We’ve updated this story with live images of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Rally from its North American debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Discover our full coverage of the event here.
Ford has unveiled the Mustang Mach-E Rally, a special edition of the electric SUV featuring rally-inspired aesthetics and several chassis upgrades, enabling it to be enjoyed both on and off the beaten track. The exciting news is that this is not just a concept or an expensive rally car; it’s a street-legal production model set to be available to customers in 2024, including in North America and Europe.
Photos Mike Gauthier / Carscoops
The Mustang Mach-E Rally was initially announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, but the prototype was concealed under a camouflage wrap. Following its reveal at the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, it made its way to North America this week.
Visually, the new addition to the Mach E family is distinguished by the revised fascia with fog lights housed within the covered grille, a new front splitter, a recovery point, a black-painted steel roof, and a large rear wing reminiscent of the one in the discontinued Focus RS. Besides the pictured Grabber Yellow, the color palette includes the Grabber Blue, Shadow Black, Eruption Green, Star White, and Glacier Gray shades, always combined with the standard racing stripes on the bonnet and tailgate.
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The most striking part of the visual upgrades is the new set of 19-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss white. Besides looking cool, the rally-inspired rims are shod in beefier Michelin CrossClimate2 all-season rubber, offering more grip in rougher terrains. Furthermore, the suspension sits 20 mm (0.8 inches) higher compared to the Mach-E GT, coming with specially tuned springs and MagneRide shocks. The EV was designed for gravel and dirt roads so Ford engineers added protective shielding for the dual electric motors. There is also a protective film covering the cladding on the doors and wheel arches, with mud flaps available as an option.
The electric powertrain is also sourced from the Mach-E GT but has been further tuned. Ford didn’t reveal the performance numbers but said that the dual electric motors will produce “at least” 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS) and 880 Nm (649 lb-ft) of torque. The EV will also benefit from a new RallySport Drive Mode which is designed to allow “bigger slides” in off-road environments, offering a “linear throttle response” and “more aggressive damping”. The brakes comprise 385 mm (15.2 inches) front discs with red Brembo calipers.
Power will be sourced from the same lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 91 kWh, but the officially homologated range figures will be announced closer to the market launch. Still, the Mach-E Rally will likely be slightly less efficient than the Mach-E GT which boasts an electric range of 250 miles (402 km).
The new version of the Mach-E might be inspired by Ford’s glorious days of the World Rally Championship but the interior is far from spartan as it carries over all of the amenities found in the standard EV. Special touches inside the cabin include a pair of performance seats with Mach-E Rally lettering, contrasting stitching, and gloss white accents on the dashboard, door cards, and steering wheel matching the new wheels.
How much will it cost?
In the United States, Ford said it anticipates pricing to commence at around $65,000, which is $5,000 more than the current GT. However, final pricing will be announced closer to the start of production. The Blue Oval plans to open order books in early 2024, with the first deliveries expected shortly thereafter.
