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Ford Mustang Mach-E first drive: Power Pony
The much-anticipated Ford Mustang Mach-E has arrived on New Zealand shores to spearhead the company's charge (sorry) into electrification. While the ICE faithful will cry that "It 's not a proper Mustang" because it
A) doesn't have a V8 and/or
B) is an SUV, that really doesn 't matter in the slightest. After all, Ford can call it whatever the hell it wants to call it - what actually matters is whether or not it is a good car.
And after a launch event that saw us get plenty of time behind the wheel of several Mach-E's both on the rural roads south of Auckland and on a race track, I can say that, yeah, it is pretty damn good indeed.
First drive: Ford Mustang Mach-E
Every so often a car comes along that is so interesting, so ‘I need to drive that’, that car scribblers like us become impatient. As such, last week’s launch of the new Ford Mustang Mach-E was technically not a first drive for the extended Stuff Motoring team. Intrepid reporter David McLeod drove one in the UK in 2021, and I sampled a grey import last year.
The Mach-E is not necessarily a subject of curiosity because of any ‘Tesla killer’ rhetoric, or even because of its somewhat controversial name. It’s a big deal because it's the first proper take at an electric car by one of the largest, most recognised car brands on the planet. It’s a big deal.
Electric Pony – first drive of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E
As the automotive world’s unquenchable thirst for EVs and SUVs continues, Ford has evolved its treasured Mustang nameplate into something that sits perfectly into both segments.
The all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E has finally landed on New Zealand shores and we got to drive it both on the road and around the race track.
The Mustang has been around for over five decades and has built up a huge and dedicated fanbase, so, it’s understandable that some people might feel a bit uneasy about the new all-electric SUV. However, not only does the Mach-E still manage to retain some of the Mustang’s iconic style traits, but it’s also still exceptionally fun to drive.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E – Launch & 600km Drive
Could this be the most anticipated new car release of 2023? Regardless of what you think of Ford’s choice of name for their new EV, it’s the one everyone has been waiting for.
Following the launch in Auckland, we’ll drive an AWD model back to Wellington and then we will have three weeks in it, with each of DriveLife’s motoring journalists spending time behind the wheel and giving their unbiased and independent opinions on the car, in our full review.
The Mustang Mach-E is the second, all-new EV to be launched this week, after the Hyundai Ioniq 6 on Tuesday. It is surely a sign of things to come.
Ford Mustang Mach-E first drive: Pony play just got zappy
DRIVEN at last, bearing a name some still say is undeserving, a car so vital its maker will withstand never making a single cent of profit from it: Mustang Mach-E.
That wasn’t anticipated. In its first full year, 2020, Mach-E was profitable, but after that commodity costs – including for the lithium ion phosphate battery, from China’s CATL – mitigated margins.
Electric cars are high stakes. Particularly for Ford Motor Company. Detroit’s electric vehicle investment requires an $NZ89 billion-plus spend by 2026. It has the money and its most important car of this generation not making any contribution - regardless it was the third best-selling EV last year and has achieved quarter of a million sales - won’t erode commitment, though Ford has learned. It’s exploring the idea of vertically integrating raw materials into its business and switching from lithium-ion batteries to cheaper lithium iron-phosphate types.
Amped up Mustang Muscle – Ford Mustang Mach-E first drive NZ
Ford has taken their beloved Mustang and turned it into an electric pony (and when it comes to the GT), a pony on steroids! They call it the Mustang Mach-E, and it’s here to conquer both the EV and SUV segments. To help showcase its unbridled (get it) performance, the NZ launch had us for a spin on the road and galloping around the racetrack.
Now, we know the Mustang has a massive fanbase that has worshipped the nameplate for over five decades. So naturally, some die-hard enthusiasts might be a little sceptical about this electric SUV incarnation. But fear not, my friends, because the Mach-E still oozes Mustang style and above all, it’s an absolute blast to drive.
Ford New Zealand is offering three flavours of the Mach-E to choose from, hot, hotter and hottest. The base model RWD starts at $79,990 drive away and comes with a single electric motor that puts out 198kW of power and 430Nm of torque. It’s equipped with a 75.7kWh ‘standard battery’ that’s good for 440km of range and will do the 0-100km/h dash in 6.1 seconds.
First NZ drive – Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has been a long time coming for us Kiwis. First announced in 2019, it’s been on sale in the US and other markets since 2020. It was last year that Ford NZ finally announced its availability for our market, with the model range and pricing confirmed earlier this year. And after much build up, it’s finally here.
Ford NZ boss, Simon Rutherford, said while some 250 have already been sold, general awareness of the Mach-E is low. “It’s been too long between it being announced and it finally launching here. We need more of them on the road and then people will start to notice them. Nothing beats seeing one, and any time we’ve been out in them, people come up and ask ‘what’s this’, that’s what’s driving enquiry.”
How many they might sell depends on how many they get. “Now that Australia has come on board and other markets too, it’s harder” The initial allocation is sold, 60 per cent of those the entry level RWD model as people want the rebate. And you’re looking at about a three to four month wait if you haven’t already placed an order.
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