ON THE ROAD- IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS A MIGHTY NEW FORD MUSTANG

Few cars make it to the big screen, but one that did was the Ford V8 powered Mustang GT Fastback. “Bullitt”, starring Steve McQueen featured probably the greatest on screen car chase of all time and the Ford gained immediate fame. That was back in 1968 and to this very day the Mustang remains very special to many.

In November 2019, Ford revealed for the first time the high-performance Mustang Mach-E GT that can sprint from rest to 100kph (62mph) in a mere 3.7 seconds. No other vehicle in its class can accelerate faster than the Mustang Mach-E GT, which features a 465 PS, all-wheel drive, battery-electric power train for drivers ready to take full advantage of the performance benefits of all-electric driving. The GT Fastback of Bullitt fame produced 325bhp- which was pretty impressive then. The Mustang Mach-E GT will be supported by an industry-leading ecosystem delivering seamless, integrated access to charging across Europe for complete peace of mind on the move. Ford has also announced that customers placing an order this year and into 2021 will receive five years of free access to the FordPass Charging Network that has grown by almost 25 per cent in less than one year to now include more than 155,000 charge stations across Europe. Also Mach-E customers will also receive one year of free access to the IONITY fast-charging network that has now established more than 270 charging stations en route to a targeted 400 by the end of this year.

The promise is that this fast Ford will deliver the spirited performance and character of the iconic Mustang sports car alongside the ability to carry five occupants in an all-electric refinement. A dual-motor power train applies 830 Nm of available torque independently to the front and rear axles for even more responsive handling and acceleration equal to the Tesla Model Y. Top speed is limited to 200 kph (124 mph). A bespoke specification includes MagneRide adaptive suspension, 20 inch alloy wheels, red-painted brake callipers and unique exterior colours including Grabber Blue and Cyber Orange. Inside, a 15.5-inch full HD touch display supports a next generation SYNC communication and entertainment system that actually learns from driver behaviours to make smart suggestions. The enhanced interior also features Ford Performance seats and a unique steering wheel with suede inserts. The newcomer features as standard an 88 kWh (useable) extended-range battery for a targeted WLTP pure-electric driving range of up to 498km (310) miles, supported by Intelligent Range, which more accurately predicts how much range drivers have using past driving behaviour, weather forecasts and crowd sourced data from other Mustang Mach-E vehicles.

Ford also announced that the standard Mustang Mach-E equipped with an extended-range battery and all-wheel drive can sprint from rest to 100kph (62mph) in 5.1 seconds equal to the Tesla Model Y Long Range model and a targeted WLTP pure-electric driving range of up to 540km (335 miles). Ford believes a broad range of electrified power train solutions is the most effective path to a more energy-efficient future for drivers and is introducing 17 new electrified models to Europe by the end of next year. Recently in the Netherlands Ford revealed an all-electric Mustang Mach-E 1400, a one-of-a-kind prototype with more than 1,400bhp of power. This the result of 10,000 hours of collaboration by Ford Performance and tuning specialists RTR Vehicles, Mustang Mach-E 1400 is aimed at bridging the gap between what an electric vehicle can do and what customers tend to believe it can do. Aerodynamics are optimised for shape and location, and seven motors have a huge range of adjustability to set the car up for everything from drifting to high-speed track racing.

Ian Lynas