New Mustang Mach-E Rally boasts 480bhp of gravel-spitting fun 

Ford's first trail-bashing Mustang arrives in the UK early next year with Michelin tyres and a raft of rally extras.  

Ford’s original Mustang Mach-E was already stretching the ‘Stang nameplate further than many aficionados were comfortable with – being both electric and an SUV. Now, to add more fuel to the fire, the latest version ventures deeper into territories unknown: rally driving.

So, who and what is it for? Well, as you can see, subtlety isn’t on the Rally’s calling card. We don’t suppose many professors or merchant bankers will be on the order books, but for a certain sort of gregarious, bold individual, the combination of bright yellow paintwork, racing stripes, and white rally-style wheels, is probably just the ticket. 

In terms of purpose, the Rally has been designed to do exactly what it says on the tin: hurl itself down treacherous dirt and gravel tracks like famous WRC (World Rally Championship) Fords of yore. The difference here is that you don’t need a racing license to get behind the wheel.  

Aside from the obvious visual additions, the Mustang Mach-E team — headed by Chief Engineer Donna Dickson — have been busy with the nuts and bolts. The standard suspension has been swapped for special Magneride® springs and shocks that offer 20mm more ride height and greater travel. So the Rally should have no problem tackling sudden crests and jumps.  

To make the most of the limited traction on offer, Ford has chosen to fit the 19-inch gloss white wheels with Michelin Cross Climate 2 in 235/55 R19. As well as a taller sidewall which offers greater shock absorption, the all-season tyres offer fantastic grip across all surfaces in any weather conditions —  with the added bonus of strong on-road performance and efficiency. 

Although outright power isn’t the star of the show here, that hasn’t stopped Ford from tweaking the Mach-E’s already potent motors a little further. Now with 480bhp and an enormous 649lb ft of torque from its dual motor set-up, the Rally has ample oomph to set some scorching times. And to ensure that a rogue rock or branch doesn’t leave you crawling to an undignified halt, thick underbody cladding has been used to protect the most fragile componentry.

Dickson asserts “We have always explored new areas of performance, and the combination of a rally-tuned suspension, dual motor electric powertrain, and wicked styling makes the Mustang Mach‑E Rally a different kind of performance vehicle that will excite customers chasing their next adventure.” 

With no concrete pricing yet, we can only assume that the Rally will be the most expensive model in the Mach-E range. So expect to pay over £75,000 before options. However, if this sounds enticing, you might be interested to hear that other colours are available: Grabber Blue, Shadow Black, Eruption Green, or Star White and Glacier Gray for a little extra cash. What shade would you go for? 

Hero image credit:  Ford