Ford unveils the Mach-E battery SUV with Mustang looks

The car looks styled like the iconic muscle car, but does it have what it takes to live up to the reputation of its predecessor?

The Ford Mustang Mach-E (this is the full official name of the model) boasts its own, brand-new chassis design with per-wheel suspension. The batteries are located at the bottom, which translates into a low center of gravity. The car is 4,724 millimeters (15.5 feet) long, 1,880 mm (6.17 ft.) wide and 1,600 mm (5.25 mm) tall with 2,971 mm (9.75 ft.) between the axles. The road clearance amounts to a meager 145 mm (5.66”), down to 135 mm (5.27”) in the GT performance version.

The standard specification includes a single electric motor with 255 hp (190 kW) at its command. A 75.7-kWh battery gives it around 340 kilometers (211 miles) of range. The Extended Range variant raises the power to 282 hp (210 kW) and the battery volume to 98.8 kWh, which should be enough to cover around 483 km (300 miles) before charging becomes necessary. The AWD version of the Mach-E packs 332 hp (248 kW) and is available with either battery size. RWD configurations rev up to 415 Nm (305 lb-ft) of torque, while AWD ones can go up to 565 Nm (417 lb-ft). Accelerating from zero to 96.5 km/h (60 mph) takes between 5.5 and 6.5 seconds.

The range-topping Mach-E GT brings 459 hp (342 kW) along with 830 Nm (612 lb-ft) to the table and runs the standard sprint in barely more than four seconds.

Interior features include the new SYNC 4 infotainment system with a huge 15.5-inch display. Options include smartphone-controlled car access and a panoramic glass roof with IR shielding.

Pre-orders are already open, but sales won’t start until the second half of 2020. The First Edition will emerge before all other versions and offer unique styling cues both outside and inside, and Premium (mid-range) will be the next version to ship after that. The entry-level Mach-E Select and the deluxe California Route 1 will follow in early 2021, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT will become available in the spring of that year. The prices are still pending.