RAY MASSEY gets behind wheel Ford’s new electric Mustang

When most people think of a Ford Mustang, they imagine Steve McQueen hurling a gas-guzzling muscle car through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 movie Bullitt. 

The classic ‘pony car’, launched in 1964, swiftly inspired the song Mustang Sally. 

Well, I’ve just tried out Ford’s new Mustang, bravely reborn for the 21st century as a pure-electric SUV, before it hits showrooms. And it’s quirky, fun and drives exceptionally well. 

Fired up: The new, fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at £40,350 for the rear-wheel-drive version

In truth, the Mustang Mach-E should be viewed as a completely new car, designed to take on Elon Musk’s Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y SUV. 

The car I drove was the all-wheel-drive five-door hatchback with extended range. This costs £57,030, though the range starts at £40,350 for the rear-wheel-drive version. At launch, there are five combinations of power and drive, so do your homework: the Government’s £3,000 plug-in grant for electric cars applies only to those costing less than £50,000. 

The smart, comfortable cabin is dominated by a 15.5in touchscreen but there are buttons for traditionalists, including a large central circular volume control. 

I fired up my 351 hp Mustang and galloped off on 19 in wheels (18 in on cheaper models). It has a taut, muscular feel and there are three driving modes: Whisper, Active and Untamed. Each progressively tightens the sinews by adjusting the throttle responses. You can also set it so the car will brake when you take your foot off the accelerator. 

Steering and handling are precise and responses fast, with acceleration from rest to 62mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 111mph. A GT version that will do it in 3.7 seconds is to follow. The all-wheel-drive comes from two electric motors. 

Ford promises 335 miles on the Extended Range model. The range for the rear-wheel-drive version is 379 miles, and it’s 273 miles for the standard range. A 150kW DC charger provides up to 80 per cent charge in 45 minutes; a ten-minute boost will give you an extra 66 miles. 

There is plenty of room in the back for three and generous boot space. 

Designed in Detroit, the Mach-E is built in Mexico and has been tuned for European roads. Would I drive one again? Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

When most people think of a Ford Mustang, they imagine Steve McQueen hurling a gas-guzzling muscle car through the streets of San Francisco in the 1968 movie Bullitt. 

The classic ‘pony car’, launched in 1964, swiftly inspired the song Mustang Sally. 

Well, I’ve just tried out Ford’s new Mustang, bravely reborn for the 21st century as a pure-electric SUV, before it hits showrooms. And it’s quirky, fun and drives exceptionally well. 

Fired up: The new, fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at £40,350 for the rear-wheel-drive version

In truth, the Mustang Mach-E should be viewed as a completely new car, designed to take on Elon Musk’s Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y SUV. 

The car I drove was the all-wheel-drive five-door hatchback with extended range. This costs £57,030, though the range starts at £40,350 for the rear-wheel-drive version. At launch, there are five combinations of power and drive, so do your homework: the Government’s £3,000 plug-in grant for electric cars applies only to those costing less than £50,000. 

The smart, comfortable cabin is dominated by a 15.5in touchscreen but there are buttons for traditionalists, including a large central circular volume control. 

I fired up my 351 hp Mustang and galloped off on 19 in wheels (18 in on cheaper models). It has a taut, muscular feel and there are three driving modes: Whisper, Active and Untamed. Each progressively tightens the sinews by adjusting the throttle responses. You can also set it so the car will brake when you take your foot off the accelerator. 

Steering and handling are precise and responses fast, with acceleration from rest to 62mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 111mph. A GT version that will do it in 3.7 seconds is to follow. The all-wheel-drive comes from two electric motors. 

Ford promises 335 miles on the Extended Range model. The range for the rear-wheel-drive version is 379 miles, and it’s 273 miles for the standard range. A 150kW DC charger provides up to 80 per cent charge in 45 minutes; a ten-minute boost will give you an extra 66 miles. 

There is plenty of room in the back for three and generous boot space. 

Designed in Detroit, the Mach-E is built in Mexico and has been tuned for European roads. Would I drive one again? Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk