Ford Shelby Mustang Mach-E: performance model confirmed

A tuned version of the new Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV is likely to be developed by Shelby according to the firm’s performance division.

Speaking to our sister title Auto Express, Ford Performance’s chief programme engineer Ed Krenz said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of applying the Shelby characteristics to an electric car. The trick for us is the fun-to-drive part, and the sustainability in terms of charging.

“It needs to be capable of going all day on a track day: you can’t do 20 minutes and then have to charge it all night.”

In standard form, the Mustang Mach-E is available with rear or all-wheel drive, with a choice of 77 or 95kWh batteries returning between 260 and 370 miles of range depending on spec.

Cars with the bigger battery will be capable of rapid charging at up to 150kW: this should see a 10-80% charge completed in around 45 minutes.

A GT version of the Mustang Mach-E is in the pipeline, which will develop 459bhp and hit 0-62mph in under five seconds. A Shelby variant would be expected to complete the same sprint in around three seconds.

“The straight-line bit is easy with electric cars,” Krenz continued. “But we know the Shelby DNA down to the ground and applying that to electric is difficult. Even so, all weight’s not bad; we’ve had Mach-E on the simulator and the low centre of gravity is an opportunity.”

Ford is keen for the Mustang Mach-E to be seen as a genuine performance vehicle, an outlook that customers might find difficult to adjust to given that the car is an SUV.

“Mustang needs to be relevant long-term,” explained Darren Palmer, Ford’s global director for battery electric vehicle product development. “This takes Mustang in a new direction, and safeguards and supports the base Mustang for the future.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E can be reserved now ahead of sales beginning in the UK towards the end of 2020. A Shelby version is expected to follow in 2021, with starting prices in the region of £65,000.