Under the push of the global trend of electrification in the automotive industry, people’s consumption habits and preferences are also undergoing subtle changes. For some classic models that were widely known and loved in the era of gasoline cars, they are slowly exiting the stage of history for various reasons. Especially for high-performance models with large displacement, they are being squeezed by pure electric models with more powerful power and faster acceleration, and are passively choosing to withdraw from the stage, becoming toys for a small number of people. However, some brands have chosen to embrace the electrification era by transforming their classic models from the gasoline era into electric ones, allowing the classics to reappear. Just like the Ford Mustang, a classic model from the American old car company Ford, which I am going to test drive today.
When it comes to the Ford Mustang, most readers are familiar with this performance-oriented American muscle car. The powerful performance and aggressive appearance seem to embody the “wildness.” Now, the Ford Mustang goes electric, continuing the spirit of the Mustang brand in the era of electrification.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Electric was unveiled at this year’s Guangzhou Auto Show. Compared to the old model, the new car has been upgraded not only in terms of intelligence and driving assistance, but also in the endurance and stability of the three-electric system. Of course, the core performance configuration of the car has also been optimized. The model I experienced today is the 2024 Ford Mustang Electric GT version.
Ford Mustang Brand DNA Continues with Electrified Design Whether familiar with the Ford Mustang model or not, when you see it for the first time, your mind will definitely associate it with the labels of ferocity, wildness, and muscle cars. In the electrified era, the 2024 Ford electric horse will also give you the same impression, especially the GT model we test drove this time, which embodies performance in every detail. In terms of the vehicle’s exterior, the Ford electric horse, despite being a pure electric model, still continues the 60-year design concept of the Ford Mustang model. The full lines of the vehicle look very powerful, with a long hood, a large angle A-pillar, and the Fastback sleek curve on the top, giving the Ford electric horse a sense of power and style. Compared to the old model, the 2024 model has almost no changes in appearance and is highly recognizable.
The design of the front end does not emphasize the coefficient of drag like most pure electric cars, but adopts a relatively straight and full design elements, inheriting the classic shark nose front face of the Mustang, with a grid pattern inside, looking like the intake grille of a traditional fuel car. There is a very obvious raised line above the hood, showing the power of the front end. The sides of the lower bumper are designed with air vents, which can increase driving stability at high speeds and also help dissipate heat from the tire brakes.
The LED headlights do not have a very special design, but they support popular functions such as adaptive high and low beams and automatic opening and closing. When approaching the vehicle with the key, the headlights will be lit in a breathing manner, presenting a welcoming effect. The taillights use classic Ford Mustang design elements, and the “three-bar” taillights light up in a striking all-red effect, with high recognition. The turn signals use a flowing design, keeping up with the fashion trend.
Ford Mustang Mach-E uses a sloping design, with the roof gradually sloping down from the B-pillar, the slope is not large, and the head space of the passengers is not affected. The black mirrors and wheel arches use the same color as the body, giving a more premium look. The car’s length, width, and height are 4730mm*1886mm*1621mm, with a wheelbase of 2984mm. The front doors use a button-style opening, with a cute little handle, while the rear doors also open with a button, without a handle, which may take some getting used to. Ford Mustang Mach-E features a two-tone body design, and if you only look at the white body, it maintains a high degree of similarity to the rear half of the fuel sedan version. When you add the black roof, it presents a crossover SUV style, full of design appeal.
The car’s sloping roof and upward-sloping rear bumper give the rear end a clean look, and the rear window is not small, providing a clear view of the rear from inside the car, and all models come with a rear wiper. The 2024 model adds the new “Sunset Orange” color and “Aurora Lemon” color to the body color options. The GT version we test drove uses 20-inch multi-spoke GT bright wheels and is equipped with Pirelli P-zero series, 245/45 R20 tires. In addition, users can also choose 20-inch multi-spoke GT black wheels.
New “Roaring Sun Orange” themed interior, standard with wireless CarPlay American car interiors used to give a strong and rough impression of practicality, but in the era of electrification, the Ford Mustang’s interior still maintains a simple and rugged feel, but the materials and textures are still impressive. The center console of the car I test drove is made of fabric, leather, and chrome, with a sense of layering. The center of the console also uses fluorescent green or orange trim, creating a sense of an environmentally friendly cockpit. This new car has added a “Roaring Sun Orange” themed interior color scheme, highlighting the car’s personality even more.
The Ford Mustang GT steering wheel features a flat-bottom design and uses suede material on the inner ring for a superior grip. The adjustable steering wheel supports four-way adjustment and has a black brand logo in the center. Multi-colored ambient lighting is distributed in the footwell and door panels, adding to the luxurious atmosphere inside the car when illuminated. Paired with the excellent quality of the B&O sound system, the Ford Mustang GT showcases its luxurious attributes in every aspect.
The central console is wrapped in leather, and the knob-style shift mechanism is made of metal. There is a cup holder and a wireless charging panel for mobile phones in the front, which can be hidden when not in use to keep the central console clean and tidy. The central storage space is designed to be open, and the Ford Mustang GT model has a “GT” exclusive logo on the central armrest.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E features a 10.2-inch LCD instrument panel, with clear fonts and well-arranged information. The central display screen is 15.5 inches and has a slightly less convenient vertical design for operation. The center also has multifunction physical buttons for adjusting temperature, airflow, volume, and more, making it convenient to use.
The car system uses the third-generation Snapdragon cockpit platform from Qualcomm, which greatly improves the smoothness of system operation and the speed of program execution. It comes with built-in online entertainment software such as iQIYI, Himalaya, and QQ Music, and adds wireless CarPlay functionality, greatly expanding the use of the car system. The intelligent voice recognition performs well, with no problems executing basic commands.
The new car system also includes various scene mode options, allowing users to add and customize settings based on their usage scenarios, making it convenient and quick to access with just one click.
The Ford Mustang GT’s seats are spacious and provide good support for the body. The front seats have ventilation, heating, and memory functions. The rear seats are slightly higher than the front seats, providing a good forward view for rear passengers. The rear seats also have a central armrest and separate air vents.
The 182cm tall tester has enough legroom in the back seat, but the sloping body of the car affects headroom. The seat back angle is too upright, and the overall sitting posture is not quite comfortable. The flat design of the back seat floor allows for unrestricted leg and foot movement.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E’s tailgate opens with a hatchback design, and the spacious rear cargo space, along with the large opening, makes it very convenient to take items. If you still find the rear space small, the Ford Mustang Mach-E also offers a front trunk storage space that can hold a 20-inch carry-on suitcase and some miscellaneous items.
Ford Mustang Mach-E inherits 60 years of performance genes from Mustang, and in order to give it even better dynamic performance, Ford Mach-E applies Le Mans track simulator technology in its tuning, relying on a massive suspension model database verification to bring a stronger and more precise track performance to the vehicle. The Ford Mach-E GT version tested this time is equipped with Ford’s self-developed front and rear dual motors, with a maximum torque of 860Nm and a maximum output power of 359Kw. The 0-100km/h acceleration has been improved from 3.65s to 3.57s for the 2021 model. The new car also uses a new battery management system, which can more accurately manage energy consumption and achieve a balance between performance and energy consumption.
Driving the Ford Mustang Mach-E can make you feel as relaxed as driving a pure gasoline vehicle. The car does not offer energy recovery level adjustment, but instead automatically matches three driving modes: Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled. In Whisper and Engage driving modes, there is no obvious drag when releasing the accelerator pedal, and the coasting distance is also long. In Unbridled driving mode, there is a certain drag feeling, as the vehicle’s horsepower is fully unleashed and the throttle response becomes faster. The power connection is also good when operating the accelerator pedal.
Even in the gentle and engaging driving modes, the vehicle still shows strong acceleration performance when the accelerator pedal is deeply stepped on during start-up and mid-acceleration. With the moderately calibrated accelerator pedal, driving in these two modes is still very comfortable for daily use. The car also offers a simulated engine sound feature, simulating the deep and powerful “boiling water” sound of a V8 naturally aspirated engine. Even after accelerating in sport mode, releasing the accelerator pedal can still faintly hear the engine drag braking and the exhaust backfire sound.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E uses a 50:50 axle load ratio and has a firm suspension tuning, allowing for excellent handling during aggressive driving. The power output setting for the rear axle motor is set at 55%, making the vehicle more agile in sharp turns and increasing its playfulness.
The firm suspension tuning certainly brings a good handling experience, but it cannot be denied that the firm suspension tuning also brings a clearer sense of the road, and significant bouncing when passing over speed bumps and manhole covers. Of course, this trade-off depends on individual acceptance. In terms of braking, the new car is also equipped with full aluminum four-piston calipers. The pedal feel is slightly soft at the beginning, but after pressing down 1/4, you can feel a strong braking force. After getting used to it, the overall linear feeling of the braking is still good.
The 2024 Ford Mustang is equipped with the Blue Cruise system, providing advanced intelligent driving assistance functions such as lane keeping and ACC adaptive cruise control. It also adds automatic lane change with turn signal and intelligent avoidance assistance within the lane. The automatic lane change function allows the vehicle to change lanes smoothly when the turn signal is activated on the highway, and the system detects that it is safe to do so. If a vehicle approaches from behind, the system will alert and stop the lane change. The intelligent avoidance assistance within the lane function adjusts the vehicle slightly away from large trucks and buses in adjacent lanes to avoid potential risks and reduce the driver’s mental pressure.
Summary: The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E has updated its exterior and interior colors, enhancing its appearance. The intelligent driving experience has been upgraded, with new driving assistance features, a new self-developed electric motor, and impressive driving performance. The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E continues the 60-year performance gene of the Mustang while setting a new performance benchmark in the era of electrification. If you are a young person who pursues individuality, driving pleasure, and freedom, then the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E should be your first choice.