Ford’s Mach-E GT is a 21st century American muscle car

Sunlight filters through the towering pines, patting my Ford Mach-E GT’s “grippy blue” skin as it gallops along Highway 1, reckless trivialities like “defensive driving technique” and the “speed limits”. Irma Thomas sings through the 9-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system, her interpretation of Time is on my side a stark contrast to the simulated auditory roar of the GT’s two permanent magnet motors as the accelerator pedal slams against the floor. Pouring on speed, I finally see what it was about.

Ok so here is the part of the story where I eat a large plate of crow. When I reviewed the base Mach-E model in February, I found it to be a perfectly serviceable EV, but closer to similarly shaped electric SUVs like the Kia Niro or Volkswagen ID. .4 than the revered muscle cars I’ve hung posters of. in my nursery. Sure, the pony I rode had a lot of ups and downs – EVs are torquey that way – but it never rumbled the depths of my bowels like a naturally aspirated 4-barrel V8 would. . The Mach-E GT does it. Switch to the performance-focused Unbridled power plan – or Unbridled Extend, which optimizes traction and stability control and is ideal for ICE owners on track days – and the Mach-E GT will carry more ass than a secret lab overflowing with monster buttocks. Squeeze the gas in the GT’s 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque and this thing will loosen your fills. Do it in the ultra-torque GT Performance Edition and you might swallow a few teeth.

It won’t be hard to spot the GT and Performance editions on the street. I mean, if the prominent GT badge on the rear hatch and the illuminated Mustang icon on the grille don’t betray it, both iterations sit around 10mm lower than the base model and added style to the front dashboard. You’ll also be able to spot them by their wheels, as the unique 20-inch rims of the GT and Sport Performance (as opposed to the 18 and 19 offered on the base) cradle the Continental 245 / 45R20 all-season tires and the fire engine Brembo red brake calipers. Inside, however, the GT is virtually identical to the base model, with the exception of the seats which offer additional cushioning and lateral support, as chances are more than not you’ll end up sideways as soon as possible. the first week of owning one.

As far as driving performance goes, I’m a bit torn. Nostalgia, as I explained before, is a hell of a drug and my fondest automotive memories come from tearing the streets of San Francisco in a 65 equipped with drag racing suspension and a T- 10 to 3 speed, which deeply skewed my understanding of what to expect from the Mach-E. It’s, honestly, hard to reconcile in my head that the Mustang is now an SUV and, despite its overwhelming power, still drives widely as such. Give me a free kick like, say, this length of Highway 101 that crosses Silva Island towards Larkspur and the GT can, go and really beat any Tesla’s pants on the highway. as well as an overconfident and heeling Supra.

The tight, twisty turns of Highway 1, especially the cliff-side sections without rails where unwanted throttle pressure would drop you over 100 feet, was a whole other matter altogether. You can feel the understeer, although it’s all-wheel drive, as well as the GT’s 4,600 pounds of curb weight in hairpin turns. But again, this is an SUV, that’s to be expected – even one with a sub-4 0-60. The GT’s MagneRide suspension – which harnesses magneto-rheological fluid to stiffen the ride on demand – shone through those slalom sections. Even though the widebody GT wallows like a pig in the mud on tight corners, I didn’t have to struggle once with the vehicle’s body roll while entering the corners.

The GT starts at $ 59,900, boasts a peak output of 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft. of torque with a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and an estimated range of 270 miles. The GT Performance Edition, on the other hand, starts at $ 64,900, with the same horsepower but a full 634 lb-ft. of torque and 3.5 seconds 0-60 and 260 miles of range. Those numbers put the Mach-E GT on par with the Chevy Bolt and VW ID.4 in terms of driving distance, although the Mustang outclasses them both in terms of driving excitement.

Range anxiety wasn’t much of a concern during my test drive thanks to the Mach-E’s connected navigation system which constantly monitors vehicle battery levels and indicates available charging stations along the way. itinerary. In addition, Ford is offering two years of free use of its Blue Oval Charge network. For drivers who want to charge at home, Ford’s Connected Charging Station can add 30 miles per hour of charging on a 240V outlet while the included mobile charging cord can provide 20 miles of range per hour using an outlet. 240V similar.

Deliveries of the GT and the GT Performance Edition have already started.