Bill Ford Doubles Down on Mustang-Inspired EV Being Fun to Drive
Since the first time that a Ford Motor Company executive referenced the all-electric crossover with Mustang design cues, it has been understood that this large EV would offer Mustang-like performance as well. There have been rumors that the Mustang-inspired electric crossover will be designed to compete with the Tesla Model X, which is one of the quickest SUVs sold in the world, and recent comments by Bill Ford support those rumors.
While speaking at the Crain's Detroit Business Newsmaker of the Year conference, Bill Ford stated that the Mustang-inspired electric crossover – which has been rumored to sport the Mach E name – is “going to go like hell”. That phrase carries deep meaning within FoMoCo, as back in the 1960s, Henry Ford II told the Ford drivers racing at LeMans against the Ferrari teams to “go like hell”. They did, too, winning every year from 1966 through 1969.
Also, watch how similar Ford Mach-E electric SUV (inspired by Mustang) looks to its spyshot and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube channel for daily thought-provoking automotive news analysis.
Those Ford race cars had the impossible task of beating Ferrari, the best in the business at that time. When the all-electric Ford crossover inspired by the Mustang arrives, it will have almost as big a task, taking on the Model X, built by industry-leading Tesla.
An Exciting EV
Bill Ford went on to explain that in the early days of electrification, vehicles had to be “green and boring”, or it had to rely on lots of gasoline. However, electric vehicle technology has come a long way and Tesla has shown that an electric drivetrain can deliver an exhilarating driving experience. The problem is that the Model X ranges in price from $82,000 up to $138,000, with the price rising as you add features.
It seems unlikely that the Ford Mustang-inspired electric crossover will cost nearly $100,000, so if the Mach E offers performance coupled with a range anywhere near that of the Model X, it could be a crushing blow to Tesla. At the same time, even if the electric crossover “only” offers performance similar to the Mustang, it will be the most exciting mainstream EV to date.
Source: Automotive News
Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Patrick has been sharing his automotive expertise in automotive journalism from Detroit for more than a decade covering the Big Three. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.