Ford has always been a pioneer in the world of motorsport, from the legendary GT40 that dominated Le Mans in the 1960s to the iconic Escort that won multiple rally championships in the 1970s and 1980s to the formidable Focus and Fiesta that have been among the top contenders in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the past two decades. Now, Ford is entering a new era of electrified competition with its latest creation: the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is a special-edition model that combines the zero-emission powertrain of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford's first all-electric crossover, with a rally car's rugged styling and off-road capabilities. It is set to go on sale in the US and Europe later this year, with a limited production run of 1,000 units.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally made its public debut at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the world's most prestigious and popular motorsport events. The Festival of Speed attracts hundreds of thousands of fans every year, who come to see a variety of modern and historic cars and bikes from different disciplines and eras take on the famous 1.16-mile hillclimb course that runs through the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England.
The hillclimb is a challenging test of speed, skill, and precision, as the drivers have to negotiate tight corners, steep gradients, and changing weather conditions. The course also features some iconic landmarks, such as the Flint Wall, Molecomb Corner, and the famous Central Feature sculpture, which changes yearly to celebrate a different theme or manufacturer.
This year, the Central Feature was dedicated to BMW M, the high-performance division of the German automaker, which celebrated its 50th anniversary. The sculpture featured three giant loops that supported three legendary BMW M cars: the BMW M1, the E30 M3, and the BMW M8 GTE. The sculpture was designed by Gerry Judah, who has been creating the Central Feature since 1997.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally was one of the stars of the show at Goodwood, as it showcased its electrifying performance and agility on the hillclimb. Ott Tänak, the current driver of the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1 entry and former World Rally champion, drove the car. Tänak is one of his generation's most talented and successful rally drivers, having won 14 WRC events and the 2019 drivers' title.
Tänak impressed the crowds with his smooth and fast driving style as he pushed the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally to its limits. He completed the hillclimb in 53.09 seconds, which was faster than many other supercars and sports cars that participated in the event. He also demonstrated the car's off-road prowess by taking it to the Forest Rally Stage, a 2.5-km gravel track that replicates some of the conditions found in WRC rallies.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is inspired by Ford's rich heritage in rally racing, as well as by the legendary Mustang nameplate. The vehicle features a reprofiled front bumper with new spotlights in the grille, a rear diffuser, and a large wing that resembles the one on the Ford Focus RS. The body is painted in a striking blue and orange livery with black accents and decals. The wheels are 18-inch alloys wrapped in knobby tires, while the suspension is tuned for off-road performance and increased ground clearance.
The powertrain of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is based on the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition, which means it has a dual-motor setup that delivers 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque. The battery pack is a 98.8 kWh unit that provides an estimated range of 235 miles on the EPA cycle. The acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes 3.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest electric vehicles on the market.
The interior of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is also upgraded with sporty touches, such as Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and carbon fiber trim. The dashboard features a 15.5-inch touchscreen that runs Ford's SYNC 4A system, which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument cluster is a 10.2-inch digital display that shows relevant information such as speed, battery level, and driving modes.
Ford said that the Mustang Mach-E Rally is a way of providing its customers with a new type of electric performance that is free from emissions and fun to drive. "Ford Mustang Mach-E took the freedom and fun of Mustang and made it free from emissions. Now with Mustang Mach-E Rally, we're providing our customers the freedom to venture off the asphalt and beyond the beaten path," said Darren Palmer, vice president of electric vehicle programs at Ford Model e.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is expected to cost around $60,000 in the US and €50,000 ($59,000) in Europe. It will compete with other high-performance electric crossovers such as the Tesla Model Y Performance and the Polestar 2. Ford said that more details about the availability and specifications of the Mustang Mach-E Rally will be revealed closer to its launch date.
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