Ford unveils the all-electric Mustang Mach-E 1400
Ford has introduced the Mustang Mach-E 1400, an all-electric muscle car to show just how much performance can be harnessed from a moniker traditionally associated with large engines, without using a drop of fuel. The Mustang Mach-E 1400 comes as an extension of the 1400bhp all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400, and Ford claims its seven electric motors and improved downforce make it ready for the track, drag strip or gymkhana course – anywhere it can show how electric propulsion promises extreme Mustang performance, as demonstrated by the video below.
Developed in collaboration with RTR and built off a Mustang Mach-E GT body-in-white, the Mustang Mach-E 1400 uses many of the same tools Ford uses for its race cars and production programmes. Aerodynamics were optimised for shape and location, with a focus on cooling ducts, front splitter, dive planes and rear wing. The hood is made of organic composite fibres, a lightweight alternative to the carbon fibre that comprises the rest of the vehicle.
Talking about the powertrain, the Mustang Mach-E 1400 uses seven motors, five more than even the Mustang Mach-E GT. Three of these are attached to the front differential and four are attached to the rear in pancake style, with a single driveshaft connecting them to the differentials, which have a huge range of adjustability to set the car up for everything from drifting to high-speed track racing.
The 56.8-kWh battery (installed) is made up of nickel manganese cobalt pouch cells for ultra-high performance and high discharge rate. The battery system is designed to be cooled during charging using a di-electric coolant, decreasing the time needed between runs. Power delivery can be split evenly between front and rear, or completely to one or the other.
Mustang Mach-E 1400 features Brembo brakes, like the Mustang GT4 race car, and a hydraulic handbrake system designed for drifting that integrates with the powertrain controls to enable the ability to shut off power to the rear motors. Additionally, an electronic brake booster is also on offer, allowing series regenerative braking combined with ABS and stability control to optimise the braking system.
As mentioned, the chassis and powertrain are set up to allow the team to investigate different layouts and their effects on energy consumption and performance, including rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. Drift and track setups have completely different front end configurations like control arms and steering changes to allow for extreme steering angles in drifting. Downforce is targeted at more than 1000 kg at 257kmph.
Speaking about the idea behind Ford’s wide-spread push towards performance electric vehicles, Ron Heiser, chief programme engineer, Mustang Mach-E said, “Now is the perfect time to leverage electric technology, learn from it, and apply it to our portfolio. The Mustang Mach-E is going to be fun to drive, just like every other Mustang before it, but the Mustang Mach-E 1400 is completely insane, thanks to the efforts of Ford Performance and RTR.”
Speaking about his experience driving the Mustang Mach-E 1400, Vaughn Gittin Jr, RTR Vehicles founder, motorsports champion said, “Getting behind the wheel of this car has completely changed my perspective on what power and torque can be. This experience is like nothing you’ve ever imagined, except for maybe a magnetic roller coaster.”
“The challenge was controlling the extreme levels of power provided by the seven motors,” said Mark Rushbrook, motorsports director, Ford Performance. “Mustang Mach-E 1400 is a showcase of the art of the possible with an electric vehicle.”
Ford is investing more than $11.5 billion (approx Rs 860 crore) in electric vehicles worldwide, with the Mustang Mach-E 1400 set to debut at a NASCAR race soon, serving as a test bed for new materials. But this is more than just a flash in the motorsports pan, with the first all-electric Mustang Mach-E models for customers set to arrive in Europe by early next year.
