Remember the crazy rumors circulating a few months ago that Ford was making a Raptor-inspired Mustang? It turns out that they might not have been entirely wrong. This is the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally, a version of Ford’s EV crossover that leans into gravel track looks, and it’s been unveiled at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Ford claims the Mustang Mach-E Rally to be its “first rally-inspired electric SUV,” a claim that involves a hell of a lot of qualifiers. I mean, I’m the first Canadian with an old BMW and outdated taste in music to write for The Autopian, but that’s whatever. However, Ford is clearly leaning into its rally heritage with this unique Mustang Mach-E variant, so even with few details, let’s take a look.
Since everyone knows that the grille on the front of the GT model is just a bit of tacked-on styling rather than a functional piece, Ford saw it fit to stick some lights in there for the Mustang Mach-E Rally. Admittedly, I have absolutely no complaints with the regular LED headlights, so perhaps these two round lamps contain the power of two collapsed suns.
Besides the extra illumination, Ford has endowed the Mustang Mach-E Rally with a front tow hook, unpainted flares and mud flaps, a wing that looks straight off of a Focus RS, and a set of wheels befitting a ‘90s WRC tribute. Intriguingly, there’s no exposed tow hook on the back, so if you stuff it, be sure to go in ass-backwards. Look, it’s still a Mustang, which means it should still comply with tomfoolery.
On the inside, a nice set of high-back seats similar to those in the Mustang Mach-E GT should keep the driver reasonably held during “Hey y’all, watch this!” maneuvers, and the level of specification appears high. The snazzy uplevel B&O sound system makes an appearance, as do sueded door card inserts. How chic.
Under the proverbial hood sits a, well, I have no idea actually. Ford isn’t saying whether or not the Rally gets five out of five chilis on the electric Mustang heat scale, but it’s definitely electric. In fact, Ford’s only released four short paragraphs on this car that say almost nothing, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. However, we can clearly see a knobbly set of all-terrain tires that seem substantially more suited to unpaved excursions than the road-focused rubber on every other Mustang Mach-E.
Think of the Mustang Mach-E Rally as where the Focus RS meets the Explorer Timberline, a little bit of rough and tumble posturing mixed with the kick of electric torque and megaphone-loud rally throwback touches. The craziest part? This isn’t a one-off. Starting this autumn, you’ll actually be able to order one. Expect to hear a lot more about mechanical details and pricing once the leaves start to turn.
(Photo credits: Ford)
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They did a LOT of work trying to visually trick us into thinking this car has more ground clearance. There is a lot of black below the painted door bottoms.
Just imagine flogging 4900lbs along a pockmarked dirt road.
Mostly, this makes me wish we got the Ford Puma, a not-terrible crossover with an actual rally connection, here in the states.
I disliked it at first, but it continues to grow on me…b/c if we’re going to be crossovers all the time now, let’s at least get some better-looking ones.
This gets a solid meh from me. Seems like they phoned it in. Just slap a hook and some lights on the front, poser wing on the back, and boom! Meh.
Yeah. Part of that is the overall design of the Mach-E for me. None of this really screams rally, when I first saw it, I honestly thought it was just a test mule.
Haha, oh man people are gonna be so angry about this after the Mustang Raptor rumors.
That being said, I love this thing. I’ll always appreciate a rally build. Maybe if this does well Chevy will make a Blazer EV Rally[e].
Also, are those Falken Wildpeak A/T Trails I see?
Edit: BFGoodrich Trail Terrain T/A’s apparently. Maybe they’ll finally make a V rated version of this tire.
The “first rally-inspired electric SUV» is surely the answer to a question nobody has asked.
This is cool. My wife already wants a Mach-E, so hopefully this is the one I can convince her to get.
That screen should have someone fired. It was okay when tesla did it 10 years ago, its been proven to not age well and look gross. Even if I liked the rest of the car, I can’t drive something that would make me look at that the entire time. 3/10.
Wow, if Ford is selling this crap Mach-e sales must be really hurting.
Next level of hurting sales = fake shaker hood scoop and giant 70s snake graphic on the hood. Beyond that, it’ll get a Starsky and Hutch swooshie graphic thing down the sides.
While everyone is saying the current prices of EVs are too high, we get brand new offerings from Ford and Hyundai, and where did they go with price? Even more expensive! Lets go back to the 60’s where you make an affordable car first, then proceed to making it faster and more expensive, but start with affordable first!
Why is the Mach E so ugly? It’s ugly by crossover standards, not to speak of ugly amongst general car design. It bothers me an unreasonable amount, considering I’m totally fine with Ford ripping off a classic Mustang model for an electric car. I owned a Mach 1 even. I want electric cars to be good and popular. BUT WHY IS THE MACH E SO UGLY?!
I’m cool with this on paper. The Mach E is essentially just a bloated hatchback anyway so a rally build makes some sense…slash I’d imagine Ford is probably looking at the hot hatch segment right now with some regret about deciding to axe all cars other than the Mustang. This seems more or less like an attempt to recapture some of the Focus RS market. As long as it doesn’t have any stupid gimmicks like a fake transmission or fake ICE noises it seems neat enough.
The big question will be price. The Mach E itself is overpriced as is and I have to imagine this is built off of the GT. If this winds up being a $70,000 proposition it’s going to be a tough sell. At that point you’re in the same realm as a Dark Horse ICE Mustang as well as the Bronco Raptor and they’re in the same damn showroom.
I’m happy to see that manufacturers are working on ways to make EVs fun and engaging. Even if none of the first round of performance EVs are to my taste at least the technology is advancing. But I do wonder how well this, the Ioniq 5 N, etc. will actually sell. I don’t think there’s a huge market for $60,000+ sporty EVs from non-luxury brands, but who knows. I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again.
I mean this is the EV equivalent of an Explorer ST, which I have a corworker who constantly brags about buying his wife one and how sporty it is, while I just shake my head. People are loving “sporty” SUVs right now, and with the Mach E already being the 3rd best selling EV in the country, I see this doing better than it has any right to. Same with the Ioniq 5 N. I am not fond of either, but I expect them to do well. Now if only someone would give me a 70% scale one that’s actually a hot hatch and not a hot SUV! I love the look of the 5, and if it were GTI sized I would be all over it. I am seriously looking at the Volvo EX30, but still think it’s more crossover than hatchback and I like being low.
The EX30 is a compelling little package, that’s for sure. And as someone with a hot “CUV”, I respect your stance but will let you know that at least in my case (the Kona N) the driving experience is still that of a hot hatch. The little bit of extra height doesn’t bother me at all, but since you’ve stated you like being low your mileage may vary.
Yeah I plan to drive one once they are actually on the lots, but definitely not sold enough to pre order or anything like that. But yeah having had a lowered Miata, and an Elise within the last few years, even my little French hatchback (Peugeot 306 GTI-6) feels tall now.
After daily driving my Elise and lowered MX5 for years even my Z4 feels like driving a bus.
“First Canadian… old BMW …outdated…write for the Autopian…” We honor you.