Fordis boosting production of its popular Mustang Mach-E electric SUV and dropping its sticker price weeks after Tesla dropped prices of its vehicles. The move represents a substantial roll-back of price hikes Ford announced last summer on the 2023 models – but buyers may still be paying somewhat more than before the increases.
The Mustang Mach-E, a midsize electric family SUV, was the first serious electric effort for the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker. Priced and aimed squarely at the Tesla Model Y, which has its own starting price of $53,490, the Mach-E is Ford’s bet to get new car buyers to dip their toes into the battery-powered future. it has since been joined in the electric Ford lineup by the workhorse Ford F-150 Lightning. But the company still considers the Mach-E a crucial step for the company’s electric-powered growth.
Late last year, Darren Palmer, Ford’s vice president of electric vehicle programs, told CNN Business that the Mach-E was completely sold out and the automaker was holding off on launching it in more global markets in order to catch up with US demand.
“We could sell it out at least two or three times over,” he said a the time.
The price cuts Ford announced Monday were biggest on the most expensive versions of the SUV, just as the increases had been biggest on those models. The base sticker of the Mustang Mach-E GT Extended Range, a high-performance version of the SUV, dropped to about $64,000 from $69,900 before, a decrease of $5,900. But that model had been about $62,000 before price increases last August.
When it announced those price bumps, Ford also said it was putting more standard features into the vehicles, including advanced driver assistance features.
The price of the least expensive Mach-E, the rear-wheel-drive standard range model, was cut $900, going from about $46,900 down to $46,000. The price of the extended range battery pack option, by itself, dropped from $8,600 down $7,000.
Tesla announced price cuts of as much as 20% on its electric vehicles earlier this month, after raising prices in 2022.
When Ford announced the price increases last summer, citing supply chain issues, the automakers indicated it would continue monitoring market conditions throughout the upcoming model year.
Ford announced last summer that it was increasing production of the Mach-E as it added capacity for more battery production. The automaker also announced in late August that it was reopening order banks for the Mach-E which had been closed as the company worked to meet existing orders.
Customers who complete the transaction for their Mach-E after today’s announcement will pay the new lower price, Ford said. Ford will reach out directly to Mach-E customers with a sale date after January 1, 2023 who already have their vehicles,the automaker said.
At least some versions of both models are currently eligible for federal electric vehicle tax credits, according to the Internal Revenue Service, but both are treated as cars, not SUVs, under the tax rules, unless equipped with a third row of seats.
That means that tax credits are available for the two-row only Mach-E and two-row Model Y only if the sticker price is below $55,000. For versions of the Model Y with a third row of seats, a $4,000 option, buyers may get tax credits with a sticker price up to $80,000.For the Mustang Mach-E, a third row of seats isn’t offered.
The final amount of the tax credit may depend on when the vehicle is actually delivered to the customer and, also, whether the customers themselves meet annual income requirements.
Borla Exhaust has been making cars louder since 1979 with its custom parts, but it’s getting tougher these days.
There are still plenty of powerful cars that need somewhere for their burned gasses to go, but that’s not the case with the growing number of electric performance models filling showrooms.
Borla isn’t ready to go quietly into the battery-powered night, however, so it has designed an exhaust system for EVs.
Not one that blows hot air, but an external speaker that plays a digital reproduction of authentic engine sounds in sync with the speed of the car.
DODGE’S NEW MYSTERY MUSCLE CAR KEEPS BLOWING UP, BUT WHY?
The Borla system uses a speaker mounted to the vehicle. (Borla)
It’s first being offered for the Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV and was displayed at the SEMA auto show in Las Vegas ahead of the start of deliveries.
The product started as a collaboration with famed Mustang tuner Shelby American, which has started selling modified versions of the Mach-E and wanted some sound to go with them.
The Mustang Mach-E has three unique sound experiences for the cabin – Whisper, Engage and Unbridled. (Ford)
The Mach-E already offers a synthetic engine noise modeled after a V8 that can be pumped into the cabin, but it can’t be heard on the outside.
The Borla Active Performance system definitely can, and doesn’t just sound like another Mustang.
While Borla did design a track based on of a Shelby GT500, it also sampled several Chevrolet products, including the current Corvette, and owners can switch between them using a connected app.
Final pricing hasn’t been announced, but it is expected to be available before the end of the year.
TRY TO GUESS WHERE THE GMC SIERRA EV’S HEADLIGHTS ARE
Borla isn’t the only entity in the muscle car world that’s been fretting at the possibility of muscle car exhausts going extinct.
The Dodge Charger SRT is equipped with a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. (Fox News Digital)
Dodge has developed its on solution for its upcoming all-electric Charger Daytona SRT.
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The vehicle is equipped with something Dodge calls the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which works like a pipe organ to pump air through a series of tubes to create an exhaust-like note that can project at up to 126 decibels, which is as loud as the brand’s current supercharged Hellcat V8 engine.
Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital’s automotive editor.
is set to open up orders for the 2023 model year after the 2022 trims sold out. You’ll have the chance to order one of the EVs starting on August 30th. In addition, Ford has some pricing, range and other changes.
Premium Mach-Es built starting this fall that have the extended range battery will have a targeted EPA-estimated range of 290 miles on all-wheel drive models. That’s a range increase of 13 miles. Meanwhile, the Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assist tech is now standard across all trims.
If you opt for a Premium model with extended range battery or the GT Performance edition, you’ll be able to select the Mustang Nite Pony package. This includes high-gloss black 19-inch wheels and a black pony badge, black front and rear lower fascia, door cladding and black mirror caps on the grille for Premium trims. The package brings 20-inch high-gloss black wheels and a black GT badge to the GT Performance edition. You’ll still be able to select any exterior color option with this package.
There will be two new colors to choose from: carbonized gray metallic and vapor blue metallic. They replace dark matter gray and iced blue silver. The California Route 1 trim will only be available as an AWD option moving forward, as Ford is sunsetting the rear-wheel drive option based on customer demand. Meanwhile, Ford will replace the black roof on and GT Performance editions with a panoramic sunroof.
As is the way of things in the auto world (and ), prices of the Mach-E are going up for new orders, effective Tuesday. Ford says this is due to “significant material cost increases, continued strain on key supply chains and rapidly evolving market conditions.” As points out, the price increases are between $2,600 and roughly $8,000 compared with the 2022 trims. As such, the Mustang Mach-E will start at $46,895 MSRP (not including the delivery fee or taxes) for the Select rear-wheel drive standard model.
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The company’s first mainstream all-electric vehicle is expected to reach more than 200,000 units per year for North America and Europe by 2023, Farley said, tripling its current rate.
In July, the Mach-E won Car and Driver’s first EV of the Year award, which was open to all fully electric vehicles currently for sale in the United States. It beat 10 other electric vehicles, including three Tesla models.
“The Mach-E has the driving dynamics and design to push new buyers past mere acceptance of EVs to excitement,” Car and Driver’s Eric Tingwall wrote in an article about the award.
Ford said it will utilize its entire Cuautitlán plant, just north of Mexico City, for production. The company is working with key suppliers to increase capacity of Mustang Mach-E, including battery cells, battery trays and electric drive systems, it added.
In September, Ford and South Korea-based energy company SK Innovations announced they were investing $11.4 billion to build two new enormous manufacturing campuses for electric vehicles. Ford’s said itsinvestment of $7 billion was the largest-ever single manufacturing investment in the company’s 118-year history.
The Mustang Mach-E, which went on sale last year, sold 24,791 units as of November. Sales in November were up 8.4 percent compared to October.
“On the strength of Mustang Mach-E, Ford delivered record electrified vehicle sales, growing more than three times faster than the overall segment,” Andrew Frick, vice president of Sales U.S. and Canada, said in a statement.
As more cars enter the electric vehicle market, Tesla is starting to lose its market share — and the Mach-E appears to be the beneficiary.
The company said in March that 70% of the Mach-E buyers were new to Ford.
“The goal is to become the clear No. 2 electric vehicle maker in North America within the next couple of years,” according to a statement from Said Deep, head of North America product communications for Ford.
CNN’s Peter Valdes-Dapena and Chris Isidore contributed to this report.
As Ford’s CEO Jim Farley took to Twitter to announce a 3x increase in Mustang Mach-E production, the company also alerted dealers that modest price increases and new packages would be coming for 2022 models. The California Route 1 edition also got a meaningful range bump.
Meanwhile, the company delayed a much anticipated Explorer EV…
We were first alerted to the Mustang Mach-E price increases last week when we received a dealer bulletin from Ford dealers noting the price increases which amount to $1000-$2000 per model and up to $3000 with options. Those price increases are notable not because how large they are but how relatively small they are. Other EV makers have been raising prices much more abruptly throughout the year as the pandemic has caused chip shortages and inflation.
There are some notable updates to the 2022 Mustang Mach-E lineup:
The 2022 Mustang Mach-E is now available for order on Ford.com starting at $43,895, not including a $7,500 federal tax credit. The Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 has an increased EPA estimated-range of 314 miles (from 305), is now available with all-wheel drive and gets standard heated seats and steering wheel. In the 2022 model year, Ice White Edition Appearance Package is available on Mach-E Premium. The black painted roof is now standard on Mustang Mach-E GT and GT Performance Edition. Grabber Blue and Cyber Orange are now available on all trims and Iced Blue Silver Metallic is new to the 2022 model year for Mustang Mach-E.
Ford CEO took to Twitter today to highlight the increased output for Mustang Mach-Es from the Cuautitlan, Mexico plant.
It’s hard to produce Mustang Mach-Es fast enough to meet the incredible demand, but we are sure going to try. So starting in 2022 we are increasing production and expect to reach 200,000+ units per year for North America & Europe by 2023. That’s 3x our 2021 output. ⚡️⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/xSMbuHxdEN
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 10, 2021
As a backdrop, Ford announced yesterday that they were closing down the F-150 Lightning reservation system because it had reached 200,000 and they weren’t able to keep up with demand. Ford also reportedly delayed its Explorer EV/Lincoln Navigator a year to 2024 as the Mexican factory output would entirely be taken by Mach-E.
The Ford EV picture is starting to come together. The company has said it wants to produce 600,000 EVs/year by 2023. It now appears that a third of those will be Mustang Mach-Es.
Ford noted today:
We have unprecedented demand for Mustang Mach-E and we are going to scale production quickly to meet demand. We are now planning to utilize the entire Cuautitlan plant for production of Mach-E. We will increase production starting in 2022 and expect to reach 200,000+ units per year by 2023. Our goal is to become the clear No. 2 electric vehicle maker in North America within the next couple years and then challenge for No. 1 as the huge investments we are making in EV and battery manufacturing come onstream and we rapidly expand our EV lineup. Rapidly scaling production of Mustang Mach-E supports our plan.
Electrek’s take:
As we’ve been saying since 2013, if you build EVs, people will buy them. It is a shame that it has taken Detroit this long to embrace EVs. But Ford appears to be all in at this point. Between the Ford F-150 Lightning ramp up and now the Mustang Mach-E, Ford appears to be on track to moving its line to EVs as fast as they possibly can (read: as quick as they can get their hands on batteries). If only they had started sooner.
Also, it would be nice to see the American icon Mustang manufactured at least in partly in the US. Right now the car is made outside of Mexico City in Cuautitlan. Ford also makes the Mustang Mach-E in China with its partners there.
Ford also has a problem as its dealers have been caught trying to inflate prices by as much as $10,000 as scarcity has taken hold. It also really needs to rethink its charger design unless it wants to be branded as a Tesla knockoff.
With Tesla’s soaring share price, board pressure on other automakers to electrify their lineups is at a fever pitch. The race is now on and the losers will be stuck with stranded ICE assets.
Find the lowest prices on Mustang Mach-E here.
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Attendees of the Chicago Auto Show on July 15, 2021 get into a Ford Mustang Mach-E for a test ride in the electric crossover outside of the McCormick Place Convention Center.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
CHICAGO – Jim Nierman yells with excitement as he gets out of an electric Mustang Mach-E crossover after a test drive at the Chicago Auto Show.
“Oh my God! … I’ve driven a lot of electric cars and that’s nice,” said the high school auto shop teacher. “It was like a rocket ship.”
Nierman, 54, is one of tens of thousands of people expected to attend the five-day event, which is the first major auto show in the country since the coronavirus pandemic began in spring 2020.
It’s not a typical Chicago Auto Show. It’s about half the size and time of a traditional show, but automakers such as Ford Motor, Volkswagen and others are trying to make the most of it. That includes showcasing new electric vehicles.
Aside from displaying vehicles inside the McCormick Place Convention Center, automakers are offering test drives and rides in new electric vehicles. Auto executives believe such experiential marketing efforts are one of the key first steps to increasing EV adoption.
“A lot of consumers haven’t had that opportunity because of Covid,” Ford Chief Marketing Officer Suzy Deering said about experiencing the Mach-E. “With Mach-E, people are blown away.”
Ford was among the automakers most impacted regarding vehicle launches, including the Mach-E, during the pandemic. An ongoing semiconductor chip shortage also has emptied many dealer lots, making it difficult for consumers to experience new vehicles.
Deering said getting consumers into the Mach-E and allowing them to see new EVs such as the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup, which is expected to go on sale next year, is critical for people to understand that EVs are real and not science projects.
“There’s misperceptions about EVs and there’s also, candidly, just no perceptions, right? That people just don’t understand,” Deering said. “It’s a really important piece for us.”
‘Butts in seats’
Auto shows are important for automakers to flaunt their newest vehicles, and more importantly, get “butts in seats” — an old adage for the best way to sell cars.
“Auto shows are important to consumers because they can shop one vehicle against another all under the same roof without any sales pressure,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. “It’s also important to get those butts in seats because, by and large, today’s vehicles are all pretty good, so it comes down to their perception of the brand but also how the vehicle fits them.”
Volkswagen’s test drive booth on July 15, 2021 at the Chicago Auto Show outside of the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
Volkswagen of America CMO Kimberly Gardiner said it’s “super important” to allow consumers to get into new EVs and “imagine themselves driving one.”
VW is offering drives in four of its newest vehicles, including the electric ID.4, which went on sale this year. VW held about 250 drive events across the country for the new EV from March through June.
“We’re at this great moment in time where more consumers are wanting to understand and learn about what it’s like to drive an EV,” Deering said.
Nearly 16,000 people of all ages participated in the nationwide programs, according to VW.
The ID.4 and Mach-E are among a handful of plug-in vehicles, including all-electric and hybrid, to offer rides or drives at the Chicago Auto Shows. Others include the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Kia Niro EV and Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV.
Bronco vs. Wrangler
Aside from EVs, Ford is going head to head with Jeep regarding off-road courses at the Chicago Auto Show.
At the Chicago Auto Show, Ford is debuting a 30,000-square-foot off-road obstacle track its calling the “Built Wild Bronco” mountain experience,
Michael Wayland / CNBC
Ford debuted a new “Built Wild” outdoor obstacle course for its Bronco SUV at the event, which it expects to use at future shows. Jeep has offered rides at its “Camp Jeep” at such events for the past 17 years.
“It’s one of the coolest things here,” 15-year-old Henry Lata said after riding in a Jeep Gladiator Mojave through the course. “I love cars.”
Both courses feature significant metal hills and obstacles showcasing the capabilities of the vehicles.
“We get to show off what our vehicles can do,” said Jim Morrison, head of Jeep’s North American operations. “We’ve seen competitors come and go but, one of the things we love is when they open the door, people race to Camp Jeep.”
Henry Lata, 15, (left) and Sarah Lata, 45, (middle) ride in a Jeep Gladiator Mojave pickup with a professional driver through an indoor obstacle course called “Camp Jeep” at the Chicago Auto Show.
2 “Strong Buy” Stocks That Could Benefit From Inflation
Inflation worries are picking up, and the stock market is down in consequence. Inflation-sensitive stocks, especially the tech giants, have slipped in recent trading sessions, as government bond yields ticked higher. Unsurprisingly, the factors behind the inflation worries are directly related to the pandemic situation. There’s the massive fiscal stimulus of the legislative COVID relief packages, that are helping to fuel that inflationary pressure, but there is also the ongoing vaccination program that continues to reach more than 1 million people per day, and holds out the promise of a return to more normal conditions. So the question now is, what should investors do? For the near-term, at least, the chance of inflation outweighs the positive news about the receding COVID epidemic. With that in mind, Wall Street pros advise looking at ‘inflation-resilient’ sectors. Using the TipRanks database, we identified two stocks that, according to top-rated analysts, could potentially gain should inflation take hold. In fact, both have received overwhelmingly bullish praise from the Street, enough to earn a “Strong Buy” analyst consensus. Applied Materials (AMAT) We’ll start with a producer of technological goods, Applied Materials. Like any manufacturer, Applied Materials can survive in an inflationary environment; as the cost of raw materials rises, the company will pass those on to its own customers through higher prices on finished products. No one likes that, but the company’s products are essential in the tech industry. Applied Materials makes integrated circuit chips for electronic devices; flat panel displays used in TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, and tablets; and coatings for flexible electronics. AMAT brings in over $17 billion in annual revenue, has over 14,000 patents, and puts more than $2.2 billion annually into R&D work. In its recent quarterly report, for fiscal 1Q21, Applied Materials reported a top line of $5.1 billion, up 24% from the prior year, and earnings of $1.22 per share. EPS was flat sequentially, but up 27% year-over-year. These results came in as the company’s stock has registered strong gains. AMAT shares are up 101% in the past 12 months, far outpacing the broader markets. The gains reflect increased demand for the company’s products due to the increase in telecommuting, virtual offices, and remote schooling. In his note on Applied Materials, B. Riley’s 5-star analyst Craig Ellis takes an upbeat stance. “We believe takeaways affirm a bullish thesis and suspect Street FY21&22 EPS will move materially higher despite retaining sizeable IT/LT upside… Semi’s sales led 1Q’s upside though all segments exceeded our forecast, and we believe robust strength will persist deep into CY21… AMAT’s $70B+ CY21 industry view surprise higher, surpassing close peers… directionally pointing to our +$72-$74B view,” Ellis noted. To this end, Ellis rates the stock a Buy, and his $150 price target implies a 30% upside potential for the coming year. (To watch Ellis’ track record, click here) Overall, there are 22 recent reviews on Applied Materials, and no fewer than 19 are to Buy. The remainder are Holds; the analyst consensus view on the shares is a Strong Buy. AMAT is priced at $115.44 and the $133.95 average price target suggests 16% upside from that level. (See AMAT stock analysis on TipRanks) Citigroup (C) Next up, Citigroup, is of the US’ Big Four banking institutions. For banks like Citi, which are net lenders, inflation’s tendency to push up interest rates is a boon. Long term, higher rates will increase loan profitability faster than inflation will eat away at repayments. In that environment, the banking sector could outperform the S&P 500 over the long term, should inflationary tendencies drive up key interest rates. In the meantime, a look at Citi’s current situation shows that revenues and earnings are still down year-over-year, although EPS has shown strong sequential gains. In 4Q20, the bank reported a top line of $16.5 billion, down 10% yoy, and EPS of $2.08. The earnings were down 3% yoy, but up 48% from Q3. 5-star analyst Chris Kotowski, of Oppenheimer, advises investors to keep an even strain despite the year-over-year losses. “Our advice to investors is to take a deep breath, look at the numbers and see they were all basically in line and that the outlook is really not much changed from where it was previously… we are staying with the expectations for a significant wave of loan losses in 2H21E outlined in our preview [but] we think the strong likelihood is that this will prove way too conservative, and returns will normalize in 2022E,” Kotowski opined. In line with his optimistic approach, Kotowski rates C shares an Outperform (i.e. Buy) along with a $114 price target. Investors stand to pocket a 62% gain should the analyst’s thesis play out. (To watch Kotowski’s track record, click here) Overall, their is broad agreement on Wall Street about the fundamental quality of the stock. Citigroup’s Strong Buy consensus rating is based on 12 Buy and 3 Hold. C is selling for $70.38 and the $79.80 average price target suggests an upside of ~13% on the one-year time horizon. (See Citi’s stock analysis at TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
When I was still a kid, my old man owned a 1965, sharkskin blue Mustang 289. Some of my favorite childhood memories involved spending our Sunday afternoons cruising around San Francisco in it. Now, nostalgia is a hell of a drug, so when I first laid eyes on Ford’s electric Mustang Mach-E at the 2019 LA Auto show, my reaction was a resounding and heartfelt “hard pass.” With its crossover styling, the Mach-E certainly didn’t look like any Mustang of my youth and, given its whisper quiet EV propulsion system, sure as hell didn’t sound — or smell — anything like the carbureted 255 HP, 4.7-liter Windsor V8 I remember from my childhood.
Still, the Mach-E has already won the title of 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year and saw pre-orders for its “First Edition” sell out almost immediately after its debut, so clearly the EV crossover has piqued the interest of American automotive enthusiasts. That begs the question, what actually makes a Mustang, a Mustang? I’ve just spent a week behind the wheel of the 2021 Mach-E in an effort to find out.
Andrew Tarantola / Engadget
The Premium that I received on loan is one of four optional models (not including that short-run “First Edition” which is, again, already sold out): The Select, the California Route 1, the Premium and the GT. They can be specced as RWD or e-AWD, and with a choice of standard 68 kWh or larger optional 88 kWh battery pack (a $5,000 option). Those batteries should give you an EPA estimated 230 – 300 miles of range, depending on options and drive types, and anywhere from 266 HP from the Select to a gut-punching 480HP from the AWD GT. The Select starts at $44,995, the Premium will put you back around $49,000, with the Route 1 coming in at $53,500 and the GT at $61,600.
My specific model was the Premium with AWD and the extended 88 kWh battery pack which would retail for $56,400 if it wasn’t a loaner. It offers 346 HP, 428 lb-ft of torque, and a range of approximately 270 miles. Aside from the bigger battery and Star White metallic tricoat paint, everything on this Mach-E came standard — that includes the 10-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, Qi wireless charging pad, 4G hotspot and Ford Co-Pilot 360 driver assist system. You’ll also find USB A and C outlets in both the front and rear rows so as to keep the jockeying for charger space during road trips to a minimum.
While it may not much resemble its progenitors, the Mach-E’s design makes it easy to spot in a busy parking lot — similar to a Tesla Model 3 but taller with a wider, more aggressive stance. Once acclimated to its dimensions, I came to appreciate the Mach-E’s height. It’s far enough off the ground that you don’t have to constantly worry about scraping the bottom of the door on curbs or require a deep squat to get into it, but not so high you need a step ladder for assistance (looking at you, every full-sized American pickup built since 2009).
Andrew Tarantola / Engadget
It comes in one of seven exterior paint colors, even the most muted of which turned heads when I pulled up to stop lights. Within the first 24 hours of this car reaching my driveway, I had three separate neighbors imploring to go on ride-alongs. And despite its prominent front end and bold lines, the Mach-E maintains a surprisingly svelte drag coefficient of 0.3 — that’s just a touch higher/worse than the new Audi e-tron GT or the Polestar 2, both of which boast coefficients of .24.
The Mach-E’s interior is surprisingly sparse. Aside from the headlights, gear shift and a few knobs on the steering column, virtually every cabin function is controlled through the Mustang’s central 15.5-inch, vertically oriented infotainment display and its integrated volume dial. The infotainment screen is paired with a 10.5-inch letterbox display that replaces the traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Voice command, audio volume and the track skip/repeat controls are all available as tactile buttons located on the steering wheel. What’s more, the infotainment screen’s ample real estate means that Ford has space to make its digital buttons and sliders generously huge. This is a big help when you’re in traffic and trying to keep your eyes on the road while also navigating through the Mach-E’s various control menus.
That scenario didn’t actually happen as often as I anticipated it would, thanks in large part to the vehicle’s capable voice recognition technology and integration with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connecting your smartphone, whether its an iPhone 12 or Pixel 4a, is as simple as turning on the handset’s Bluetooth and pairing it with the infotainment system. I got both the iPhone and Pixel to connect to the Mach-E on each of their respective first attempts. Once paired, I could make calls, play my own setlists (rather than rely on the AM/FM/Sirius XM radio) and use Google Maps for driving directions instead of Ford’s onboard nav system. I’d gladly take the Mach-E’s infotainment system over Tesla’s.
The Mach-E’s interior may be sparse, but it is spacious with plenty of leg and headroom to accommodate up to five adult humans. The seats are comfortable and breathable, and the entire cabin feels far less plasticky than what Tesla offers. The feeling of openness within the cabin is amplified simply by craning your next back to look up through the full-glass roof. It’s polarized and tinted so that harmful UV rays and the prying eyes of car thieves can’t penetrate from the outside while remaining clear a enough for passengers to enjoy sights both around and above them. The Mach-E also offers 29.7 cubic-feet of storage space in the trunk so you shouldn’t have much trouble fitting in the luggage for those five folks. I’m also a fan of the supremely helpful Fordpass companion app. It offers reminders to drivers of upcoming maintenance, service and recalls. It also always knows where the closest charging station is located and how to get there.
Unfortunately, the most disappointing aspect of the Mach-E driving experience is, well, the driving experience itself. When you get behind the wheel and press the start button, you’re greeted by flashing logos on the display screens, a couple electronic chimes, and that’s about it — no throaty V8 rumble, no rich smell of carbureted gasoline. It’s all very minimalist and, well, a little lacking in soul. You do have three drive modes to choose from: Whisper, Engage and Unbridled — and they all generally work just like they sound.
Whisper is great if you’re running errands around the neighborhood and want to minimize the amount of time you’ll need to spend charging the vehicle once you return (it takes around 10.5 hours to fully charge using a 240V power outlet). It’s low-power and low-power-draw driving. Engage is a solid daily option, giving you a capable mix of power and range. Unbridled is for maximum performance, battery reserves be damned. This driving mode will gently press you back into your seat when you stomp the accelerator, and the EV’s instantaneous access to 100 percent of its torque is lovely when beating other cars off the stop line and getting up to 60 MPH in just over 3 seconds, but overall the Mach-E just doesn’t have that same bone-rattling, suck-the-fillings-out-your-molars raw power that I expect from my muscle cars. This feels more like someone got all hopped up on bull shark testosterone and set it loose on the streets.
Of course, the Mustang is far from America’s first classic muscle car to undergo radical design transformations during its model life. I mean, just look at the Chevrolet Impala. It but when the final vehicle rolled off its assembly line in February, 2020. And neither is the Mustang the only former gas-guzzler to go green. GM is also , and moving engineers from the Corvette team to its burgeoning EV division.
For what it is, Ford’s first purpose-built EV, a five-seater crossover packed to the gills with modern styling, technology and accoutrements, the Mach-E is a sure bet. The vehicle offers better than average handling and battery performance while maintaining a high degree of daily life functionality — beyond getting you to your destination in as short a time as possible. But as the heir to the Mustang crown, or even just as an EV “sports car,” nah, this ain’t it.
The guys over at Daily Motor got hold of a Ford Mustang Mach-E and put together a video review, comparing it to their own Tesla Model Y.
These two electric vehicles are direct, head to head competitors and will undoubtedly be cross-shopped by many consumers looking for an all-electric crossover. The Model Y is their own personal vehicle, and they admit that their familiarity may influence their initial opinions.
However, they also point out that they come from a diehard Ford family, and really want the Mustang Mach-E to be a great EV, and enjoy much success.
They guys point out the Tesla is much more efficient and also seems more planted on the road. The lift-off regenerative braking is also stronger on the Model Y but the Mach-E does have a blended braking system to add regen when the friction brake pedal is depressed, and the Model Y doesn’t have blended brakes, only lift-off regen.
They also point out that they believe the Model Y’s center screen layout is more easily navigated. However, they own the Model Y and have only spent a short time in the Mach-E so it’s possible that they are just more familiar with the Model Y so the user interface seems easier to navigate.
The available cargo space is also an area where the Tesla has the advantage. The Model Y has more cargo space, 68 cu ft compared to the Mach-E’s 60 cu ft. The Model Y also has wider tires than the Mach-E which should provide better grip (255s for the Model Y compared to the Mach-E’s 225s).
Charlie actually preferred the driving dynamics of the Mach-E over the Model Y and Nathan preferred the Model Y. However, when it came to the overall package, both guys said they would choose the Model Y, but they left the door open to change their opinion once they have a Mach-E for a longer period for a more thorough review.
So check out the entire video and let us know if you agree with their initial assessment. As always, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
