A Mustang for the New Millennium
In 1964, the Ford Mustang was introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair. Within two years, Ford had sold over a million Mustangs. America’s great love for this classic pony car has endured for over five decades, and there is no nameplate from Ford that goes back further. The original Mustang was available with a 210 horsepower V-8. Today’s Mustang Shelby GT500 has a supercharged V-8 that cranks out 760. Now Ford is preparing to gallop into the brave new world of electric vehicles, and they’re counting on their latest Mustang to lead the way.
The 2021 Mustang Mach-e fully intends to live up to its proud heritage. Best described as a crossover, the Mach-e has four doors and is about nine inches taller than a Mustang coupe. The crossover’s footprint is slightly smaller, but it has a more spacious interior that comfortably seats five. The styling shows a little bit of family resemblance, sporting a muscle car physique without the steroids. Any way you look at it, this thoroughbred is one of the best-looking EVS you can buy.
They’re also quite fast. Even the base models have more horsepower than the Mustangs of the Sixties. Aficionados point out that the crossover is a little too heavy to be called a “pony car”. A 1965 Mustang Fastback weighed 2,621 pounds. The lightest Mach-e weighs 4,394, which is more like a “stallion car”. If you’re into acceleration, the GT model harnesses 459 horses to deliver 612 pound-feet of torque. That’s more torque than any Mustang in today’s stable except the GT500. Using two motors to drive all four wheels, the Mach-e GT bolts from zero to sixty in less than four seconds. That’s enough giddy-up for just about anybody.
The Mach E has other impressive specs besides raw power. The standard range models use a 75.7 kwh battery and can travel up to 230 miles on a charge, about the same range as a $70,000 Jaguar I-pace. A 98.8 kwh battery gives the extended range models the ability to travel up to 300 miles, as far as some of Tesla’s best cars. Most models are available with rear wheel drive or all wheel drive and can utilize 150 kilowatt Level 3 supercharges. A 48 amp Level 2 home charging station can add 32 miles of range in one hour. Hitch up your steed just before you hit the hay and you’ll be all set to ride out at sunup.
A large segment of today’s EV market is aimed at conscientious buyers looking to purchase a luxury vehicle that doesn’t emit carbon dioxide. Ford’s Mustang is a nice addition to that corral. After deducting the $7,500 federal tax credit, you can spend anywhere from $37,000 to 53,000. At each price point, the Mach E will match up well against the competition. If you’re looking for a highly capable electric crossover with a legendary pedigree, you might want to consider saddling up a Mustang.