Ford Introduces The Mach-E: Everything We Didn’t Know About The All-Electric SUV Until Now

Sunday marked the debut of Ford’s (F) new Mustang-inspired Mach-E, which was unveiled during a live-streamed event. While several details about the all-electric SUV were leaked prior to its reveal date, some new information about the vehicle did come to light with its release.

According to Ford, the Mach-E is the first addition to the Mustang family in 55 years, expanding the pony lineup with an all-electric model based on the sports coupe. Ford first released the Mustang in 1964, allowing the Mach-E to build off the momentum that has been created by the muscle car since that time.

The Mach-E takes design elements from the Mustang car, which Ford said are “instantly recognizable.” The hood, rear haunch design, headlights, and tri-bar taillamps are all reminiscent of the muscle car.

The Mach-E, as anticipated, comes with either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive and extended range battery options that offer at least a 300-mile driving range. Power for the all-electric SUV comes from permanent magnet motors with standard and extended lithium-ion battery pack options available. The standard configuration comes with 288 battery cells, while the extended option features 376 cells. Both are fitted between the axles of the SUV.

In the all-wheel-drive configuration, the Mach-E develops 332 horsepower and 417 pounds-per-feet of torque, which Ford said is designed for a quicker 60 mph acceleration time than the base Porsche Macan series.

Two performance packages are also being offered – the GT and GT Performance Edition – taking a page from the Mustang GT’s nomenclature. The GT model is targeting a zero-to-60 mph acceleration in under four seconds while the GT Performance Edition will hit the same target in the mid-three second range.

Ford compared the speed of the GT model to the Porsche Macan Turbo and the GT Performance Edition to the Porsche 911 GTS – saying that the Mach-E would be faster off the line. Power on the GT versions is estimated to be 459 horsepower and 612 pounds-per-feet of torque. Delivery of the GT variations are slated for Spring 2021.

“The Mustang Mach-E wholeheartedly rejects the notion that electric vehicles are only good at reducing gas consumption,” Hau Thai-Tang, chief product development and purchasing officer at Ford, said. “People want a car that’s thrilling to drive, that looks gorgeous and that can easily adapt to their lifestyle – and the Mustang Mach-E delivers all of this in unmatched style.”

Ford is also offering a limited number of First Edition Mach-E models, as expected, that will arrive with an extended-range all-wheel drive, red-painted brake calipers, metallic pedal covers, contrasting seat stitching, and a scuff plate marked First Edition.

New details on the all-electric SUV include three drive options – Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled. The Mach-E was also engineered with enhanced vehicle response through sportier steering controls, ambient lighting, sound tuning, and dynamic cluster animations. Ford has also integrated performance driving into the Mach-E with added traction abilities for slippery conditions. All-wheel-drive also offers independent torque to the front and rear axles for added handling experience.

“Whether you want to really feel its performance capability or are looking for the quiet atmosphere that electric vehicles can offer, the Mach-E harnesses the power of electrification to create a unique driving experience while retaining that unmistakable Mustang feeling of freedom,” Ted Cannis, enterprise product line director, global electrification at Ford said.

The Mach-E also incorporates next-generation SYNC and a modern interface that is equipped with machine learning to understand drivers’ preferences. Over-the-air updates are available, and 15.5-inch screen offers an initiative design. A Phone As A Key technology also allows for Bluetooth activation to unlock and drive the SUV.

The Mach-E seats five passengers and has a 29 cubic feet cargo space. With the seats down, the SUV has 59.6 cubic feet of storage space, thanks to the batteries being placed inside the underbody. A front truck storage unit was also added to the SUV, offering 4.8 cubic feet of storage space. Plus, the front truck is drainable, allowing it to be used as a cooler for beverages.

The Mach-E will arrive in late 2020 with reservations for the EV being taken now with a $500 deposit.

Shares of Ford stock were up 0.03% as of 12:49 p.m. EST on Monday.