ALISTAIR WEAVER: Welcome to a brutally cold Detroit
and an Edwards exclusive preview of the Mustang Mach-E,
an electric SUV that might yet define the future
of the old Motor City.
Ford reckons it combines the heritage
of the past with the technology of the future.
So let's take a peek.
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The Mach-E will be bashed a Mustang.
It's the first time since '64 that the feral pony
has appeared on anything other than a coupe or convertible.
It's a deliberate ploy.
Ford wants to think of its EV as sporty and desirable,
and not just an eco-friendly hair-shirted alternative.
But, before we take a look, why not
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And be sure to head to edmunds.com
for more on the Mach-E, and for all your car shopping needs.
So the first thing we should talk about is the Mach-E size.
It's not as big as you might imagine.
It's about the same size as the Ford Escape
or, to give you another example, the Porsche Macan.
Now, Ford is deliberately trying to graft onto this SUV
some cues from the Mustang coupe and convertible,
particularly here at the rear, where
you get these kind of horn shoulder line, which gives it
some sort of muscularity and sporting presence.
And I particularly like what they've done with the roofline.
So the bodywork color extends down here
into this fast back, which reminds me slightly
of the Lamborghini Urus.
But what they've done very cleverly
is to create a black roofline, which looks
almost hidden at first glance.
And that makes sure that you've got plenty of rear headroom.
This badge is pretty self-explanatory--
Mach-E, 4 stands for all-wheel drive, X for extended range.
Now this car is sitting on 19-inch wheel rims which,
to my eyes, look a bit small.
This huge sidewall here, well, that's almost old school.
And there's plenty of air between the tire
and the bodywork.
Apparently the entry level car will
be on 18-inch rims which, frankly, must look tiny.
If this was mine, I'd walk 20s or even 21s.
This front end reminds me a lot of the Jaguar I-PACE.
But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
The I-PACE is a great looking car.
What we will have to get used to is the absence
of a traditional grill.
Instead, you get this big swathe of plastic and this redesigned
pony badge, now with added black slatting.
And the old nag has grown a little bit in her old age.
Overall, though, it's a very kind
of slick, sophisticated piece of design.
I think Ford's done a great job of taking the Mustang cues
and adding them to an SUV, but coming up
with a car which retains a degree of sophistication
and elegance.
I like it.
The Mach-E looks expensive, which is just as well,
because it ain't cheap.
The entry level car will cost just over $40,000,
rising to $65,000 for the performance edition.
Now, that places it into direct competition
with the forthcoming Tesla Model Y, and also puts it up again
some really appealing gas-powered alternatives,
including the Porsche Macan.
You should also know that the similarly sized
gas-powered Ford, the Escape, costs from just 25,000.
Now Ford will argue that this car qualifies
for a $7,500 federal tax credit.
And it sort of does.
But it's by no means straightforward,
more of which later.
The technical specification were pretty familiar to the Tesla
royalty.
The range starts off with a single motor at the rear,
driving the rear wheels, and a 76-kilowatt hour battery
pack under the floor.
Or you can upgrade to a 99-kilowatt hour battery pack
and add an extra motor at the front
to deliver all-wheel drive.
Now those with the biggest range anxiety
should choose a single motor at the back with the long range
battery pack.
Now Ford is bizarrely calling this model
the California Route 1 for reasons known only to them.
But, if like me, you like a bit of performance,
you can go to the other extreme and have the Mach-E GT
Performance Edition, which now delivers
two motors, all-wheel drive, 459 horsepower, 612 pound
feet of torque, and MagneRide suspension.
That vehicle, says Ford, should be
good for zero to 60 in around three and 1/2 seconds.
Now that's not just Mustang GT quick.
That's Shelby GT500 quick, which is, well, fabulous.
Shame that edition, though, won't be in showrooms
until the middle of 2021.
You don't even need a traditional key
to access the Mach-E. As long as you've
got your phone in your pocket, sync it up by Bluetooth,
the car will recognize your presence.
Then you grab this kind of weird little spoiler thing,
push a button, and the door opens.
But if you phone's run out of charge,
there is a old school Ford coding system.
So it's kind of like 1990s meets 2019.
I'll be honest with you.
I really like this interior.
I think Ford's done a terrific job of blending new age
thinking-- like this giant central screen--
with some good, old fashioned common sense.
The gear stick, for example, is this rotary knob
on the center console.
Column stalks are sensible.
There are hi-fi and phone controls on the steering wheel
and cruise control over here.
The speedo is right in front of the driver, exactly where you
want it.
And there's a range indicator, too.
They're not just positioned here in the center
like they are on a Tesla.
And it's practical, too.
There's plenty of space in here for five people,
those wireless charging cup holders,
plenty of Ottoman space.
This is a proper family SUV, not some pretentious tool.
I love some of the detailing, too.
There are three different drive modes
that affect how the car drives and even
what kind of artificial sound it makes to keep you in the mood.
The optional Bang & Olufsen hi-fi introduces this sound bar
across the top of the fascia.
And there's even a bit of Ford humor.
On the speedo, it says MPH zero.
And below that, ground speed.
You see, Mach-E sounds a bit aeronautical, like Concorde,
Mach-E, ground speed.
Got it?
Ford's obviously put a lot of detailed thought into this car.
When he opened the front, you don't
have to mess around with a fiddly catch
like you do in a Porsche 911.
And there's plenty of room in here for a decent-sized bag.
It also has a neat drain function.
So if you want to fill it with ice and use it as a cool box,
you can.
Ford's own research tells them that around 50%
of potential EV customers are put off
by the need to charge their car and anxiety about how
that works.
The reality of Mach-E ownership is
you are going to have to install a 240-volt power
supply in your garage to charge it overnight.
Now, Ford's working with Amazon to make this as simple
as possible.
But Edmunds' advice would be to make sure
that you do your homework before you
commit to buying the vehicle.
Not every garage is compatible.
And, of course, if you rent your property,
you're going to have to ask the landlord's permission.
Assuming all that takes place though,
and you've now got your plug installed,
the Mach-E will recharge at a rate around 22 miles per hour.
So if you plug it in overnight, you
should have around 170 miles of range in the morning.
If that's still not enough, Ford is
partnering with Electrify America
to give you access to a huge network
of fast charges across the US.
If you use a fast charger, then you
should be able to get 47 miles of range
in as little as 10 minutes.
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So who's going to buy an electric Mustang SUV?
Well, Ford's hoping to appeal way
beyond the affluent California techie types who traditionally
buy Teslas.
They think they can appeal to their heartland--
people who would normally buy gas-powered cars--
simply by offering them something
that's better, faster, more spacious, more desirable.
It's a bold strategy.
They also expect most customers to buy rather than
lease the Mach-E, which is equally bold.
Edmunds' advice is generally to lease an electric car,
for three reasons--
the technology is constantly changing.
They often depreciate faster than a gas-powered alternative.
And because leasing makes it easier
to bake in the $7,500 federal tax credit.
Ford is offering its own version of a lease,
called Ford Options.
So watch out for that.
And, if you do buy it, remember that you
have to claim the credit back on your personal tax return.
And, even if you qualify, you might
have to wait up to 18 months for your money back.
Don't think of it as an automatic discount.
Ford freely admits of a big education job
to do with his car for dealers and customers alike.
That's why they've launched it a year ahead of it going on sale.
But I for one hope they make it.
This car is good-looking.
It has a fabulous interior.
The technical specification is very promising.
And it's sensibly priced.
We'll reserve judgment, of course, until we've driven it.
But, at first glance, the Mach-E is not only
a genuine rival to a Tesla, it's also a genuine Mustang.
And I didn't expect to say that when I woke up this morning.
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