Ford is really going for it, huh? Between the $300,000 Ford Mustang GTD and, now, rally-inspired Mustang Mach-E Rally, I still don’t know what the company is trying to do, I just know I’m enjoying the hell out of it. I’m definitely a Safari-All-The-Things kind of person and safari-ing an electric crossover is stretching that ideology to its limit, but I’m here for it.
When Ford teased the Mach-E Rally it was a bit of a surprise given that I’m not sure anyone asked for it. Was there a huge groundswell for a lifted, maybe-slightly-faster Mach-E GT? Granted, Ford is one of the last three teams competing in the rally championship (along with Toyota and Hyundai) so the brand does represent this kind of off-road driving. But, um, the Mach-E?
I feel about this the way I felt when I recently found out that Tim Robbins was in the original Top Gun, but just barely in the movie, so he’s randomly high-fiving everyone on the carrier deck at the end when Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer almost kiss. It’s like… I enjoy all of those things and I guess I’m happy they’re together? Rally is awesome, my favorite car of all time is a rally-inspired Ford, and I like the Mach-E. Sure, so sure. Yes? I don’t know. Definitely maybe.
Let’s just take a look at this thing.
The base car is a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, which means it gets the MagneRide adjustable dampers and a battery with 91 kWh of usable capacity connected to front- and rear-mounted motors that power all wheels. This version has been “tuned” according to Ford, so power should be at least 480 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, which is the same amount of horsepower as the current stock version of the car but with slightly more torque.
Obviously, just calling a vehicle a “rally” edition of anything doesn’t make sense unless it can actually, you know, rally. In this case, the Mach-E gets a number of sensible upgrades (if you consider anything about this crossover sensible). The suspension has been modified to give the vehicle an extra 20 mm of ride height and the springs and dampers have been modified to perform better in rally-like settings. An additional upgrade is Ford’s first ever “RallySport Drive Mode” that, according to Ford: “allows for added yaw for bigger slides, a linear throttle response for better control, and more aggressive damping for better handling in loose corners.”
The worst part about driving in the dirt is the risk of rock chips and other scrapes the average car isn’t prepared for, so Ford added more underside protection for the motors, protective door cladding, very noticeable fender archers, and even a tow-strap in case you get in trouble.
I think the most interesting choice here (besides the choice to make it exist) is in the tire, which is a Michelin CrossClimate 2. I love this decision. The Subaru Forester Wilderness, which I suppose is the most similar car on sale, rides on big GEOLANDAR A/T tires and, while they’re great in dirt and mud, it’s not something I’d want to roll around on all the time. I’ve got CrossClimate 2s on my own Forester and they’re a great mix of on-road comfort with snowy performance.
Plus, the Mach-E Rally looks the business, with a Focus RS-inspired rear wing, new front splitter, rally-inspired fog lights, and a black steel roof. The best thing, though? Those wheels.
These remind me of the OZ WRC wheels that Colin McRae had on his Focus WRC rally car.
I’m just going to file this under WTF, which stands for: What The Ford. It’s when the company builds something I can’t quite explain and I’m not sure there’s a market for but, nevertheless, I enjoy. I’m still holding out for a Maverick RS, though.
The Mustang Mach-E Rally will go on sale in early 2024 for about $65,000 and I will be extremely happy if someone buys one and takes it to Pikes Peak to race. Do it. I will write about it.
BOOOOO I thought Ford was making a safari’d out real Mustang instead of…whatever this is. A non-Mustang crossover gunning more for its SUV side, I guess.
That being said, Extreme E is a thing, and electric SUVs have run Dakar before. This isn’t completely out of left field. (It’s just ugly. Can’t fix the Mach-E’s ugly with a bigger wing.)
I may have been the only one, but… I actually did ask for almost exactly this many moons ago.
https://x.com/electric_off_rd/status/1679867094316339208?s=46&t=op0mDGJRMkXZfEKlZQRW8w
This may be the better link here:
https://x.com/electric_off_rd/status/1679867094316339208?s=46&t=op0mDGJRMkXZfEKlZQRW8w
But yeah, it’s been on my wish list for a while.
WHY IS THE DOOR BADGING SO MUCH LARGER than those on the regular Mach E?
I do like the wheels, though.
Just to be pissy, Ford should put a Cybertruck wrap on it.
…I don’t hate it? The Mach E does very little for me personally, and while Ford 100% did the right thing branding it as a Mustang even I get a little peeved by it as well as the crossoverication of seemingly everything. I’m already prepared to get back into therapy as soon as the godforsaken CamaroCross is announced…
But alas, this makes some sense. The Mach E GT is powerful, it’s all wheel drive, and it has some extra ground clearance. It’s also not selling anymore and is very much in need of a shot in the arm. This is a way to take a stab at that and it’s not THAT weird when you really think about it.
Would I personally buy one at $65,000+? Hell to the no I wouldn’t, Mach Es across the board are essentially priced at $10-15,000 more than they’re actually worth. The EV tax is real and you’d be absolutely nuts to straight up buy any of these first gen products. This is M2, IS500, CT4V BW, ZL1, nice certified Macan, etc. money….and if you’re a stickler for electrification the Volvo S60 Recharge is similarly potent and $10,000 less, not to mention used Model 3 Performances are pretty much $20,000+ cheaper right now.
But hey, at least they got a little crazy with an otherwise extremely boring car. It’s not my cup of tea but it’ll likely be someone’s, and the more of these performance oriented EVs manufacturers crank out the closer we get to actually winding up with one that’s engaging to drive. It’ll happen eventually, and if you’re one of the folks who’s into this sort of thing please lease it.
Looks like a trim package, springs, cladding, tires, and software. ROI on these items is probably 100+%, while being super cheap and easy do.
It’s interesting to me that they switched from the Trail Terrain T/A tires they had on the initial concept to the CrossClimate 2. Wouldn’t you want a more durable sidewall when driving through gravel and dirt?
Those wheels are perfection.
Well then … I don’t hate it.
That’s where I’m at, but unfortunately for Ford, that’s all the enthusiasm I can muster for it as well.
Yeah, I’m definitely not a buyer.
If you can’t even manage an extra inch of ground clearance as the OEM why should I care?
I think Ford’s approach seems to be- “Trucks, all types of trucks, but only cars that we can do crazy things with” Not a bad approach, and they make enough money on the trucks to have fun with the cars or special raptor versions of everything.
Sorta like Porsche selling tons of SUV’s to bankroll the rest of the small fun cars.
My only thought on this was, “well, it looks kinda cool”. But it’s an electric crossover so really can’t get too excited here.
Perhaps they are getting ahead of the game for if the Extreme E electric off-road racing series starts letting manufacturer vehicles compete.
I would think the big 3 and other brands would be pushing this and for more E-motor sports. Get people growing up wanting these cars, and you’ve got customers for life if you don’t mess up too badly. Could help accelerate adoption of their cars they are spending billions on.
I felt the same way last year when I finally realized, after decades of watching Weird Science repeatedly, that Corey Haim does not in fact play Wyatt in that film. My wife still doesn’t let me live that down.
It’s ceremonial.
Great now I have to look out for mustangs while walking on forest trails!
Wait what… there’s only 3 manufacturers in WRC?!?!?! What happened to Subaru, Citroen… Very sad.
Please, please, please have Torch draw some “fender archers” for us.
I don’t have the skills to put it on paper, but I’m thinking miniature archers (think of the battles in Toy Story) hanging off the bulky black flares firing flights of tiny arrows into competitors’ tires.
I, too, would like to see someone with talent show us their take on it
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Yessir
At long last!
They do for me
Now that’s an interesting electric car. For production. Finally. . .
These might be the best looking wheels on any sub-100k production car, certainly the coolest of any EV in production
I read this whole article thinking it was just another one-off car so Ford can say “Look, electric cars are cool! Look what we did!”, but no. It’s real. You can buy one. That’s awesome.
They missed the chance to give it a proper wing, but even so I think the wheels save it.
Well played Ford.
100% agree.
How can it be a rally car without a handbrake? Seems a pretty obvious omission.
Makes sense to me, a crossover is just a lifted hatchback. But the spoiler is just meh
Ah, this was the logical thing to do for any vehicle driven in the Rust Belt. Extra suspension travel! Marketing will say it’s for off roading but we all know it’s to drive on our garbage roads.
this is the correct take. Safari-All-The-Things if for no other reason than it’ll give us sidewalls and suspension travel that can handle real world potholes. Giant wheels tucked into fenders and rubber band tires look great in showrooms and in marketing content, but suck for actual driving. I live in the northern suburbs of Detroit, and there are pockmarked dirt roads less than a mile from my condo.
Yup. 100% This. You absolutely cannot have nice things in this town.
So, given your name here, which one do you drive? The 9-2X Aero? So damn jealous …
There’s a reason why the 911 Dakar is the one I’d have out of the new 911s. (It’s because Austin’s roads are trash, too.)
I wish we instead got the Ford Puma (Ford’s actual rally car) here in the states instead.
We seem to be approaching the pinnacle (nadir?) of the automotive strategy of “inspired by” stuff. Like how first it was mundane versions of parts/assemblies on street cars said to be “inspired by” their race car versions, now it’s vehicles inspired by racing series/styles generally I guess.
You’ve just reminded me that early builds of the original Puma is now eligible for import. Might have to do some shopping next time I’m in the UK.
Ford’s first resurrection of Steve McQueen in its ads!