Mustang Lithium Concept is a Driver’s EV

Mustang Lithium features 900 horsepower, 1,000 lb-ft of torque, and a manual transmission.

The Ford Mustang is often the most popular display car at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. These modified pony cars are often equipped with high-performance engines that make as much noise as they do power. However, with the growing popularity of performance-minded electric vehicles, the Motor Company teamed up with Webasto to create an all-electric Mustang that will appeal to people who love to drive.

Mustang Lithium

Ford currently works with Webasto in the production of its electric vehicle lineup. The Mustang Lithium Concept showcases the partnership. This is a concept car designed to show “what if”, so electric vehicle lovers shouldn’t start pestering their local Ford dealerships about this car just yet.

Realistically, Webasto could have installed a long list of current production components from other Ford vehicles, made some tuning changes and had a fun-to-drive, all-electric Mustang. Instead, the electric propulsion experts went all out, creating a car that offers insane levels of power while maintaining the look and feel of the modern pony car.

Best of all, this all-electric Ford Mustang Lithium Concept features a manual transmission, so it offers the thrill of banging through gears while exercising over 900 horsepower.

All-Electric Drive

An 800-volt all-electric drive system motivates the Mustang Lithium Concept. Unlike many modern EVs, which have the motors located at the drive axle, this concept car has the motor mounted at the front of the car.

The Lithium Concept uses a pair of power inverters and a dual-core electric motor. This pairing provides more than 900 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. That power gets to the rear wheels by means of a Ben Calimer Stage 3 MT-82 six-speed transmission, a Torsen rear differential, and high-strength half-shafts.

The power delivery is surely very different from that of a gasoline engine with 900 horsepower. In terms of the weight distribution we would imagine that the Lithium feels much like any other performance car. That would also be true with the manual transmission. The key difference is that this pony car is silent when it runs.

There were no weight numbers available, but even if the Webasto electric drive system adds some weight, the Mustang Lithium Concept has to be incredibly quick at the drag strip. If the car can get traction with 1,000 lb-ft of electric torque, it should easily be a 9-second car.

Proper SEMA Show Items

Had Webasto taken a basic Mustang GT and installed their 900-horsepower electric drive system, the Lithium Concept would have been impressive. The problem is that at SEMA, just about everything is impressive. With hundreds of cars on display, it can be hard to grab people’s attention.

To address that, the Mustang Lithium Concept has a custom livery with electric circuitry on the hood. It also has a carbon fiber chin spoiler with the Lithium logo stamped into it as well as custom Forgeline wheels and uniquely branded Shelby GT350R front brake calipers.

More carbon fiber trim works with the lowering kit to help this Mustang drew spectators at the SEMA Show. The Lithium Concept looks good enough to be included in the show with a supercharged V8. There is no question that a 900-horsepower electric drive system is more interesting.

This concept car shows that a high-performance sports car with a manual transmission and all-electric power is possible. It would probably cost a great deal to build, but this is an EV Mustang that drivers could love.

Photos: Patrick Rall for MustangForums

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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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