Jonathan Crouch drives Ford's Mustang Mach-E Rally

Ten Second Review

Can an EV even be a rallycross car? Ford has decided so, bringing us this, the Mustang Mach-E Rally. Built to show this electric model's wild side.

Background

Stranger things have happened, but just at the moment, we can't think of any. This is the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally. Ford's flagship electric model re-developed - with rallycross genes. There's a touch of desperation here. Mustang Mach-E sales in the UK are already stalling and as a model, it's likely to get forgotten as Ford ramps up sales of two cheaper new EVs that are only slightly smaller - the Explorer and the Capri. So the Blue Oval brand needed something to get the Mustang Mach-E back in the headlines. Well this was one way to go. Ford says the Mustang Mach-E Rally exists as 'a tribute to its rallycross motorsport heritage'; it's actually not a model in its own right but an option pack on the top Mustang Mach-E GT. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

All the key mechanicals here are from the top Mustang Mach-E, the GT, which means you get a 91kWh battery and 487PS of electric motor thrust with 860Nm of torque. The 'Rally-spec changes bring a suite of off-road chassis upgrades, including new springs that increase ride height by 20mm, along with specially-tuned Magneride dampers. And an added bespoke 'Rally Sport' driving mode, which allows for more lurid slides, gives a more linear acceleration response and allows for more aggressive damping while improving slippery surface traction. The body panels are coated with a protective spray to reduce the risk of scrapes and chips. And the battery and electric motors are shielded from rocks and bumps by thick underbody plating. Ford says it's tested the Mustang Mach-E Rally against what it calls 'the legendary heroes of its rallycross heritage past'. And that slippery surface testing apparently revealed that, thanks to the precise acceleration control and the low-slung weight of the big underfloor battery, what it can do is 'incredible'. Performance is the same as the ordinary Mach-E GT, so 62mph from rest takes just 3.6s (3.9s from a rolling start) but top speed is limited to 124mph.

Design and Build

The bespoke styling here was apparently inspired by the legendary Ford Focus RS hot hatch, especially the dramatic rear spoiler. Other elements bespoke to this Rally model include the beefier front splitter, white-finished motorsport wheels, a black roof panel, rally-spec fog lights, racing stripes and contrasting body trim. Inside, there's Mach-E Rally badging, sports seats and white accents throughout. Otherwise, the interior is much as in any other Mach-E. Which has a cabin nothing like anything you'll have previously seen on a Ford, dominated by a Tesla-like portrait-style 15.5-inch centre free-standing infotainment touchscreen incorporating a lower rotary dial. This works using Ford's SYNC 4 operating system that is able to accept over-the-air updates and can quickly learn your preferences. There's also a further 10.2-inch screen in front of the steering wheel for all the main driving gauges. A floating, flip-up armrest doubles as a place to store purses or bags. Two adults can be comfortably accommodated in the back. And there's a 402-litre boot (extendable to 1,420-litres if you fold the rear bench). Plus there's a further 81-litre space beneath the bonnet, which is provided in the form of a drainable compartment which would be good for wet or muddy clothing or footwear.

Market and Model

From launch, Ford wanted £76,790 for the Mustang Mach-E Rally. It's actually not a model in its own right but a £2,250 option pack for the existing Mach-E GT, the flagship fastest variant in the range. That manically fast GT model costs around £10,000 more than the ordinary 'Extended range' AWD model that shares its 91kWh battery and 4x4 system. The GT's key spec addition is Ford's adaptive MagneRide suspension and an extra 'Untamed Plus' drive mode. Otherwise, the equipment tally is the same as that for a conventional 'Extended Range' battery model. Which means you get adaptive LED Mustang signature headlamps, power-folding mirrors and a 'Blade'-style front grille design. Inside, there's stitched Sensico upholstery, along with 8-way power adjustable front seats and a dark headliner. Also included is a full panorama roof, power-folding mirrors, a hands-free tailgate and an Advanced Active Park Assist system that steers you into both parallel and perpendicular spaces merely by holding down a button. The cabin additionally features a B&O Premium Sound System with 10 speakers, including a really smart Dashboard Sound Bar. What about safety kit? Well there's 'Pre-Collision Assist' autonomous braking, 'Lane Departure Warning' with a 'Lane Keeping System', 'Evasive Steering Assist', a 'BLIS' 'Blind Spot Information System', 'Cross Traffic Alert', Driver Alert', 'Wrong Way Alert' and 'Reverse Braking Assist', which mitigates collisions at low speeds when you're parking by braking the car automatically, say, to avoid a low wall or, more seriously, a child or a pet.

Cost of Ownership

Ford isn't saying how much all the wild Rally additions might affect the quoted EV range for a standard Mustang Mach-E GT - rated at 310 miles. Next, there are issues of charging to consider. As electric vehicle owners do 80% of their charging at home, Ford offers Mach-E buyers a 'Connected Wallbox' option which delivers up to five times the charging power of a typical domestic socket - meaning customers can add an estimated average range of 38 miles per charging hour, based on extended-range, rear-wheel drive configuration. The Ford Home Charge Cable, included with the vehicle, can add an estimated average range of nine miles per charging hour using a typical European domestic outlet. And when you're out and about? Well with peak charging power of 150kW, a Mustang Mach-E GT variant like this could add driving range of up to 57 miles within 10 minutes of charge time on a DC fast-charging station. Like all Mach-E models, this one comes with ultra-rapid charging capability courtesy of a Type 2 CCS inlet. The car's Connected Navigation system will identify up-to-date public charging locations during trips and prompt owners to charge at the most convenient points on each drive - all to help ensure they don't have to be anxious about how much range they have. The brand also gives customers access to the FordPass Charging Network, Europe's largest network of more than 125,000 public charging stations in 21 countries. A Mach-E owner will be able to access any of these and pay for their power from a single account.

Summary

It's really difficult to imagine why you'd want a Mustang Mach-E Rally. No one is going to take it rallycross racing and few will have unfettered access to the kinds of surfaces where you could take this car, throw it about and appreciate what it can do - apparently a lot. Perhaps that doesn't matter. The purpose of this wild derivative was to give the Mustang Mach-E extra headlines and remind customers that it still exists in the era of Capri and Explorer. That's why Ford fast-tracked this 'Rally' project from concept to completion in just 18 months. It's an interesting take on what an EV could be. But ultimately, a rather pointless one.