Mustang Mach-E not yet confirmed for New Zealand

The electric Ford Mustang Mach-E may be exciting EV fan’s worldwide, but for New Zealand buyers it has yet to be confirmed.

Ford New Zealand communications manager Tom Clancy says they have not yet had confirmation the vehicle is coming here soon.

“We are as excited as anyone to see it – but we can’t confirm it for New Zealand yet.”

The Mach-E is being built in right-hand drive and pre-orders have opened in the US and Europe. In the United Kingdom, the largest right-hand drive market to get the vehicle, the two-model range opens at the equivalent of NZ$94,100.

That is for the Standard Range model with a 75.7kWh battery and 190kW motors. The Extended Range, with its 98.8kWh battery and 248kW total output, starts at NZ$115,000.

Ford says it’s the first time in 55 years it is expanding the Mustang lineup with the Mach-E SUV joining the sports coupe, convertible and special editions, featuring an all-new infotainment system and connected vehicle technology.

The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition has about 342kW of power and 830Nm of torque over-the air updates.

When it arrives in the US and Europe in late 2020, the Mach-E will be available with standard and extended-range battery options with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive powered by permanent magnet motors.

“The Mustang Mach-E wholeheartedly rejects the notion that electric vehicles are only good at reducing gas consumption,” Ford’s chief product development and purchasing officer Hau Thai-Tang says.

A limited First Edition will be available in extended-range all-wheel drive, with red painted brake calipers, metallic pedal covers, contrasting seat stitching and a scuff plate marked First Edition, deliveries starting in mid-2021.

The Mach-E has Whisper, Engage and Unbridled drives. Features include custom-designed vehicle responsiveness such as sportier steering controls, ambient lighting, sounds tuned for an authentic all-electric experience, and dynamic cluster animations tied to driving behavior.

When the vehicle launches, a new Mach-E 4 all-wheel drive system will be available that can apply torque independently to the front and rear axles to deliver impressive acceleration and improved handling over the rear-wheel drive model.

Making its debut in the Mach-E is the next-generation SYNC communications and entertainment system, using machine learning to quickly learn drivers’ preferences, using a 15.5-inch screen making it easier to access features with touch, swipe and pinch controls.

“Next-generation SYNC actively starts adapting to you as soon as you start using it, quickly learning your preferences and making personalized suggestions,” Ford global director for battery electric vehicles Darren Palmer says.

The Mach-E holds has a drainable front trunk storage unit which customers can pack with ice to keep their favorite beverages cold.

The SUV can seat five adults comfortably and with rear seats down has 1.68 cubic metres of space.

Premium available Bang & Olufsen speakers are integrated across the front like a sound bar. A floating flip-up armrest doubles as a place to store purses or bags.

A panoramic fixed-glass roof has a special glass coating with infrared protection to help the interior stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter, an inner layer protecting against UV rays.

Using Bluetooth, the vehicle can detect customers’ smartphones as they approach, unlocking the Mach-E and allowing them to start driving.

A backup code can be entered on the center touch screen to start and drive the vehicle in the event a phone battery dies.

Ford offers a Ford Connected Charging station that can add about 51km per charging hour on a 240V outlet, based on extended-range, rear-wheel-drive configuration.

The Ford mobile charger included can add about 35km per charging hour on a 240V outlet.

Ford is teaming up with Amazon Home to facilitate easy customer home installation by a licensed electrician.