This past Sunday, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Mustang Mach-E to the world. This futuristic, all electric SUV is a new take on the all-American muscle car. Compared to Ford’s previous attempts at electrified vehicles in the Focus and C-Max, the Mach E is a very sleek and luxurious version of electric vehicles (EV) which look a lot like current competitors EV’s like Tesla or even the Mercedes-Benz EQC. 

This the first time Ford will be expanding Mustang as a brand rather than vehicle models and they are taking a big risk slapping the Mustang name on an SUV. At the beginning of the EV’s debut, actor Idris Elba and Ford executive chairman, Bill Ford chatted about the origins of the Mach-E. Ford explained his love for both the environment and fast cars and wanting to marry those two features together. The Mach-E project had been spearheaded by a small group within Ford, dubbed Team Edison, since mid-2017 and it still won’t be released until late 2020. 

The technology within the Mach-E is something to be marveled at as well. The CEO of Ford, Jim Hackett, addressed the issue consumers have faced since phones have become an essential piece of our lives in the last 10 years. However, with technology becoming a bigger part of transportation, a lot of people end up with a messy dashboard and entertainment system. Most people add phone mounts, different cords, and system additions to their vehicle and Hackett referred to this, playfully, as “frankensteining.” In an effort to rid the consumer of having to modify their vehicle, Ford has developed new cutting edge technology for the Mach-E’s entertainment system. This includes a 15.5 in vertical touch screen at the center of the dashboard that will be working off the fourth version of their Sync OS (fourth times a charm then?), however, the system was not fully functioning at the debut event…

But the shiny new features doesn’t stop at the entertainment system and the gadgets on the inside. There is also a lot to be said about the physical design of the vehicle. It sure doesn’t look like a Mustang, but it still performs like a Mustang. According to the FAQ’s on Ford’s website, the vehicle is equipped with a “state of the art 75.7 kWh or 98.8 kWh battery, located under the vehicle,” these batteries use an advanced active liquid heating and cooling system to regulate high voltage battery temp. and help maximize performance. It’s also worth noting they are recyclable as well! The drive technology will include three different experiences: Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, which change the steering controls, ambient lighting, sounds, and dynamic cluster animations. It will also be equipped with a MagneRide damping system, adaptive suspension technology that uses shock absorbers as well as magnetically controlled dampers for a highly adaptive ride.

The Ford Mach-E has certainly peaked our interest; some of us at the Hall not so sure and some of us looking forward to this new generation of EV’s. Ford is attempting to give consumers a Mustang they can drive year round regardless of the weather; this is either going to be incredibly successful and change the future of Ford Motor Company, or it’s going to be DOA. Either way, we are finally getting something new in the stables.

Check out the full Mach-E reveal here: