few similarities with the classic Mustang design (except for the badges and some parts of the lighting groups), but the coupe crossover has a sloping roofline that resembles the classic Mustang fastback body style.
Even with the platform modifications, we still saw some components carried over, such as internal combustion counterparts and the basic chassis setup. The suspension includes some good technical solutions, like the independent multi-link suspension on the rear end and independent front suspension with a typical McPherson setup. For the brakes, there are 362mm ventilated discs are at the front and classic 316mm discs at the rear.
The interior design is another interesting aspect of the Ford Mustang Mach-E. You'll first notice a simplistic cabin design, with a clean dashboard dominated by a huge 15.5-inch infotainment screen.
The instrument cluster is digital, so there are few physical controls inside this spacious cabin. Both rows are generous with space, and there is a decent cargo area with 822 litres of space. Moreover, there is an additional waterproof storage area under the bonnet, with a capacity of 137 litres.
We expect to see base models with a decent number of standard features and goodies, like heated and power-adjustable front seats, LED headlights, a 10-speaker B&O sound system, a hands-free power tailgate, and a surround-view camera. Of course, more expensive variants will be adding more standard equipment.
Dimensions
Despite the shared chassis with some compact cars, the Ford Mustang Mach-E's wheelbase has been significantly stretched up to 2984mm. The crossover is 4739mm long, 1881mm wide, and 1621mm high. Despite the crossover layout, the ground clearance is only 130mm due to the battery being placed under the floor. The kerb weight goes between 1990kg and 2220kg, depending on the configuration.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Dimensions:
- Wheelbase: 2984 mm
- Length: 4739 mm
- Width: 1881 mm
- Height: 1613 mm
- Front track: 1622 mm
- Rear Track: 1630 mm
- Ground Clearance: 130 mm
- Turning circle: 11.6 m
Drivetrain, Battery, Range
When it comes to Ford Mustang Mach-E specs, this crossover is available in various configurations, but we still need to find out which ones will arrive in Australia. In most markets, there are both RWD and AWD variants with two battery capacities.
- So, the base Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD comes with a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle, with a max output of 198kW and 430Nm of torque. It is called Standard Range because it comes with a 75.7kWh battery pack, which ensures around 439km of range. This base version hits 100km/h in about 7 seconds.
- The next one on offer is the RWD Extended Range model, which also features a single electric motor on the rear end, with a max output of 218kW and a bigger battery. The battery pack is good for about 98.7kW and should provide around 610km of range, according to the WLTP test cycle.
- The Standard Range AWD model comes with two electric motors, one on each axle, as well as the base 75.7kWh battery. It also features 198kW of max power but offers a slightly shorter range, around 400 kilometres on a single charge.
- The Extended Range AWD models offer a notable power boost to 258kW and a respectable estimated range of 539km. This model needs about 5.8 seconds to hit 100km/h.
- Finally, there is the Mustang Mach-E GT, which features more capable electric motors, with a total output of 358kW and 860Nm of torque. This version comes only with a bigger battery and offers up to 499 miles of range. Of course, this is the quickest Mach-E you can get, with the 0-100km/h sprint completing in 4.4 seconds.
The charging speed with the fast DC charger depends on the battery. The standard battery supports up to 115kW, while the bigger battery is good for up to 150kW.
When Will Ford Mustang Mach-E Arrive in Australia?
The all-electric Mustang is sold in 37 countries, but Australia is not among them. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Australia launch has been put on hold but not because of the lack of demand.
The Blue Oval company still doesn't have enough capacity to keep pace with orders, so the US market remains a priority until the production numbers increase. So far, the company has sold 150,000 units and expects to produce around 270,000 all-electric Mustangs in 2023.
By Nebojsa Grmusa