Fords new EV,

[NS1]

I am curious what folks are saying on the other side of the pond, if anything.
Being as its not a Mustang world over yonder, but Mustang is a big deal here in the car world.
Mostly due to its history, heritage and maybe even future legacy.

Ford has taken the Mustang and attached it not only to an EV
but an SUV EV. So in foul swoop, they have built and EV, SUV and a 4 door
and Named it a Mustang. Causing a fairly big ripple in the car world.

Here is the release for those interested.
https://www.mustang6g.com/first-official-video-look-at-mustang-mach-e-and-watch-live-stream-world-debut/

Because this is not a car forum and equally important not a huge car group, what are your thoughts?
Has it even made any news in Europe? or other parts of the world?
If so, does anyone care its called a Mustang?

For me this is bit of a fishing expedition

[andrewfi]

When I read about it my first thought was about the brand and the brand image. It seems risky to extend the brand to cover two new vehicle classes. I mean, I know what a Mustang WAS, but the new Mustang isn't a Mustang anymore. I bet there will be many people who will reject the Mustang brand for that reason but then there will be people who are not Mustang people who might want to have a Mustang on their drive even if the cognoscenti know that it isn't really one at all.

Always in such cases, there's a gamble, will more people reject the brand extension than are willing to buy into it?

[Manny]

Always in such cases, there's a gamble, will more people reject the brand extension than are willing to buy into it?

Bentley did similar with the Bentayga. It didn't seem to hurt the brand.

[msmoby]

Didn't know until NS1 posted..I have never been a muscle car fan.

It hasn't raised a ripple this side of the pond.

News that the UK will not be gaining new EV car plants is...

[andrewfi]

As I wrote it is always a gamble. Of course, Ford will have researched the shit out of it, but research can mislead.

So, what might work with one type of buyer group might not work with another and, I am sure that Bentley buyers are rarely Mustang or Ford buyers.

[Chris]

There's been quite a bit about this in the EV community since the recent press release over here. AKA leak!

Can't add too much at the moment as I am lying on a beach on the Red Sea, but even the yanks are not very complimentary about it early days. (Build quality etc) bold move by Ford, however!

Prices in the UK £40k to £60k at launch it is claimed, so competes favouribly with some of the current mid quality/price EVs on the market

[redroo]

It's been pretty big news in Oz, since the Mustang is the biggest selling v8 we have left since we stopped local manufacture of cars.
Electric cars are not subsidised in Australia, so are listed at full manufacturing cost......consequently they don't sell in any numbers.
Having driven a Tesla I was in awe of the acceleration, so I am guessing Ford thinks they can convince some customers this is the "sports car" of the future , and leverage off the brand name that we all know and love

[msmoby]

Can't add too much at the moment as I am lying on a beach on the Red Sea,  EVs on the market

Now THERE's a thread in the making ...    Israel, Jordan, Egypt ?  ( Can't see it being Djibouti or Saudi !)

Tell us more, later

[andrewfi]

Redroo, that's exactly it! But does the brand heritage stretch to a new vehicle type and a new body style?

Why would a Mustang buyer want one of these?
This article makes the same point, after all, it is an obvious one to make.
It might be an easier sell in Europe than the USA though. But the cost is likely to be a lot higher than the prices shown when sold in European markets.

One thing though, since when was it sufficient for a sports car merely to be fast in order to be a sports car? Most classic sports cars are not necessarily fast, it's about handling and style. An SUV ain't a sports car! I understand why they go SUV - they're great for old people, they are great for packaging batteries and they have perceived safety benefits for bad drivers.
But since when was a Mustang a sports car? It isn't so maybe a fast SUV will fool enough USAians that this new version maintains its heritage.

[msmoby]

Most classic sports cars are not necessarily fast, it's about handling and style. An SUV ain't a sports car! I understand why they go SUV - they're great for old people, they are great for packaging batteries and they have perceived safety benefits for bad drivers.
But since when was a Mustang a sports car? It isn't so maybe a fast SUV will fool enough USAians that this new version maintains its heritage.

And yet ANOTHER thread where andrewfi entertains us with his 'knowledge' ..

The E-types, Mustangs , etc were Fast ( compared to other road legal cars of the time ) and deemed Sports cars by most ....

[Chris]

Can't add too much at the moment as I am lying on a beach on the Red Sea,  EVs on the market

Now THERE's a thread in the making ...    Israel, Jordan, Egypt ?  ( Can't see it being Djibouti or Saudi !)

Tell us more, later

Well yesterday we were on the Giftun Islands, about 20 miles or so off the Egyptian coast out in the Red Sea only accessible by boat, but now we are at  a rather nice 5 star hotel in Makadi Bay, Egypt. Second time this year we have been here, fabulous diving and snorkelling in the Red Sea, about 28C today with just slightly less sea/water temperatures. Much warmer than when we left the UK about 10 days ago. 

[andrewfi]

Moby, calling a coupe such as a Mustang a sports car was a marketing move. Obviously the marketing men's tactic worked - you were fooled by it.

The term has been devalued over the years to serve people like you who know nothing about almost everything.

A sports car is a small car designed to emphasise handling, it might be fast but does not have to be, and when it is fast it is usually due to the low weight of the vehicle. Very often a sports car has a folding roof to enjoy open-air driving to enhance the driving sensation. That's NOT an SUV, not is it a Mustang.

[NS1]

Most Mustangs are considered muscle cars, because of the design a capabilities.
Sports car typically defines the ability to handle, some have high HP some don't.
My Particular Mustang is considered a sports car, because of how it was built and designed
to perform quite a bit different previous Mustangs.
All that said, were getting off point.

I am trying to gauge two things.
One does the non car folks here know or care about the EV fords Built?
and the fact they named it a Mustang?

I understand the history of the mustang in the car world of North America.
I also realize there are pockets all over the world that understand the car
and it's history.

Not every person here understands or cares but a large portion of the population
at least understand it has a history. Almost all in car forums and circles
Ford making and EV / SUV and naming it a Mustang is at the least a joke
and to those who loves these car an insult.

I still think it will have to be released and sold to see how it affects the Mustang world
or Ford as a brand, most believe at the least a huge gamble.

Ford has invested a 11 billion dollars in to their EV program so far and realize its the future.
I think most people understand this also. Side fact Ford stock is down 1% afters its announcement,
so the release of this EV has had no positive or major impact on stock yet.

[d672]

 I prefer this Mustang EV