Mustang-inspired all-electric crossover will have a 370-mile range and “go like hell
Ford ‘Mustang’ crossover Could it be the Mach-E?
Ford is poised to reveal what could be its most crucial (and controversial) model yet: an all-electric, Mustang-inspired crossover. Due to go on sale in 2020, a concept will be unveiled later this year and the brand claims it will transfer the spirit of the iconic pony car into a truly 21st century Tesla Model Y rival.
Imagined by Autocar (below), the new model has yet to be officially named although Ford has reportedly ditched the originally floated ‘Mach 1’ tag because of strong public opinion against the use of the branding historically reserved for Mustangs. However, the Blue Oval recently applied to trademark the ‘Mach-E’ nameplate, which seems a perfect fit, given the car’s brief.
“Ford recently applied to trademark the ‘Mach-E’ name, which seems a perfect fit”
The new car will be the first Ford designed as an electric car from the ground up, with a bespoke new platform enabling both rear and four-wheel drive. It will crown the brand’s wide-reaching electrification plan under which European customers will be offered a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric version of every new model launched.
The only technical detail Ford has officially revealed is the car’s range: it will be capable of 370 miles of WLTP-certified range on a single charge, beating the Tesla Model X (351 miles) and Jaguar I-Pace (292 miles).
A less expensive version with less battery capacity and range is also expected. Ford claims charging will be “effortless” and it is “redesigning the ownership experience to ensure it addresses customer pain points that currently hold back broad [electric car] adoption”.
The car’s performance remains undisclosed, although chairman Bill Ford has previously claimed it “is going to go like hell”. At a Bank of America summit last month, a Ford presentation showed that it would offer a higher-performance variant of the electric crossover, targeting the more accelerative versions of Tesla’s EVs.
Although it is not officially confirmed, reports suggest Ford will reveal the car’s name along with the concept before the year is out. Like many of Ford’s recent models, it’ll be a globally engineered vehicle with few changes between regions. UK deliveries are tipped to start in late-2020.
It’s not the only EV in Ford’s product plan, because the Michigan-based maker is also working on a more affordable electric crossover. Codenamed CX430, it will be based on the latest Focus platform and be similar to the Kuga. CX430 has been in Ford’s product plan for several years.
The long-awaited push into electrification comes after news that Ford will be dropping former best-sellers from its US line-up: the Taurus, Fusion and Focus, alongside the Fiesta. Ford’s supermini never found huge popularity in the US, but the momentous decision to end Ford’s 110-year presence in the US passenger saloon market sent a clear signal that profitability, not diversity, is the new focus for the brand.
Ford has hinted at the rear look. Ford’s new electric crossover will go on sale in the UK in 2020
Mustang will flavour the new EV’s character. Focus, a big seller in Europe, has been cut from the US line-up
