The trail-ready Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally has been launched in the UK, priced from £76,790.
It arrives as a £2250 option pack for the existing Mach-E GT, packing 480bhp and a muscular 649lb ft of torque. Added to that is a suite of off-road chassis upgrades, including new springs that bring a 20mm increase in ride height, and specially tuned MagneRide dampers.
The Rally comes with its own Rally Sport driving mode, which gives a linear throttle response for improved acceleration control, more aggressive damping and improved traction on slippery surfaces. It also adapts the traction and stability control systems "to allow bigger slides".
Underneath, the 91kWh battery and electric motors are shielded from rocks and bumps by thick underbody plating, and Ford has coated the body cladding with a protective spray to reduce the risk of chips and scrapes. A tow hook is integrated into the front bumper too.
Ford says the Mach-E Rally's bespoke styling was inspired in part by the legendary Ford Focus RS hot hatch, in particular the "dramatic" rear spoiler.
Other unique elements include the contrasting body trim, beefy front splitter, black roof panel, rally-style foglights and racing stripes.
The interior is more subtly differentiated from the Mach-E GT, with bespoke elements limited to white accents throughout to match the wheels, Mach-E Rally badging and sports seats.
Darren Palmer, head of Ford's EV programmes, told Autocar the original idea for the Rally came from a rallycross enthusiast in Ford's Always On team – created to constantly monitor feedback from customers and social media, which informs the development of over-the-air software updates and model line additions.
Palmer said: "One of them does rallycross and he seeded the idea: 'Hey, we have heritage in this car. What if we do a rallycross version, because it fits with what we've done in the past?'
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April 1st already? Where did Christmas go?
I cant see this going rallying. Where are you going to plug the thing in atthe end of a stage at a service point in a forest for gods sake and do you then expect all the other competitors to wait to enter the next stage while you charge up?
Rallycross maybe where you may have an hour between races and short 4-5 lap races.
I dont think this will save Ford with their current issues, but I would so like to see Ford tap into their sporting heritage rather than constantly trying to push the brand into Premium.
As an example Vignale....that went well didnt it. We all predicted it to be a disaster....but Ford couldnt see it!
I'd have thought that, if your into rallying, you'd build it out of an older car?, spending £80K on a new rally car and then thrashing it along gravel rock strewn roads and through dirty water would cost you more fixing all the dents and scratches.