Ford confirms it will bring the electric Mustang Mach-E to Australia

Australian fans of V8 muscle cars are in for a shock as Ford and Daniel Ricciardo reveal the Blue Oval’s newest arrival Down Under.

Ford has delivered an electric shock to its loyal V8 fans by unveiling a four-door Mustang EV ahead of this week’s Melbourne Grand Prix.

Aussie F1 star Dan Ricciardo pulled the covers off the electric Mach-E Mustang SUV at the Albert Park Circuit this afternoon.

Ford has confirmed it will sell the Mustang Mach-E in Australia.

For many diehards the thought of a four-door SUV with the legendary pony on the grille is sacrilege but anyone who likes fast cars is going to love the electric Mustang.

The plug-in Mustang Mach-E GT completes the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 3.7 seconds, almost a second quicker than the two-door sports car.

That time is only two-tenths slower than the Mustang Supercar that will race on the support card at this week’s Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo with the new Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Ricciardo was full of praise for the car, which he drove in the United States.

“The badge is iconic. Growing up around cars and having an affection for all cars, that’s something you’ll never forget.

“It’s still got a lot of the character that the old-school Mustangs have. It still got the grunt and fell of a muscular car but it’s much more polished. It’s quite nimble. It brakes really well. It doesn’t feel like a big car and I think they’ve packaged it really well,” he said.

The Mustang will compete with Tesla’s Model Y, which was the country’s top-selling electric SUV last year.

It’s a four-door electric SUV - a far cry from the two-door V8 Mustangs of the past.

Ford hasn’t yet announced prices, but the cheapest Mach-E is likely to cost more than $75,000 while the top-spec GT will probably run to six figures.

The relative high prices of EVs has failed to dampen buyer enthusiasm for the emerging technology. In the first two months of this year Tesla’s Model 3 was the top-selling passenger vehicle in the country, outselling popular models such as the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4.

The GT’s large 91kWh battery is expected to deliver about 490 kilometres of range, while a less powerful long-range version of the Mustang SUV should deliver close to 600km between charges.

The cabin has a hi-tech vibe.

Built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, the Mustang Mach-E shares few parts with the traditional Mustang sports car, which will arrive here towards the end of the year.

The Mustang is one of five electrified vehicles planned for Ford showrooms by the end of next year. The brand will release an electric version of its Transit van in April before the Mustang arrives towards the end of the year.

Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic said that despite the lack of a familiar V8 roar from the exhaust, the Mach-E would “put a smile on customers’ faces”.

“We know Australians love the feeling of driving a performance car and the Mach-E will mean they can enjoy that iconic Mustang freedom with all the benefits that an EV offers,” he said.

Ford will begin taking reservations for the first electric Mustangs soon.

It’ll leave V8 Mustangs in the rear view mirror.

DRIVING THE MUSTANG MACH-E

On the surface, the Mustang Mach-E is the antithesis of the iconic muscle car that has been a favourite of enthusiasts for almost six decades; it weighs more than two tonnes, makes no noise and looks like an SUV.

Ford argues there is Mustang DNA in the Mach-E, from its long hood and coupe-like silhouette to its muscular haunches and trademark tri-bar tail-lamps.

That’s up for debate but one thing is undeniable.

Electric motors provide potent performance.

The Mach-E leaves the traditional V8 Mustang in its wake in the traffic-light Grand Prix.

Ford claims the all-wheel-drive Mustang GT will reach 100km/h in a blistering 3.7 seconds and by the seat of the pants it feels every bit that quick. There’s an instant rush of torque when you hit the accelerator and it continues uninterrupted until you reach the legal limit.

The top-spec GT Performance model has adaptive suspension, which does a reasonable job of soaking up bumps and carving corners.

Less expensive models with standard suspension struggle to strike a good balance between comfort and cornering ability, taking a moment to settle after bigger bumps and thudding over road joins.

The car feels well planted when asked to change direction, thanks to plenty of weight low down between the axles. The steering is accurate, while the grip is impressive.

In short, fans trading in their petrol Mustang for the EV version are unlikely to be disappointed.

Originally published as Ford confirms it will bring the electric Mustang Mach-E to Australia