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EARLY MUSTANG MACH-E DESIGNS DEPICT AN UGLY HORSE

The Final Design Is Much More Sophisticated Looking

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Design Early

With the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E starting to make its way into customer’s hands and reviews already circulating across the internet. It’s good to take a minute and reflect on what could have been. Or, more accurately, what thankfully wasn’t.

Before the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E ended up landing under the Mustang banner it was an ugly looking concept that most of Ford’s leadership group was convinced would never sell. It was like a very sharp and mishappen egg, with a roofline that was too tall relative to everything else, and a face that no one could love.

According to The Detroit Free Press, the project got underway in May 2017 even though the basis of the platform had already been in development for some time. Originally the EV platform was simply intended to help the rest of Ford’s lineup meet the stringent government-mandated fuel economy targets that we all know and loathe, but ugly is ugly and you can’t sell ugly, even ironically.

Even though Jim Farley hadn’t ascended to CEO yet he immediately knew the original design was worthy of snuffing out.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium EV Electric SUV
Photo credit Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.

“When I first saw it I said, ‘Oh, boy. Houston, we have a problem.'” Thankfully, the then-CEO, Jim Hacket, gave Farley permission to send the engineers and their science project back to the CAD screen.

Farley has been credited by other Ford executives the pioneer that pushed for the EV to live under the Mustang umbrella. Apparently design concepts ranging from lots to little Mustang influence were created until a happy medium was found, resulting in the vehicle we know today as the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Farley also helped finalize the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport design.

The final form was unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, where it was billed as an all-electric “crossover”, but in reality it should really be thought of as a hot-hatch Mustang (no, I’m not talking about Foxbodies).

Thankfully, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E represents much more than compliance with government regulation. Ford’s decision to place the Mach-E under the wing of its single most iconic vehicle just goes to show how serious the brand intends to take electrification moving forward.

– By Michael Accardi

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Photo credit Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.

Written by MC&T Staff

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