It’s been over a year since the Ford Mustang Mach-E was released, and it has recently started to be delivered in North America. After reviewing some of the test drives by foreign media (InsideEVs, REVan), here are some highlights to share with everyone.
Regarding range, it was previously announced that the Mach-E’s long range rear-wheel drive model has an EPA range of 300 miles, second only to the Tesla Model Y’s range of 326 miles in the SUV category.
Once the Mach-E formally enters the Chinese market, the battery could be switched to a local supplier, so the range might vary. However, the current EPA range suggests that the range of the long-range version of the Mach-E will not be too bad and reach the mainstream level.
In terms of appearance, there are two details worth noting.
First, in order to reduce wind resistance, the Mach-E also employs a hidden door handle design, but now there is only one small button left, which is located only on the front door.
It opens with a button and the traditional Ford password-locked system is also retained. Even though it is an electric opening system, according to REVan’s video, the door will automatically spring open after pressing the button, so one should not worry even if it is frozen over by ice.
However, getting used to the design without a door handle might take some time. One can expect that when Mach-E owners take their friends out, they will need to show them how to open the doors more frequently than Tesla owners show their friends how to use the in-car key.
Second, the front panel adopts a fully enclosed design. The lower air intake grille is also electrically opened, only when there is a cooling demand will it open.
As for mechanical performance, InsideEVs and REVAN both give high evaluations. Even with the harsh driving conditions on snowy roads in North America, this is something one would expect, given that it comes from the family of Mustangs. If there were issues in this regard, it would be unacceptable.
However, this also highlights one of the significant advantages that traditional automakers have over new EV players. After focusing on electrification and intelligence, such solid mechanical performance has been overlooked.It’s interesting that the Mach-E has three driving modes, but instead of the conventional ECO, Normal, and Sport, they are called Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled. It will be exciting to see what interesting names they will use for the Mach-E when it enters the domestic market.
The Mach-E also has a one-pedal driving mode which, as described by insideevs, means that you don’t need to use the brake pedal except for emergency braking.
From Figure 4, we can also see some of the design elements of the car’s infotainment system. The primary menu is on the left, and the secondary menu is on the right. Most of the settings can be completed in two steps, which is commendable. However, the UI design seems a bit dated for 2020.
The Mach-E also has advanced driver assistance systems, and with the addition of the Driver Monitoring System (DMS) (with a camera above the steering column), it can achieve hands-free driving. From the promotional video, it also seems to have the ability to actively avoid obstacles, but we will have to wait until next year when it enters the domestic market to see its true capabilities.
In 2021, the new energy vehicle market is expected to be even more exciting than 2020. Traditional giants such as Mach-E and ID.4 are beginning to mass-produce and deliver their EV models, while independent brands like Lynk & Co’s ZERO and Thunder Power’s LuanTu Free are also joining the fray. Plus, there are the new automakers who have been working on EVs for three years–there are more and more choices for pure electric vehicles.
(Image source: insideevs, REvan, screenshots from videos)
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.