Mustang Mach-E GT the pick

FORD Australia’s first electric passenger car – the new Mustang Mach-E SUV – is expected to appeal to buyers who are after the performance as befits the iconic badge.

The new fully electric, two-tonne-plus crossover SUV might not resemble the V8 coupe it shares a name with, but the expensive performance version of Mach-E is the model most customers have already put their money down on.

Ford Australia Icons product manager, Myles Hartley, said that the high-spec, $107,665 (MSRP) Ford Mustang Mach-E GT model is where the majority of early orders have landed.

“We've got hundreds of orders and thousands of expressions of interest,” said Mr Hartley. “Initially like most launches, the high series is really successful to start with – about 40 per cent at the moment. We expect that to kind of peter out over time as the product comes to market. But 40 per cent to the GT, initially.”

The GT is the only version of the Mustang Mach-E range with all-wheel drive, courtesy of a twin-motor setup that pumps a huge 358kW and 830Nm to all four wheels, with the 91kWh battery pack offering a claimed 490km of WLTP-rated driving range.

There is also a rear-wheel drive model with the same large-capacity battery, the Premium grade ($91,665 MSRP), which has a huge 600km of EV range on the WLTP test cycle.

These two models with the 91kWh NCM battery are expected to account for the majority of sales, with the entry-level Select (72kWh LFP battery, 470km WLTP range, $79,990 MSRP price tag) the other option available.

And unlike some other new EVs on sale in Australia that compete with the Mach-E – namely the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 – Ford Australia says there is ample supply on offer for the new EV SUV.

“Supply is really good – we’ve got a number of boats coming through this year. Definitely enough to meet the initial orders that we’ve seen,” said Mr Hartley.

Ford Australia’s team told GoAuto that it feels “comfortable” with the supply it has, and that there will be no need to host lotteries or ballots to determine who gets their car first.

All three models have AC charging capacity of 10.5kW, and DC fast-charging rated at 150kW. That, according to Ford Australia, results in a recharge time of 32 minutes on DC for the 72kWh Select, and 45 mins for the 91kWh battery in the Premium and GT grades. All variants come standard with a Level 2 Mode 3 cable, and the charging port is a Type 2 CCS combination type.

The Mustang Mach-E is going to be fighting for market share against similarly-sized EV crossover SUV models like the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The more traditional petrol-powered Mustang coupe and convertible will also hit Ford Australia showrooms in the first quarter of 2024.