WILD MUSTANG (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Ford's Mustang Mach-E Rally leaves Jonathan Crouch a little confused....

Ten Second Reviewword count: 27

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.

Backgroundword count: 134

Stranger things have happened, but just at the moment, we can't think of any. 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.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 195

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 4.1s (3.9s from a rolling start) but top speed is limited to 124mph.

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