We’re a pretty non-judgemental bunch here at TTAC, and that goes double for our readers. And yet it’s sometimes hard to keep those opinions bottled up deep inside, where unexpressed feelings can wreak havoc on health and marriages.
This is why the most talked-out vehicle vehicle in autodom right now, one that sees its public debut on Nov. 17, is worthy of your scrutiny. It’s the Mach E, or something like that — Ford’s upcoming electric crossover.
How much Mustang do you see?
The spy photos, we don’t have. But others do, and you can see a gallery over at Motor1.
While camo is heavier on the rear than the front, hiding what appears to be a set of Mustang-inspired tail lights, there’s plenty to look at here; far more than we’ve seen via carefully concealed renderings issued by Ford.
The automaker is eager to tie the model to the Mustang via a strand of design language and, quite possibly, a bastardized name that calls up memories of the brawny, fuel-sucking Mach 1. Ford’s going all-in on the tenuous connection, perhaps having decided that highlighting muscle is a better way to get noticed than advertising virtuousness.
People are getting sick of that.
The vehicle in the spy shots certainly appears less Mustang-y than the side-on rendering released last week (see above), but that’s what front- and rear-quarter angles gets you. Blame a two-row crossover cabin and the need for four doors. From the rear, dare I say it, there’s a hint of HR-V, at least when camo’d up. The front fascia seems to be of the solid variety, with Ford leaving a suggestion of a grille, rather than going the Audi or Mercedes-Benz route in offering a distinct faux front opening for its EV crossover.
Offered with rear- or all-wheel drive and three choices in battery size, the Mach E offer drivers up to 300 miles on a charge, Ford claims. L.A. will be the venue for the Blue Oval’s first ground-up EV model, and you can bet we’ll have pictures once the thing goes live. That said, a great many of you probably have no intention of every sitting behind the wheel of one, let alone opening your wallet for one. That’s the hurdle Ford is up against.
[Image: Ford]
It’s an electric minivan blob, exactly what everyone has been expecting, linking it to the Mustang was just a way for Ford to link it to something that wasn’t a flaming pile.
It’s going to be more closely likened to the ecosport.
“It’s going to be more closely likened to the ecosport.”
You don’t like crossovers. Fine. You don’t like BEV’s. Fine. But that is a ridiculous statement.
I have no trouble with BEVs, I just think it’s stupid that Fords trying to pawn off a lazy crossover by using the Mustang name. And quite honestly it will be more related to the ecosport than the Mustang. The whole point of the Mustang is the muscle/sport car part. The whole point of the ecosport is being fashionably in style as are all of these crossovers that were rushed together to have a product.
Based on the shape I expect it’s going to be a rear-biased AWD platform and be about the size of the Edge. That’s not remotely related to the Ecosport.
Same general concept, however if ford wants to push Mustang I’ll push one of their crossovers.
From my understanding the base model is supposed to be RWD, not FWD and of course AWD is optional.
If this and the EcoSport are the “same general concept,” then a Mustang and a Fiesta are the “same general concept.”
I guess by this logic, a Porsche Macan is the “same basic concept” as an Ecosport, since it’s a raised four door hatchback based on a FWD platform. Absolutely. No doubt.
Keep ’em comin’, Hummer. Don’t forget to remind the audience you’re here ’till Thursday, and to tip their servers.
“ I guess by this logic, a Porsche Macan is the “same basic concept” as an Ecosport, since it’s a raised four door hatchback based on a FWD platform. Absolutely. No doubt.”
I didn’t realize the Macan was based on a FWD architecture, knowing that – no I don’t think that’s a very wild assertion to compare them.
I think this is what they call “deadpan humor.”
It has AWD and a unibody…so basically an H1
Basically
Totally.
The Ecosport has a sucky inefficient engine and a stupid side opening door. Other than that, I like it.
Well, they could have named it Edsel. But it’s not a Mustang.
“Well, they could have named it Edsel.”
Being an electric vehicle they could call it an “Edcell”.
Thanks, I got a charge out of that.
re: the spy photos
It could be worse. It suffers, as most (all?) CUVs do, from the tall, ungainly rear bumper syndrome. ie it can never look as sleek or aggressive as a low slung coupe. I’m also not a fan of the grille but maybe it will look better without all the spy cladding on.
“People are getting sick of that.”
Nobody who’s “sick of it” was ever going to buy one of these anyway, and the existence of this thing isn’t going to make anyone decide not to buy a Mustang. I don’t know why companies should bend over backwards to accommodate complainers who don’t actually have skin in the game. “You’d better not call that the Mach 1! If you do, I’ll… I’ll… not buy one harder or something!”
“That said, a great many of you probably have no intention of every sitting behind the wheel of one, let alone opening your wallet for one.”
I may be doing just that next year.
@JimZ – I agree.
“People are getting sick of that.”
OK Boomer
“That said, a great many of you probably have no intention of every sitting behind the wheel of one, let alone opening your wallet for one.”
OK Boomer
“ OK Boomer”
14 year old girls everywhere are applauding your superior intellect and reasoning.
Haha…nothing says desperate like using a millennial term that supposed to be a slam.
Just wow…
I’m not surprised by who bit hook, line and sinker!
LOL
The only person who took the bait is you. The tiktok girls, catch me outside girl, and tide pod guys are applauding, Cringe isn’t a strong enough word.
Most 14-year-old girls would take a look at this and an Ecosport and say, “like, OMG, who thinks those are the same concept?”
Quite likely.
I think you’re missing Steph’s point. There’s literally NO good reason to tie in an electric crossover with an iconic muscle car. The techie/greenie crowd that embraces EVs wants nothing to do with anything even resembling a performance coupe and fans of American muscle are dead set opposed to anything perceived as eco friendly. The end result is needlessly pissing off both sides.
I drove a ’01 Mustang for 10 years and a ’16 Mustang GT for 2 years, moved to an F-150. A Model Y is 99% my next vehicle, and this is really the only other option. Ford and performance-BEV small CUV being the primary reasons it has a chance.
I have no problem with an electric “crossover”, but it has nothing to do with the Mustang. Marketing is only BS.
Well it has Mustang tail lights.
I’m amped.
This stuff is actually revolting!
Watt?
Baby don’t hertz me
Don’t hertz me
No more
O man cut this stuff short-
To examine paint defects up-close, could someone use a joule-er’s rouge??!!
Ohm my I can’t resist jointing in on your parallel line of thinking. Who would of thought his would generate such intensity. I wonder what the Norton equivalent would be.
”joule-er’s rouge??!!”
Loupe. Rouge is for polishing.
@g2h: indeed it is — I stand corrected!
And it’s all down to the wire! Rather arcane, yes?!
The look is just electric.
And I thought this thread had potential….
We all have our differences. Lol. I sure Ford knew there would be some reluctance. Real or apparent.
“Gettin’ so much resistance from behind…”
It is a 4 door crossover…I’m not sure what the fuss here is about. There are way worse looking ones on the road. Will it meet the range and performance that has been teased are the real and relevant questions. Yes, anyone that is put off by the things the author is put off about was never going to buy one anyway.
Haters gonna hate.
I don’t get it the rage either. It’s a drawing.
Change scares some people.
That’s fine, just so long as they don’t keep me from moving to the future!
As I have never been interested in any SUV or crossover, I am not interested in this particular crossover.
I’m the same. I have no need or desire for AWD, ride height, or more utility than what a Viper offers so as long as the regular Mustang still exists I wouldn’t really be interested no matter what is powering it or what it looks like (within reason).
Stay hard you two…stay hard
Can’t even let me enjoy some of the few perks of loneliness and tropical humidity?
I see some Camaro in that front clip (not a lot, a sprinkling) and that isn’t a good thing.
I don’t get all the hate. The silhouette is more Infiniti FX than Edge or Explorer. This looks like a crossover that should be reasonably satisfying to drive.
With a low center of gravity…
The product may be fine, the hate is the pisspoor job of marketing that hurts the image of this new product, along with an established product.
Here’s a rendering of someone’s idea of what a C8 CUV would look like:
https://www.motor1.com/news/361622/chevrolet-corvette-c8-suv-rendering/
Yuck.
Awful…but so’s the Cayenne, and it sold.
Meh, despite all the triggered responses, it’s not bad looking.
My biggest question is this: why not do this as a Lincoln first? That would seem to be a more natural Tesla competitor. As a Mustang, it just seems…controversial. Then again, maybe controversy is what Ford’s after here. No such thing as bad publicity, you know?
Agreed on all points. It looks OK to me, but the Mustang name is a trigger.
Ford is making the mistake Hyundai did by using the “Genesis” name on both the old Genesis Coupe and the luxury sedan, which had nothing in common, and at the same time.
Didn’t they share the V6 engine?
If I remember correctly, the Genesis coupe and original sedan shared a platform and an engine.
I have a feeling this thing will be in for a lot of MACH-Ery.
No need for insults here. It is just going to fade away five years from now. Maybe Ford will sell 10,000 in its first year.
If it were a European brand and they called it a shooting brake, everyone would be pumped.
I’m not offended at all and have no barbs. After all, don’t forget that the Mustang name was affixed to the bloated 1971-73 personal luxo barges and a barely glossed over Pinto from 1974-78. And had cooler heads not prevailed, it would have been affixed to the Ford Probe.
I just think “oh, another ho hum CUV.” Only difference being it’s electric! Still won’t buy one.
Well, they could have called it a Thunderbird.
Do you mock me Mach E?
What did the 2020 Lincoln Aviator say to the Ford Motor Company?
“You can’t *make* me.”