Brian Harper: Were banging our heads against the wall, kid. Tilting at windmills. Spitting into the wind. Trying to objectively analyze two legendary muscle cars (actually, pony cars back in my youth) when their respective fan bases have long ago made up their collective minds is just going to get us in trouble. But we gotta try, dont we? Ford Mustang versus Dodge Challenger. Off and on rivals going back 50 years. Not the ultimate versions of each, maybe not even the most livable for the street, but traditional V8 power and six-speed manual transmissions, the cars augmented by optional performance upgrades that give them superior handling and grip. Stripping it down to the basics, its a fight between tradition and evolution. Whats it going to be?Nick Tragianis: Well, the Mustang GT certainly makes a compelling case for evolution. Starting with a 5.0-litre V8 under the hood making 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, and of course, hooked up to a six-speed manual and riding on independent suspension at all four corners, its without a doubt the closest the Mustangs ever been to sports car territory, Shelby GT350 (and GT350R) notwithstanding. It pulls hard, sounds incredible and, most importantly, it can boogie around corners.The key ingredient to this formula is what Ford calls the Performance Package Level Two, or as its known to enthusiasts, the PP2. It adds a laundry list of track-spec trinkets, such as beefier springs and sway bars, more chassis bracing, magnetic dampers, a Torsen limited-slip differential, super-sticky (and wide) Pirelli summer tires, and more. Much more. Too much to list, in fact. All you need to know is, the PP2 is magical. The grip is absolutely unreal, though it makes the Mustang somewhat twitchy near the limit and ride quality suffers. I think this package is a requirement, but something tells me youre not one to agree, old dude. BH: Its a qualified agreement, kid. I love almost everything about PP2, except those meaty P305/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Ungodly grip in the dry, yes, but with next to no tread, and thus a very limited lifespan. I had to wait to pick up the tester because new tires were being installed, and the car had just 6,000 kilometres on the odo! And unless youve found a perfect stretch of unsullied tarmac, the GT tramlines over every uneven surface. Both hands on the steering wheel here.Interestingly, the Challenger Scat Pack fitted with the Widebody had similar 305-width rubber P305/35ZR20 Pirellis and was nowhere near as frenetic on real roads, though that is clearly not its forte. The big Dodge is definitely Old School muscle car, with blistering straight-line acceleration courtesy of its 485-horsepower, 6.4L V8. Its perfect for the quarter-mile, equipped with line lock, launch assist and an improved launch control setup (hold time is increased to 10 seconds from five for optimal launch and consistent straight-line acceleration). Oh yeah, larger six-piston Brembo front brakes and a stiffer suspension. Still, you feel the difference in the two cars weights the Mustang is 220 kilograms lighter especially on a serious set of twisties (or a track). I have to say, though, the Mustang is no slouch over 1,320 feet, either, not with its own line lock and Drag Strip mode. NT: And therein lies the biggest difference between the two. The Mustang is definitely the better car, if you will the steering, clutch, and shifter action are more precise and nowhere near as heavy as the Challenger. You can pretty much tailor the Mustang to however youre feeling on any particular day with its adjustable drive modes and optional active exhaust system which, by the way, should be standard. And inside, the Mustang may as well be in a completely different league: Your butts positioned far lower to the ground, and the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and fully digital instrument cluster add a sense of modernity. There are a few quibbles, though: The optional Recaro seats, particularly on the passenger side, arent friendly to shorter passengers, and forking over the extra $1,800 for these means you lose out on power adjustability, and heating and ventilation. Overall fit-and-finish, too, while reasonably good overall, feels a bit cheap in some areas.But its almost as though the Mustang feels too complicated, too modern for its own good. This is where the Challenger truly comes into its own, indulging the old-school crowd these days far better than the Mustang or Camaro. It seems to be working the design might be more than a decade old, but the Challenger still turns heads and it even outsells the Camaro. But its very much a one-trick pony; the Challenger takes a corner just fine, but whether youre peeling off with the go-fast pedal pinned and slamming through the gears, or just eating up the highway at 120 km/h, the Challenger is happiest going in a straight line. <img
Origin: Car Comparison: 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 392 vs. 2019 Ford Mustang GT
Mustang
First Drive: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Lots of cars have angry eyebrows. Not that many cars have the moves to back them up. But the 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500 does and its very angry indeed. Even when painted in a jovial shade of safety-cone orange, the leering face bristles with vents, scoops, spoilers, and splitters. The very first second you fire it up you realize that the multi-mode exhaust has no fewer than four settings but they only range from antisocial to jet-engine. It wasnt built to make friends.It was built to be the ultimate performance Mustang. And with 760 horsepower, its far and away the most powerful Mustang ever built. Two of Steve McQueens rowdiest 1968 GT390s would still need a Mustang II stacked on top to equal the power of the mad supercharged 5.2L V8. Remember those this is your brain on drugs ads? Well this is your 5.2L GT350 Voodoo engine on copious amounts of boost. The bones of the same captain-insane-o flat-plane-crank V8 that we adored in the GT350 has been treated to a healthy dose of Roots blower which pushes 12 psi of go-fast squeeze through the mill. It makes 620 lb.-ft. and will rev out to 7,500 RPM. The engine is a treasure. We will be talking about this engine 25 years later as one of the mechanical greats. It revs, it pulls, its linear, and boy is it mean. The idle has an off-key warble like a V10 Viper thanks to the cross-plane-crank breathing through one intake plenum. Its everything you loved about the GT350 motor but with more of everything everywhere.Coupled to this engine exclusively is a paddle-shift-equipped seven-speed dual-clutch Tremec automatic. I can hear the pitter patter of #savethemanuals typers already, but honestly, the average human and buyer will not be able to shift fast enough to keep up with 760 hp. The shift points come at you faster than the music notes in Guitar Hero when you try to play Iron Maiden at full difficulty. The paddle is an honestly welcome companion to the GT500 engine and the shifts are absolutely fierce when you need them to be. Otherwise, it seems content to waft you along and seamlessly shift around in traffic. Its a very good transmission. Every bit as good as that transmission is the suspension tuning. The GT500 is fully aerodynamically optimized and that combined with just honestly good suspension engineering make the GT500 not as scary to drive as you might think. The magnetorheological suspension is not too harsh and jouncy on real roads. Sport mode is just about perfect for fast driving. The steering lacks feel compared to what youd find in a Porsche 718 or even across town in a Camaro. But the weight feels right and the entire package inspires tons of driving confidence. And youll want confidence when youre piloting 760 hp around.When you slap the accelerator down in a Hellcat, all kinds of amusing and terrifying things happen. The tires light up and the car goes sideways no matter what speed youre already doing. Its fun in the same way that base jumping is. But the Mustang simply rears up on those 315 section tires and explodes forward. Mat the gas at any speed above first gear and it just moves out like no muscle car youve ever seen, accompanied with a wild banshee wail. Lots of muscle cars have big power but the GT500 lets you use that power pretty much anywhere. 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Clayton Seams The cabin is nothing to write home about. You sit in a pair of nicely-shaped Recaros but those are the only seats youll find inside. The rears have been replaced with a little bit of foam. The GT500 is a true two-seater. Though it may cost a full $94,675 in Canada, the door panels, dashboard pad, and console are made from the very same materials youd find in a humble four-cylinder Mustang. But if youre buying this car, you know exactly where your money has been spent. Your money went to fund all the amazing pieces that transform the Mustang into a 100-percent capable track car. And frankly, I dont know where youd find more performance capability for under $100,000.Despite its angry face and its back-off exhaust tone, the GT500 is actually friendly to drive once you wrap your head around the sheer speed of it. Its the GT2 RS to the GT350s GT3. The manually-shifted GT350 is more pure and is the true drivers car of the two. The GT350 also has just that extra little bit of hard-edge sound thanks to its sky-high 8,200 RPM redline. Which is the better car? Well, frankly, the GT350 may be ticket fast but the GT500 is jail fast. The 350 is ideally suited for canyon carving and fast road driving. And while you can canyon carve the GT500, it wants for something more. The GT500 deserves a racetrack to be let loose on, and a big one at that. Then you can show all the other cars how angry it can truly
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
An electric Mustang coupe is inevitable, says Ford engineer
The electric Ford Mustang is coming, but nobody knows when, Motoring reports.According to Ron Heiser, chief engineer behind the new Mustang Mach-E utility, a non-SUV Mustang with battery power is an inevitability.I think if you look out in the future who knows what timeframe that is the market is eventually going to roll over to EVs, Heiser told Australias Motoring.The next-generation Mustang is rumoured to sit atop a modified Explorer SUV chassis, which will set up the vehicle with a hybrid option for the first time.While an electric Mustang is likely already in the works, it wont share that same platform. Luckily, Ford already has a new EV-capable platform in the form of the Mach-E. The Mustang Mach-E debuted riding on a modular platform set to underpin a few different electric vehicles of various sizes, with either front- or rear-wheel-drive. Its likely a modified version of this platform will underpin the future electric pony.The Mach-E took the name of the classic muscle car, but not all vehicles that ride on the platform will wear the Mustang badge.It doesnt need to have a Mustang name on it, but we chose the first vehicle on this platform to be a Mustang, said Heiser. We dont give them names any more, he laughed.The Mach-E is not based on Volkswagens MEB EV platform, but Ford will use that platform for two new Ford models for Europe.LISTEN: In this week’s episode, we talk about all the electrifying news coming out of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show with Postmedia Driving senior writer David Booth, including Ford’s bold Mustang Mach-e SUV. And, of course, we get Booth’s take on Tesla’s Cybertruck. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: An electric Mustang coupe is inevitable, says Ford engineer
News Roundup: A pickup tug-of-war war, a 1,000-hp Mustang, plus an actual pony car
Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away.Ford wants a rematch of the F-150 vs. Cybertruck tug-of-war, sort ofThe Blue Oval wasn’t pleased with its brief inclusion in Tesla’s Cybertruck reveal. During the live event, Elon Musk played a clip of the Cybertruck running away (uphill!) with Ford’s popular pickup hitched to its back bumper in a tug of war, the F-150 struggling to gain any sort of traction. In response, a VP at Ford called the contest unfair and demanded a rematch, saying Tesla cherry-picked a two-wheel-drive F-150. But when Musk said “Bring it on,” other talking heads at Ford seemed to walk the challenge back, telling Fox News it had been intended as a “tongue in cheek” comment. LISTEN: In this week’s episode, we talk about all the electrifying news coming out of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show with Postmedia Driving senior writer David Booth, including Ford’s bold Mustang Mach-e SUV. And, of course, we get Booth’s take on Tesla’s Cybertruck. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click here.The 4,000-horsepower Thor24 fetches US$12M at auctionAfter going under the hammer in Saudi Arabia, this 24-cylinder 12-supercharger 3,974-horsepower semi found its new owner — for a truckload of money. The custom big rig dubbed “Thor24” lines up two 12-cylinder Detroit diesel engines that, along with a nitrous boost pack, can get its 32,000-pound frame up to 200 km/h. Four 12-foot chutes help to bring it back down. US$12M seems like a deal, because that flaming paint job is priceless. This Ohio dealership is selling 1,000-horsepower Mustangs for US$55,000It’s called “Project M,” and it’s one wild pony. At the base: a Mustang GT (300a) with a modest interior and a Level 1 Performance Pack with automatic transmission. But Lebanon Ford in Ohio was able to saddle the pony with 1,000 horsepower from a Whipple supercharger or D1X Procharger, an upgraded fuel pump, a larger heat exchanger. The wildest part is the price of just CDN$73,000, which undercuts the 797-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye by $20,000. The Internet’s most hilarious reactions to the Tesla Cybertruck revealIt was big news. Partly because it’s an electric pickup finally here, partly because it looks like a couple of stacked triangles, and partly because, in the process of revealing it live, Tesla unintentionally broke not one but two windows while attempting to display their durability. Twitter almost instantly had a roundup of hilarious memes reacting to the Cybertruck, while Wall Street showed its uncertainty with a 6-per-cent drop in Tesla stock price, and more than a few people pointed out its proximity in looks to a certain time-travelling coupe. Horseplay a la highway—French police spot pony in passenger seatA woman piloting a microcar near Marseille in Southern France was stopped by police watching for distracted drivers after they saw a curious passenger riding shotgun. When they realized that, oui, c’est un cheval, the authorities snapped a pic and arrested the woman, who excused the fact she had a horse in the small car because she didn’t have the license to drive a more appropriately sized van. Are we sure this wasn’t Florida? Feels like
Origin: News Roundup: A pickup tug-of-war war, a 1,000-hp Mustang, plus an actual pony car
Ford insiders make the case for – and against – the Mach-E being named ‘Mustang’
Ford Mustang Mach-ENadine Filion News about Fords 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric SUV keeps breaking every day, pointing to ever-more ambitious plans for the model. After shipping it to dealers late 2020, the automaker plans to sell 50,000 examples globally through 2021, reports the Detroit News for context, Nissans Leaf managed 30,000 units in its best year. A performance-spec Shelby version is allegedly in the works, too.And Ford Europe design chief Murat Gueler admits some execs have even talked about building a family around the Mustang name. This is, of course, assuming Mustang enthusiasts, pitchforks and torches in hand, havent by then burned Dearborn to the ground for sticking the name of the iconic pony car on an electric SUV in the first place.Yes, the reaction to the Blue Oval calling the Mach-E a Mustang has been simply calamitous. Even with Ford bringing on the charismatic Idris Elba as a brand ambassador, the backlash has been unrelenting.No fewer than four petitions for the name to be changed have been launched; promises have hurriedly come down from Ford execs that youll be convinced once you drive it; and a survey of social media shows fans of rival muscle cars from General Motors and Mopar have even sympathetically relaxed or resisted their usual trolling of Mustang owners.There have been, arguably, early warnings Ford holds no name completely sacred. In 1967, the company turned its Thunderbird, once a two-seat roadster, into a marshmallow-y four-door luxury sedan; 10 years later the vaunted Mercury Cougar muscle car badge would show up on a station wagon.Then again, those marques didnt jump from gasoline to electric power, or from car to sport utility.‘Making the Mustang Mach-E’A few days after its launch, Ford released this video about the Mustang Mach-Es development, featuring several executives, engineers, designers and Mustang fans.The company doesnt hide that the group behind the vehicle, Team Edison, didnt start out with the intent to make their new EV product a Mustang, pinning the inspiration for bringing the haloed brand into it on Jim Farley, president of new business and technology.The video shows us, too, that Mach-Es being labelled Mustang faced plenty of scepticism from inside the company, even from executive chairman Bill Ford himself, who was absolutely adamant that it not be a Mustang.But, as you might expect of a piece of apologia like this, by the end of the 20-minute clip, all those Doubting Thomases have been convinced, turned onto the thought this noiseless four-door could be a Mustang after all.The film finishes with the fans take, sage words to the effect progress cant be stopped, and that itd be kind of neat to see Mustang on the flanks of a spaceship a hundred years from now.The argument against Mach-E — from a Ford insiderBut the argument doesnt stop there just because the credits roll; in fact, Driving.ca managed to tap for an exclusive interview a Mustang subject matter expert working for Ford who vows the Mach-E is not a Mustang. End of story. If you ask them, this is instead a marketing gimmick gone wrong.Mustang was used for publicity purposes; its as simple as that, writes our insider, whose identity were keeping hidden to save them from a possible reprisal by their employer. We can all see Ford did not have faith in the vehicle to live on its own. If they did, they would have given it a separate name. Mustang Family Photo, but one of these things is not like the others The Mustang enthusiast community, they suggest, is not opposed to progress, just what they take as a flagrant disregard for the Mustang brand. We are not upset about it being electric. Fact is, electric (power) gives us instantaneous torque, and that is pretty darn great. We are upset about it turning into a completely different vehicle segment within a brand that already has multiple SUVs.Porsche didnt slap a 911 on their SUV. Lamborghini didnt call their SUV a Murcilago. Was introducing an SUV within those brands polarizing? Absolutely. But, at least they didnt sacrifice a name that means so much to people.There are few counter-arguments our insider, a lifelong Mustang fan, cant refute. People have claimed Ford experimented with four-door and station wagon (Mustang) designs in the early 60s, they explain. Although this is true, (Ford) chose not to pursue these body styles because they claimed it went against Mustangs mission to be a sporty vehicle. When you have a product as enormously successful as Mustang, you invariably have to consider how to capitalize on the idea. While Mustang used the platform of the compact Falcon as its starting point, the four-door Mustang could have brought the idea full circle by adding two doors to the pony car. Fortunately for Mustang fans, cooler heads prevailed. Ford That feeling of a loss of identity may be the strongest argument against the pony badge being slapped onto the face of the Mach-E if not, the pony badge itself is. The
Origin: Ford insiders make the case for – and against – the Mach-E being named ‘Mustang’
News Roundup: Tesla Cybertruck and Ford Mustang Mach-E vie for biggest EV reveal of the year
Welcome to our weekly roundup of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away:Tesla reveals Cybertruck, breaks two windows in the processThe Cybertruck is here and it’s getting ALL the media attention. Price starts US$39,900, there are three range options (250 miles+, 300+ and 500+), and it’ll supposedly sprint to 96 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. But that’s not what people are talking about. Why? Because, well, just look at it! The polarizing design of the Cybertruck was actually eclipsed when a member of the reveal team, in an attempt to demonstrate the shatterproof-ness of the windows, accidentally shattered the two left-side windows with an iron ball. “Room for improvement,” said Elon. The Mach-E stole the LA Auto Show before the show had even started Ford Mustang Mach-E Nadine Filion In other major EV news this week, Ford pulled the sheets off its Mustang Mach-E SUV. David Booth rounded up the most important facts about the controversial “Mustang.” Did you know that it was originally supposed to be called just “Mach-e”? True story. But when designers wanted to spring on a new battery-powered platform, those with their fingers on the purse strings said they’d release the funds only if the Mustang label was involved. Find out what other secrets the new E-SUV holds right here. The Internet’s best reactions to the Mach-E arrival Ford Mustang Mach-E Nadine Filion As it is wont to do, the Internet voiced some strong opinions about the Ford Mach-E. One of the most controversial parts is right there in the name—and according to Driving.ca’s own poll, a full 72 per cent of readers believe that, now having seen it, the Mach-E is not worthy of the Mustang name. The public wasn’t the only source of concern over the name, either: Ford admitted at the launch that plenty of former Mustang designers refused to work on the project. One Twitter user got in on the joke by Photoshopping an image of the Carrol Shelby standing next to a black-and-white Mach-E. Ha! Not likely…The RAV4 Prime arrives with a whopping 302 horsepowerThe 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid has arrived with the winning combo of more power and better fuel economy. The first plug-in-hybrid version of the popular Yota SUV will get 60 km of pure electric motoring per charge of its 17.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, and enough power combined with the 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four to push it to 96 km/h in 5.8 seconds. Based on the 62,000 RAV4 units Toyota expects to sell to Canadians this year, the electrified 2021 RAV4 should absolutely crush sales when it’s released in the summer of 2020. ALG report names best car brands for resale valueWe’ve all heard the maxim about new cars losing a bunch of their value the moment they’re driven off the dealership lot, but it’s also true that the exact amount of money lost varies depending on the brand of car. The annual ALG Residual Awards is designed to recognize those carmakers whose products tend to guard their value better than the competition. At the top of the mainstream list is Honda, which stole the title from Subaru, which had held it the last four years. Land Rover took top mention for premium brands, followed by Audi, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Find out if/where your vehicle landed on the
Origin: News Roundup: Tesla Cybertruck and Ford Mustang Mach-E vie for biggest EV reveal of the year
Wild horses: The internet reacts to Ford’s 2021 Mustang Mach-E
Unless youve been living under an especially virulent rock, it will not have escaped your notice that Ford introduced the all-electric Mustang Mach-E earlier this week in Los Angeles. Any serious entrant into the EV market is a big deal these days, especially one from the Detroit Three, a group frequently accused (sometimes unfairly) of being perpetually behind the eight-ball.This alone would have undoubtedly set tongues wagging. Once the build team confirmed they decided to call this all-electric crossover a Mustang, the conversation went into orbit.Public reaction was as swift as it was predictable. Online comments from the Twitterverse ranged from an SUV is not a Mustang, to this will not resonate. One user proclaimed the Mustang Mach E to be an Edsel-level failure in terms of marketing, a comment that will surely sting anyone at the Blue Oval whos read that particular case study.Now that its been revealed, how do you feel about Ford calling the Mach-E a Mustang? #MustangMachE driving.ca (@drivingdotca) November 18, 2019The EV Association of Alberta, not exactly a group given to wild and untamed pronouncements, said on Twitter Ford certainly took a risk naming it after the iconic sports car at a minimum, it has sparked much conversation. We hope the vehicle sells for Ford, but perhaps a different name would have avoided alienating a large number of Ford fansThat statement is one of the more measured and thoughtful weve seen; its also the most correct. Ford did take a plunge into the unknown by affixing the Mustang name to this car, a decision that has indeed sparked much conversation. There is a case to be made Ford knew it needed all the buzz they could get after all, the Glass House does not enjoy the same rabid fan base as a certain other EV company whose name begins with T and ends in esla.In a sidebar with Automotive News, it apparently took a great deal of convincing to get Bill Ford himself on board with calling the Mach-E a Mustang. I certainly wasnt sold at the beginning far from it, said Ford to AN. I said, No, Im sorry, I dont want to hurt the brand. This is not going to be a Mustang.So what changed? A lap in an early prototype, apparently. After absorbing the specs on paper, Bill Ford said he saw the performance characteristics and driving dynamics evolve as time went on to the point where he could concede Yeah, this is a Mustang.Not everyone was on board, apparently. Our own feet on the ground during the cars introduction told us that, during the product presentation, Ford copped to the fact a few Mustang boffins within the company were decidedly hands-off. When a reporter asked You selected a pretty wide and talented team of previous Mustang engineers to work on this Mach-E. Were there any that were asked to work on the project and refused? the answer from Ford was Oh, definitely, an admission that definitely falls in the category of Things That Make You Go Hmmm.Vintage behind-the-scenes photograph of Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustang SHELB-E during the filming of Ford vs Tesla. (Non colorized) pic.twitter.com/SmT7nAm6xd McMike (@_McMike_) November 19, 2019Theres been a proliferation of nicknames for the SUV already, including the obvious papier mâché pun, plus suggestions for alternatives. If the petition to change the name from “Mustang Mach E” reaches the ears of higher-ups at FoMoCo, perhaps theyll consider instead calling it the Lincoln Mark-E, or, as writer Rory Carroll offered on Twitter, the Galax-E.Well leave the final word to jokester McMike on Twitter, who mashed up a photo of a young Carroll Shelby standing next to the Mach-E. A pair of EV crossovers, both with boatloads of chutzpah and similar all-electric range? Ford vs. Tesla,
Origin: Wild horses: The internet reacts to Ford’s 2021 Mustang Mach-E
5 things you need to know about the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
LOS ANGELES, California — As if calling an SUV a battery-powered one, at that a Mustang doesnt already foist an uphill challenge on this new model, Fords 2021 Mach-E also has to strip sales away from Tesla, prove to Ford shareholders that there really is a mass market for mid-priced electric vehicles and, at the same time, prepare the ultimate of Ford loyalists F-150 owners for the inevitable electrification of their pickup trucks.Thats a pretty steep ask. Heres how Ford plans to do it, plus some background info you just need to know.Ford was first going to just call it “Mach-E”Rumour round the L.A. Auto Show has it Ford originally tried to build the Mach-E on an existing that should be read gas-powered platform, but the engineers couldnt hit their range and performance targets.CHECK OUT ALL OUR LATEST AUTO SHOW COVERAGESo they made a deal with the devil, asking Fords accountants for more money so they could build a bespoke battery-powered chassis. The tithe exacted by the bean-counters? That they name it Mustang so they could build on the name recognition of probably the most famous Ford of all time. Which explains whyFord wants to move a boatload of its electrified sport bruteThis is no halo vehicle or vanity project. Ford is looking to move some (battery-powered) iron, here. I count, for instance, no less than nine distinct trim levels across the Mach-Es five models Select (available early 2021), Premium (late 2020), First Edition (also late 2020), California Route 1 (early 2021) and GT Performance (spring 2021). Thats a huge number of trims from a company that prides itself on efficient manufacturing. The only way to amortize the cost of that proliferation is to sell boatloads of product, which also explains whyFord is sticking it with impressively aggressive pricingBase (Select trim) Mach-Es will start at $50,495 and, unlike Elons $35,000 Model 3, youll actually be able to buy them at that price from launch. Even the all-singing, all-dancing GT Performance Edition will slip in under $83,000 (yes, these prices are all Canadian).Again, Ford plans to move a bunch of Mach-Es in preparation for what will surely be its real heavy-hitter in the EV world, an electrified F-150. The first two models available the Premium and California Route 1 will start at $59,495 (for the standard-range version of the Premium) and $64,495 (for the Route 1 and its extended-range battery). In between Ford’s offering a vast array of powertrain and battery optionsRunning through the Mach-Es order guide is like feasting at the ultimate of electric vehicle buffets. Want a rear-wheel-drive BEV with a big battery that maximizes range? Mach-Es got the California Route 1. Want an all-wheel-drive with a cheaper battery but better performance? Well, Ford has a Premium SR AWD with your name on it that can scoot to 100 clicks in about five-and-a-half-seconds.Wading through the vast array of options and combinations will make your head spin, so Ill attempt to simplify it all for you. There are basically two battery options: a standard-range (SR) 75.7-kilowatt-hour affair; and an extended-range (ER) 98.8-kWh monster.Combine the extended-range unit with a modestly-powered (282-hp) rear-wheel drivetrain and you have the 475-kilometre California Route 1. Package the same 98.8-kilowatt-hour ER hardware with 459 all-wheel-driving horses and you have the GT Performance with its three-and-a-half-second blitz to 100 kilometres an hour (though range is reduced to 375 km).The Premium, which looks to be the backbone of Fords sales effort, can be had with any combination of long- and short-range battery and rear-wheel- or all-wheel-drive powertrains you want, in 255-, 282- and yet another iteration 332-horsepower guises.Dizzy yet? Like the California, the First Edition (which will exact something of a premium $71,995 for its limited quantities) is only available with the extended-range battery, but drives all four wheels with less urge (332 hp) than the GT Performance, resulting in yet another range rating, this time 425 kilometres.Theres a Mach-E for every purse and purpose, and the only way Ford can do this at these (comparatively) aggressive prices is to sell dealerships full of them. 2021 is going to be very interesting for Fords bottom line.The big question, then, is where Ford will find all the zero-emissions enthusiasts to fill Mach-E seats. Its first course of action duh, look at the name, Dave is obviously loyalists. Now whether this means past patrons of Ford in general or of Mustang in particular is anybodys guess.Certainly branding a sport utility vehicle Mustang when it shares nothing but a grille shape and some taillights with your iconic sports car is a brave that should be read risky move. I do think, however, that while Mustang cognoscenti may prove outraged, current Ford owners looking for their first EV will appreciate the tie-up. Theres no doubt Ford also has Tesla firmly in its sights.
Origin: 5 things you need to know about the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford’s Mustang Mach E specs leak three days ahead of debut
Fords giving the world its first look at the 2021 Mustang Mach-E on November 17, just ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, but wasnt quick enough to get ahead of fans who discovered all the goods on this all-electric crossover three days before they were supposed to.A member of the MachEForum.com tracked down slides intended for the manufacturers consumer site, and grabbed screenshots before Ford caught on and covered them back up.With some of? most of? the cat out of the bag, we can say the cars a looker, with Mustang-inspired styling, an out-there nose with the pony in front and unmistakable taillights that cue up suggestions of its gasoline-fuelled sibling.Theres also a sunroof that covers most of the upper lid, while the dash is dominated by a Tesla-style tablet to control the functions.Depending on whether you choose rear- or all-wheel-drive, and what trim you select, youll get anywhere from about 300 miles (483 km) to 230 miles (370 km) on a single charge.If you get the GT trim with the right options, youll spring from zero to 100 mph (96 km/h) in the mid-three-seconds range, making this one super-quick (electric) Mustang, too.Plug it into a fast charger, and youll have enough power to cover 75 kilometres in just ten minutes.But wait, theres more the slides even included pricing. Its in U.S. dollars, of course, and wont be the same for Canadians, but the Mach E will run from the $43,895 Select trim up to the $60,500 GT, before any state or federal incentives for electric vehicles.Trim levels will include the limited First Edition, which will include exclusive Grabber Blue paint, the ulra-loaded Premium, and the extended-range California Route 1.LISTEN: Toyota has led the hybrid charge for two decades, and as Toyota Canada’s Stephen Beatty tells Plugged In host Andrew McCredie, is now all-in on EVs, particularly fuel cell vehicles. The company’s vice president also has some interesting things to say about some provinces’ push to create electric vehicle sales quotas for 2030, and tells us about Toyota’s fascinating, and potentially game-changing, work with Quebec to produce green hydrogen. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: Ford’s Mustang Mach E specs leak three days ahead of debut
Ford Mustang MachE EV launched
Ford Mustang Mach-E EV launched The new crossover EV has a range of more than 370 miles The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been revealed in Los Angeles, with the company’s pure-electric crossover featuring a range of more than 370 miles on a single charge. There will be standard and extended range battery options, as well as single- or duel-motor set-up for rear- or all-wheel drive. A performance Mustang Mach-E GT model will be available, with a sub-five second 0-62mph time, thanks to a 342 kW power output and 830 Nm of torque. The batteries are placed in the underbody, allowing for a coupe-styled SUV with plenty of space for five. There’s a small load area up front to complement the traditional boot, and Ford has included a number of styling features to like the Mach-E SUV with its inspiration – the famous Mustang. Pitched as a vehicle on a par with the Model T by Ford, the Mustang Mach-E will have the next-generation of the company’s Sync infotainment system. A 15.5-inch screen promises more intuitive usage, and the Mustang Mach-E benefits from over-the-air updates over time. Kit includes a B&O sound system, the introduction for Ford of ‘phone-as-key’ technology, and a panoramic glass roof that has a special coating to keep the cabin cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Three modes – Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled – will provided different driving characteristics, depending on preference and situation. Technical features see the option of the 75.7 kWh standard range battery or 98.8 kWh extended range pack. Ultra-rapid DC charging will be available at up to 150 kW, with Ford one of the founding members of the Ionity network, which has installed chargers across Europe capable of up to 350 kW. UK pricing and specifications will be announced at a later date, though expect prices for the range to start between £40-45,000 mark, with a launch edition at £50,000 or more. Deposits of £1,000 are being taken now, and the Mustang Mach-E will arrive towards the end of 2020.
Origin: Ford Mustang MachE EV launched
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