What does it mean to be legendary? A legend can be somebody who sacrificed themselves for a greater cause, or it could be a musician that everybody obsesses over. The number of times I’ve heard someone call Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin a legend makes me wonder: is there a reason we call something legendary? In today’s world, I feel something must be significantly influential to the point of pop culture familiarity to be considered legendary. For example, the Ford Mustang is one of the most recognizable names in the automotive industry. It isn’t just about the name though; this vehicle lives up to its legendary status.
Being legendary can be subjective, but there’s no denying that vehicles like the Ford Mustang have been a continuous fan favorite for decades. Now, the name extends to a different line. Is the new Mustang Mach-E worth the hype, or is it another case of a manufacturer taking a beloved and familiar name and testing the waters in the electric vehicle market? Mustang Mach-E Pre-Orders have been heating up, but why is that?
Today, I want to ask a few questions. Is the Mustang Mach-E going to live up to its hype, and more importantly, who is the Mustang Mach-E for? Some Mustang fans have shown visible disgust at the prospect of an electric Mustang, but others, such as myself, are fascinated by the prospect, regardless of whether I drive one or not. Does the Mustang Mach-E make sense? I’ll be answering all these questions and more, so read on ahead to learn everything you need to know about the Mustang Mach-E and whether or not it’s going to be dead on arrival, the next big thing, or something in between.
We All Know the Mustang and Its Legendary Reputation
The Ford Mustang needs no introduction. Ford vehicles are regularly admired by their adoring fans, but the Mustang is on another level entirely, hence the status of a “legendary.” The Ford Mustang is best described as royalty when stacked against Ford’s other offerings and adored by Ford fans worldwide. So, where did the idea for an electric Mustang come from? Market trends are likely, and you need not look any further than big-name manufacturers like Ford and Chevy to see that electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular.
The stigma surrounding electric vehicles carries over from the earliest days on the market, where an electric powertrain meant less than one hundred miles on a charge, and performance was laughable, to put it lightly. Nowadays, electric vehicles have become such a force to be reckoned with that Ford decided it was time to not only introduce electric equivalents of its most popular vehicles, like the F-150 Lightning but also its most legendary performer, the Mustang.
From a business perspective, pushing a legendary vehicle like the Mustang into the realm of electric vehicles is bound to turn heads. Make no mistake; the Mustang Mach-E is in the Mustang family, so Ford pays extra attention to ensure nothing will happen that can damage its beloved brand. This begs the question: does the Mustang Mach-E live up to its Mustang moniker? In some ways, no, but in many ways, yes.
The Turning Tides
It may seem like yesterday when electric vehicles were barely pushing over 100 hp. However, nowadays, they’re such powerhouses that it’s not uncommon to see them outperforming their gasoline-powered counterparts. The 2023 Mustang is available with one of three powertrains, but the most performant of the bunch is the 5.0L V8 engine built into the Mach 1 models. If the Mustang’s performance is partly what makes it so legendary, then the timing must be right if Ford is willing to push the envelope with an electrified model. If performance is not comparable or doesn’t exceed the gasoline-powered Mustang, then fans will call it anything but legendary.
At its best, the gasoline-powered 2023 Mustang outputs 470 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque, which is exceptional. The strongest configuration of the 2023 Mustang Mach-E, which includes the 91 kWh battery in the GT trim, outputs an incredible 480 hp and up to 634 lb-ft of torque. That’s right; the Mustang Mach-E now has the potential to outperform its gasoline-powered equivalent, and that’s a legendary feat. However, many drivers know one of the most noticeable differences between switching from a gasoline-powered vehicle to an electric one is the shift in its transmission. They utilize direct-drive single speed transmissions, which admirably does the job, but will leave something to be desired for old-school fans.
It Comes At A Cost
The Mustang Mach-E, for all of its glory, is quite pricey compared to its gasoline-powered brethren, which could result in a couple of different attitudes from Mustang enthusiasts who have the extra cash. One scenario is the person who purchases the Mach-E is a fan of the Mustang but one who can see the true potential in an electric equivalent and is willing to pay the extra money to get one for themselves.
The other group of Mustang fans who will steer clear of the Mach-E will instead use the extra money to customize their gasoline-powered Mustang by investing in one of the trims like the GT or GT Premium. Is the Mach-E worth it? The answer may be subjective, especially considering the price increase between the gasoline and electric-powered Mustang models, but generally, I’d say yes.
Where Does the Mach-E Go From Here?
A question on many people’s minds is what will happen next? Will Mach-E replace the Mustang entirely one of these years? Even the prospect of that can make the most loyal Ford fan shudder, but the answer isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Simply put, why would they stop making the gasoline-powered Mustang? It’s one of the most legendary vehicles ever to grace the road, and it wouldn’t make any sense for Ford’s business to stop producing them when they’re arguably more popular than ever. So, where does it fit in alongside the Mach-E?
The answer comes down to choice. Manufacturers like Ford may be testing the waters with electric vehicles, but we’ve still got a long time to go before vehicles like the Mach-E and F-150 Lightning completely overtake their gasoline-powered equivalents. Nowadays, it’s all about choice. If a customer isn’t feeling an electric vehicle and instead wants to stick with tried and true gasoline-powered engines, then manufacturers like Ford ensure they’re still valued and provide the best possible product for these drivers. However, whether it’s new fans of the brand or long-time enthusiasts whose interest is piqued by electric vehicles having choices too has proven to be a successful marketing strategy.
So, Is the Mach-E for You?
Electric vehicles are increasingly popular, but they don’t account for every vehicle on the road, at least not yet. Chances are you’ll start to see more Mach-E models on the road, but it’ll be a long time before you begin to see more Mach-E models than traditional Mustangs out in public. At this point, it’s understandable if an electric vehicle doesn’t fit your lifestyle because hundreds of millions of drivers still have yet to take the plunge into the all-electric revolution.
Not every Mustang fan will like the Mach-E, partially because electric vehicles are still fighting an uphill battle against the reputation of poor performance they garnered early on. The Mach-E is powerful enough to start changing this misconception. Ford’s mission to make the Mustang Mach-E a vehicle that lives up to its legendary name is off to a running start. All we have to do now is wait and see where we go next.
