L.A. Auto Show 2019: Mach-E Introduces a New Era of Mustang

Mustang Mach-E could be Ford’s performance car of the future, even with some hating the name.

The introduction of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E is the biggest news at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. Really, the all-electric SUV could be the biggest news and the American automotive world this year. This vehicle is the first legitimate challenger to the Tesla brand from a mainstream automaker. It is also the first four-door or sport utility vehicle to wear the Mustang name.

Members of the Mustang enthusiast world are outraged by the use of the legendary pony car’s name on an electric SUV, a concern Ford is already trying to address. Aside from that, there isn’t much negative to say about the Mach E.

Mustang Mach-E in Los Angeles

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E made its global debut on Sunday, November 17. The Los Angeles Auto Show opened to the media the next day and the Mach-E is the star of Ford’s show. The general public will get to meet the Mach-E on Friday when the show officially begins. There are two examples of the all-electric SUV on display. One is the Grabber Blue Metallic Mach-E GT and the other is a white Mach E Premium.

Mach-E Premium

The Premium is a volume model with lots of options. You can get rear or all-wheel-drive. You can get standard range or extended range, which leads to differing power levels. Standard range offers 255 horsepower while the extended range models offer 282 or 332 horsepower. The all-wheel-drive models pack the most power.

Most importantly, the Mach E Premium is one of the first two models that will reach dealerships during the 2020 calendar year. It is also the more affordable of the initial packages, with an MSRP starting just over $50,000.

Mach-E GT

The second Mach E on display in Los Angeles is the one that will appeal the most to Mustang lovers who want big performance. This is, of course, the Mustang Mach E GT.

The Mach-E GT is powered by an all-wheel-drive, all-electric power plant that is expected to deliver around 459 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque. Those power numbers should yield 0 to 60 numbers in the three-second range. This makes the Mach-E GT one of the quickest production vehicles that Ford has ever produced.

In addition to having all of that power and incredible acceleration numbers, the Mach-E GT is expected to have a range of 235 miles. This package also includes a sportier front fascia and unique 20-inch wheels.

Key Details of the GT

It should be noted that the wheels on the Mach-E GT in our pictures are not listed on the Ford website, but they will be available when this performance model goes on sale in 2021. Also, the Grabber Blue Metallic paint is only available with the GT trim level. If you see a new Mustang Mach-E that looks like this one on the streets in a few years, it is capable of sprinting to 60 miles per hour quicker than almost any other production car on sale in the United States.

Again, some folks hate the fact that Ford has used the Mustang name on this all-electric SUV. If you put that criticism aside, the Mach E looks like it could be one of the most engaging electric vehicles on the market. The range is more than enough for the average daily driver, the performance numbers are impressive and the MSRP is a fraction of what you will pay for a similar Tesla.

In our opinion, if Ford had simply called this SUV the Mach-E, there wouldn’t be anywhere near as much negativity over the name. Then again, all of the discussion over the name is getting this new electric SUV a ton of attention.

Photos for MustangForums by Michael S. Palmer

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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