It's called the Mustang Mach-E and it's Ford's first electric car, from a brand that has announced it will phase out diesel and petrol engines by 2030. The full test and all the details.
It inherits the name of one of the most iconic sports cars of all time, but in place of the powerful 8-cylinder petrol engine there is the efficiency of an electric motor (two in the 4×4 version). Ford's journey towards becoming one of the first manufacturers to offer only electric cars — at least in Europe — by 2030 begins with the Mustang Mach-E. It is no easy revolution, especially for a so-called "generalist" manufacturer, one that produces and sells models across almost every segment, from the compact (and also hybrid) Fiesta and Puma to large plug-in hybrid SUVs such as the Ford Explorer. And on the subject, on the sidelines of the Mach-E presentation we met Marco Alù Saffi, the brand's director of external relations, who told us about the future of Ford's electrification.
But what is the Mustang Mach-E? An electric car, as we said. An electric SUV to be precise, with remarkable performance (just think that it takes only 3.7 seconds to reach — silently — 100 kilometres per hour), all-wheel drive, generous dimensions (4.71 metres long, 1.88 metres wide) and an electric range that can exceed 600 kilometres.
Available to order online and just arriving at dealerships (prices start from €49,900), it is a spacious, practical and very fast electric car — not unlike the Tesla Model 3. Available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive — the latter making it a 4×4 suited even to difficult terrain — the Mustang Mach-E offers a wide cabin that is comfortable for 5 passengers. This is complemented by a large boot with a powered tailgate and a second front compartment (which can be rinsed out, with a drain plug to let the water run off), the size of which varies depending on the version and the power of the motors and battery. The first thing to catch your eye on boarding is, above all, the large screen — perhaps the most obvious similarity to Tesla models. After that, though, it is the performance that takes over.
Whether it is the standard-battery version with 75 kWh, or the extended-range version equipped with the 99 kWh battery (also mounted centrally in the car beneath the "floor", to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible), this electric Mustang surprises with its performance. A shame about the large glass roof, which cannot be opened — one of the pleasures that anyone who knows the silence of an electric car would appreciate greatly.
On the other hand, for those more familiar with "old-fashioned" horsepower, we are talking about 269, 351 and even 487 hp in the GT version at the top of the range. We are talking about acceleration that even some sports cars would struggle to match. Performance — and driving pleasure, as we shall see shortly — that dispels any doubt about whether an electric car offers a lesser sense of satisfaction. And to put every doubt to rest, all you need to do is get in, select the desired driving style, press the accelerator pedal and…
The Mustang Mach-E is more agile than you might expect when you look at it. Slightly firm over manhole covers and bumps, everything from the suspension to the steering seems designed to satisfy those who love driving. And anyone who imagines an American-spirited car — comfortable but not very nimble — will be surprised. The electric range, of between approximately 450 and 610 kilometres depending on the model, eliminates nearly all range anxiety, provided you do not push too hard and have a clear idea of where to charge should you need to tackle a long journey; the Intelligent range function also helps in this respect, using connectivity to accurately estimate the remaining range by taking into account — among other factors — the weather conditions along the route.
Of course, before thinking about road trips, anyone buying a Mustang Mach-E would do well to think about where and how they will charge it. The options are those we have described many times, with a few reassuring features: alongside the usual wallbox at 7.4 kW and 11 kW to be wall-mounted in a garage (better if you have one), which allows you to recharge almost the full range in around 6 hours, there is the fast-charging option (provided you can find one of the rare fast chargers at 150 kW), which adds around a hundred kilometres of range in about ten minutes. In short, the Mach-E is an electric car that, whatever version you choose, allows you to cover a wide range of journeys without a second thought.
Then there are aspects that during this first contact with the Mustang Mach-E we have only just been able to try out, but which in everyday use can make all the difference. We are talking about connectivity, now a watchword for any electric car, increasingly resembling our smartphones. We are talking about the ability to personalise many settings for different family members, so that whoever gets in can find the car exactly as they like it (temperature, seat position, interior lighting).
In practice, via Bluetooth the car recognises the phone of each authorised family member, opens and closes the doors without a key and allows you to start the car. Alternatively, you simply enter a code on the driver's side door to gain access.
There is more. Like our smartphones, the Mach-E also remembers our habits and, when it comes to navigation or apps used, suggests your preferred options. As if that were not enough, there are also voice commands covering many useful options to reduce distractions at the wheel.
In addition, to interact with the Mach-E there is the large touch display, 15.5 inches, operable just like a smartphone screen. You can plan routes in advance (including charging stops — a great relief for those who suffer from anxiety), check charger availability and energy costs. Traffic information is available in real time. And, once on the road, you simply choose a driving mode, from the one that maximises range (EcoMode) to "Untamed", which is equivalent to "sport" and means having maximum power, a more responsive steering feel and even a sound that simulates the engine of a "real" Mustang. In between, there are modes that prioritise relaxation, suited to the daily commute.
Finally, the Adas driver assistance systems are, as ever, present and extremely useful: from adaptive cruise control to the system that keeps the car centred in its lane, through to the one that automatically brakes and accelerates in traffic, the one that parks "by itself", and the systems — perhaps the most important of all — that on the Mach-E mitigate or prevent collisions by detecting pedestrians and cyclists on the road.