Ford saw a tremendous Mustang Mach-E sales boost after lowering prices earlier this year, and the new Rally model could further help its cause. The Blue Oval recently showed its testing process for the electric SUV, saying that it specially built a dirt testing track at its Michigan Proving Grounds to torture test the Rally.
Ford engineers used computer-aided analysis to design the course, which is aimed at recreating rallycross conditions. The automaker said its 500-mile combined testing procedures retreated ten years of monthly rallycross racing, using sensors to monitor vehicle conditions and performance.
The Mach-E Rally gets a one-inch lift over the standard vehicle and brings white 19-inch wheels with Michelin tires. It features skid plates and body cladding to protect against rock chips, and Ford installed rally-inspired fog lights in the grille. Mach-E GT power means 480 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, and MagneRide suspension comes standard. The Rally offers a 265-mile range, a 3.4-second 0-60 mph time, and a $60,000 starting price.
Though it has been eclipsed by newer, more desirable electric models since its debut, Ford has continued tinkering with the Mach-E to keep it competitive. The Mach-E Rally is expensive, but it hits the nerve of the “safari everything” craze that has taken over Porsche circles and other enthusiast groups.
[Image: Ford]
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