If maximum efficiency is what you’re after when shopping for a Ford Mustang Mach-E, you’ll want the California Route 1 as it aims to deliver an EPA-estimated 305 miles (491 kilometers) of range. It combines the extended-range battery with the lighter rear-wheel-drive setup while offering 290 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Should you want an even longer range, it’s perhaps best to wait for the 2022 model year.
During an interview with EV expert Sandy Munro, Ford Mustang Mach-E chief engineer Donna Dickson revealed subsequent model years of the electric SUV will extend the range beyond the 305-mile mark. She’s promising a “year-over-year improvement,” with changes planned for 2022MY as well as for the following 2023MY and even for 2024MY.
How will Ford’s engineers squeeze more range from the Mustang Mach-E? Donna Dickson says they’re finding ways to shave off some of the excess weight and are always looking for ways to improve battery efficiency.
From 211 to 305 miles of range “are the numbers where we’re at,” but the electric SUV’s top engineer says these will improve with model year revisions. She went on to say the automatic transmission parking pawl will be removed, and so will one of the two motor cooling pumps.
Not only that, but the Mustang Mach-E will also ditch the heavy rubber hoses in favor of lighter and thinner plastic lines. The current variant of the zero-emissions SUV makes use of two coolant reservoirs, but the plan is to merge them into a single unit. Aside from removing some weight, these small tweaks will also lead to lower production costs for the Blue Oval.
In related news, Ford has finally kicked off customer deliveries of the range-topping GT version, offering 480 hp from its dual-motor setup enabling a sprint to 60 mph in just three and a half seconds. For the sake of comparison, the thrifty California Route 1 needs 6.1 seconds to complete the same task. Since this hot version prioritizes performance over efficiency, the maximum range drops down to 270 miles for the GT and an even lower 260 miles for the GT Performance Edition.
Source: Munro Live / YouTube
