Ford Mustang Mach-E — right car with wrong name?

Using legendary monikers to sell new models is not a new strategy. A lot of manufacturers have been letting their new offerings ride this wave of nostalgia. But this can sometimes end up being quite controversial, depending on the model they slap their name onto. You saw it happening when Mitsubishi revived the Eclipse name on a crossover and when Chevy slapped the Blazer name on yet another crossover. And now, Ford has taken it to an all-new level by launching the Ford Mustang Mach-E, an electric crossover.

A thousand questions may loom into your mind when you hear the name. Mustang, a name known for fire-breathing V8 muscle cars on an electric crossover is like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson playing a fairy, which he has, and has shined at it. Nevertheless, the truth stands that this naming stunt has more to do with marketeers than the purist crowd out there. But just like The Rock, is the new Mustang Mach-E a tough, yet caring fairy, or in this case, a mad yet gentle electric crossover?

Design-wise, Ford has done a decent job in translating the design of the Mustang to the language of the crossovers. The angled LED headlights and the tri-bar taillights instantly give away its existence as a member of the Mustang family. The door handles are replaced by a small button that opens the doors for you. There are 18, 19 or 20-inch wheel designs depending upon the version of Mustang Mach-E chosen.

Inside, the cabin uses vegan materials like synthetic “Sensico” leather for the seats and steering wheel. On all variants of the Mach-E, a large 15.5-inch touchscreen sits on the centre console. This screen gets a physical volume dial, for a change. The 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, Ford’s latest SYNC infotainment system and Co-Pilot 360 2.0 Safety Suite are also offered as standard.

The Mustang Mach-E offers a choice of two different battery pack options, the standard range and the extended range. The standard range uses a 75.6 kWh battery while the extended range gets a 98.8 kWh unit. There are all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive options with the Mach-E. The maximum range is offered by the rear-wheel-drive models which return a range of 480 km with the extended range pack and 370 km with the standard-range pack. The AWD models show a drop in range, 432 km with extended range and 336 km with standard range. The range-topping Mach-E GT Performance models get the extended range battery and AWD, yet the range is down to 400 km thanks to its performance-oriented setting. The range figures of Mach-E are extremely competitive and are the best in the segment, at least until Tesla starts their game of one-upmanship with the Model Y.

Ford offers a Mobile Charger with the Mach-E for home charging, which when connected to a powerful 240V supply, can add 35 km to the depleted range in an hour. But if you get the optional Ford Connected Charge Station, which is a 240V, 48 amp charger, you can add 51 km to the range in an hour. The Mach-E also supports DC fast-charging up to 150-kilowatts which is lower than the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model 3, which supports 250 kilowatts DC fast-charging.

We have been saving the best part for the last. The Mach-E being a Mustang must perform well to at least try to pacify the purists who are outraged by its existence. The most powerful GT Performance model produces 459 hp and 830 Nm, powering it from 0 to 100 kph in just over 3.7 seconds. The lower Premium and First Editions get 332 hp and 565 Nm along with AWD and the extended battery pack. The California Route 1 and Premium RWD model sits right under them with the same battery pack but with rear-wheel drive.

The base Select model of the Mach-E gets the standard battery pack and RWD. It produces 255 hp and 414 Nm. Opting for AWD with the Select model gives you a better torque output of 581 Nm.

If you’re excited about the Mach-E and want to buy one, there are some things you must know. The only Mach-E models you can buy now are the First Edition or the Premium versions. The top-dog, the Mach-E GT Performance, the entry-level Mach-E Select and the long-range Mach-E California Route 1 will only arrive in 2021.

The Mustang Mach-E is not a Mustang, in the way we know the pony. But like it or not, it is a reminder about the direction we’re all heading towards. Gas guzzling machines are on their slow march to oblivion and electric machines are slowly taking the throne. When this revolution happens, vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E can keep the legacy of the pony car going for the next generations to savour, though not in a way that petrolheads of yesteryears did.

Expect the Mach-E to be offered in the GCC whenever Ford Middle East feels they want to get into the barely-moving EV market in our region.