Author: Master

Since the birth of the Ford Mustang, it has always attracted numerous fans with excellent performance and driving pleasure, especially with a relatively low price for more consumers to enjoy. As the new member of the Mustang family and the first pure electric vehicle, can Mustang Mach-E continue the excellent DNA of the family? Compared with the most direct competitor Tesla Model Y, what advantages does it have?

With these questions, I came to the Guangdong Jing Speed International Circuit to experience it on the track.

A Quick Look at the Ford Mustang Mach-E

1. The new car is already on the market, with a total of 5 configurations available. Pre-orders have been opened and they are expected to start delivery at the end of the year.

2. The standard range rear-drive version has a motor power of 201 kW and a torque of 430 N·m. The two long-range rear-drive versions have a motor power of 224 kW and the same torque of 430 N·m, with 0-100 km/h acceleration in 7 seconds. The long-range all-wheel drive performance version has a total motor power of 260 kW, a torque of 730 N·m, and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5 seconds. The top-of-the-line GT version has a motor power of 359 kW, a torque of 860 N·m, and only needs 3.65 seconds for 0-100 km/h acceleration.

3. The entire series comes standard with 6 HD cameras and 17 radars, with standard traffic congested assistance and high-speed driving assistance functions, supporting FOTA whole vehicle firmware upgrade.

4. Optional Co-Pilot360 smart driving assistance upgrade package costs CNY 15,000, which includes active driving assistance, FAPA one-key parking assistance, and a 360° panoramic imaging system.

Excellent Driving Performance with Outstanding Texture

All the models we test drove on the track are long-range rear-wheel drive versions with a price of CNY 309,900. Equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor on the rear axle, it has a maximum power of 224 kW and a torque of 430 N·m, with an acceleration time of 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds.

The power level of the single motor version may not be as strong as the electric cars that can break a hundred kilometers per hour in just 4 or 5 seconds, but it is definitely sufficient for daily use, and is overall comparable to a gasoline car with a high-power 2.0T engine. However, due to the characteristics of the electric motor, the power output is smooth and the driving experience is stronger than gasoline cars with the same 0-100 km/h time of 7 seconds, without any “lag” feeling during acceleration.

The suspension performance is still very “Ford” style, not too soft, and there will be some noticeable bouncing when passing bumps on the racetrack, but not as stiff as the Tesla Model Y. Even when driving at high speeds on the racetrack and cornering, the suspension provides very good lateral support, keeping all four wheels firmly on the ground.

However, the long-range rear-wheel drive version of the Mustang Mach-E is equipped with the comfort-focused Goodyear Eagle Touring tires, with a relatively narrow width of only 225 mm and not very high limits. If the corner entry speed is too fast, there may be a bit of oversteer, but the ESC will quickly “bring the car back on track.”

The Mustang Mach-E is equipped with front four-piston Brembo calipers across its whole lineup (the GT version shown in the picture is just painted red), with very impressive braking performance, which can withstand continuous driving on racetracks. However, if you want to run to your heart’s content on the racetrack, you will need the Pirelli P ZERO tires on the GT version shown in the picture.

The three driving modes of the Mustang Mach-E are named Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, which sound quite “artistic.” They correspond to energy-saving, standard, and sport mode respectively. The three driving modes have different levels of energy recovery and steering feel. However, unlike other new energy vehicles, the kinetic energy recovery in Whisper mode is the lowest.

Ford hopes to provide the most comfortable riding experience in this mode, so the kinetic energy recovery, which easily causes jerks, is set to the lowest level.

The vehicle also supports L gear and one-pedal mode, with the latter not directly linked to the driving mode. In this mode, when the accelerator is completely released, the deceleration of the vehicle is gradual until it comes to a complete stop using mechanical brakes once the speed drops to below 20 km/h. It’s worth mentioning that the automatic parking of the Mustang Mach-E is stable without any jerks, which even many experienced drivers cannot achieve.

Unfortunately, today we drove on a well-paved track, so we cannot conclude on the noise level when driving on public roads. Nevertheless, when you get behind the wheel of the Mustang Mach-E, you can feel the quality of this new energy vehicle built by an experienced and mature automaker, from the power, steering, to the chassis.

Static review

The appearance of the GT version is not much different from the regular version in its static design, except for the exclusive “Star White” color and the body-colored wheel arches, without any chrome decorations on the entire vehicle.

Ford did not want the new car design to deviate too much, so we can still see the classic design elements of the Mustang model, such as the hexagonal grille, muscle-like body lines, and plenty of aerodynamic accessories. The galloping mustang logo in a closed middle grille can also light up, making it undoubtedly cool to drive.

The dimensions of the Mustang Mach-E model are 4730/1886/1621 mm (length, width, height), and the wheelbase is 2984 mm, which is very close to that of Tesla Model Y. The black paint on the bottom and top of the car compresses the visual center in the middle of the body, making it not look like an SUV from a distance, but more like a hunting vehicle.

The entire car has no mechanical door handles (including inside the car) and can only be opened by pressing the button located at the window, which will then pop out a slit. Additionally, there is a small handle designed on the front door of the vehicle. However, in extreme situations (such as a complete power outage), the lack of physical door handles may prevent the door from being opened, but the manufacturer claims that the vehicle will have power redundancy to ensure that the electric charge required for door opening is always sufficient.

The rear of the vehicle looks very full and heavy, and does not use the popular through-style taillights. Instead, it uses the classic three-column taillights of the Mustang family, and the turn signals come with a factory-installed flowing light effect, so there is no need to modify it oneself.

It has extremely high recognition whether during the day or night.

Compared to the exterior design, the interior design is more conventional, similar to most current electric vehicle models. The 15.5-inch central control screen contains almost all software functions, while the 10.2-inch instrument panel display and information richness are satisfactory.

The elongated instrument panel is quite unique and will not be blocked by the steering wheel.

The front part of the entire center console is covered with B&O speaker grilles, while other parts are covered with a lot of leather with stitching, highlighting a sense of luxury.

The vertically arranged central control screen has a good visual effect and will not block the front view, but I feel that the angle is a bit too steep. The bottom is designed with a mechanical knob, which is used by default to adjust the multimedia volume. Later, it can also be used for adjusting the air conditioning temperature and wind speed through OTA upgrades.

As for the vehicle system, since the vehicle is still in a trial installation state and the engineers have stated that there will be updates before delivery, we will wait for its official version to bring you a detailed review.

The seats of Mustang Mach-E surprised me a lot. Although they don’t look particularly special, they are actually very soft and comfortable, and they can provide decent lateral support while driving on the track. They are no worse than seats that have received various so-called “certifications.”

Thanks to the panoramic sunroof with Low-e glass, Mustang Mach-E has a very large headroom. Even under the direct sunlight that feels nearly 40°C in Guangdong currently, you will not feel very hot.

At a height of 174 cm, I can have a very decent seating space at the rear. The angle at which the seat cushion is raised and the angle of the backrest are quite suitable, especially the length of the seat cushion is long enough to fully support the thighs. Coupled with the same soft padding as in the front row, the overall comfort is much better than that of the Tesla Model Y.

The trunk has a capacity of 618-1485 L, and the rear seats support a 4/6 ratio of fold-down, which can be flush with the rear cargo cover.

Mustang Mach-E also has a front trunk designed, which can be opened directly by pulling the handle under the driver’s seat twice, without having to reach into the front hood like a single locking latch. It is also not “redundant” to equip an additional cover, making the front trunk no longer a display for “things that will never be taken out.” Worth mentioning, even the internal opening button is designed inside the front trunk.

Is the DNA of Mustang still there?

Returning to the question at the beginning of the article, whether this Mustang Mach-E extends the family’s DNA, I think the answer is yes.

Going back to the 1970s, people admired the stylish design, ultimate power, and the crazy roar of the large-displacement V8 engine when accelerating to the fullest. Mustang can help you achieve this with the lowest cost.However, times have changed and the demands of laws and regulations are becoming stricter, while people’s real needs are constantly changing. In addition to basic performance indicators such as styling, power, handling, and space, there are also various indicators such as intelligence and assisted driving. Mustang Mach-E is also striving to achieve the most balanced performance at the lowest cost.

However, Mustang Mach-E faces significant challenges in a market with many domestic competitors, as well as new energy vehicle models from emerging brands like NIO and the upcoming Xpeng P5. In order to make waves in such a fiercely competitive market, Mustang Mach-E still has a lot to overcome.

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.