The Return Of The American Steed in 2021, With An Electric Twist

Although it shares a name and familiar styling cues with the Mustang, the all-electric crossover is otherwise completely unrelated. With two available battery sizes and either rear- or all-wheel drive, Ford says the Mach-E can provide up to 300 miles of driving range.

Its five-passenger cabin is fitted with contemporary features and advanced infotainment options as well as some unique cargo and storage solutions. While purists might call an electric Mustang crossover sacrilegious, Ford expects the name and design adaptation to increase interest and help sell copies when the 2021 Mach-E goes on sale in late 2020.

The Mach-E also pays homage to the “Mach 1” moniker that has been used on high-performance Mustangs of old. Ford said it went with the name because it needed the electrified crossover to be as desirable as a Tesla to usher in its new era of electric vehicles. Plus, it will create a more massive arena for the EV’s to battle it out.

The 2021 Mustang Mach-E is available with either a standard-range (75.7 kWh) battery or an extended-range (98.8 kWh) pack. These feed an electric motor mounted on the rear or both axles. That latter combination creates all-wheel drive, and on the sporty GT model, the motors combine to make 459 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque.

Ford claims this will send the Mach-E from zero to 60 mph in less than four seconds. Less powerful models make between 255 and 332 horses and between 306 and 417 lb-ft. The Mach-E rides on wheels that range in size from 18 to 20 inches, and it can be had with adaptive dampers for adjustable ride firmness.

However, it is unknown how it handles and drives until the car is officially released. The range-topping Mustang Mach-E with rear-wheel drive and the extended range battery boasts an EPA-estimated range of 300 miles. The all-wheel-drive version with the extended battery has an estimated driving range of 210 miles. However, there are a wider variety of ranges depending on the model and equipment, so we won’t know its real-world efficiency until we can test one on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy route.

The Mustang Mach-E’s battery is located under the floor of the car, which allows for maximum cargo and passenger space. Unlike its exterior, the inside of the Mach-E has little in common with the regular Mustang. Its streamlined dashboard hosts an attractive digital gauge cluster and is dominated by a huge vertically mounted touchscreen.

A floating, flip-up armrest on the centre console allows a purse or other items to be stored between the front-seat passengers. Many slick features include customisable ambient interior lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, and more.

As the world turns on its axis, the rise in autonomous vehicles that are now turning into cross overs is not slowing down. The car of the future is something to be excited about.