Will Mach-E GT get OTA updates to make it faster?

[Cartman417]

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

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[Mirak]

Ford says this is coming Q2 2021.

 

[Thor2j]

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

1/4 mile TIME isn't that slow. Somebody just ran a 12.4. The trap speed is abysmal . If they don't fix it I think the GT goes down as a flop.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

Yes. Maybe. Or maybe not. Those who post do not know. Those who know cannot post.

Better to have five hundred repetitive posts than to search, right?

 

[Cartman417]

Yes. Maybe. Or maybe not. Those who post do not know. Those who know cannot post.

Better to have five hundred repetitive posts than to search, right?

I did search smartass hard to find an answer to my question without scrolling thru tons of pages. And there wasn’t a thread asking what I’ve asked.

 

[buzznwood]

I did search smartass hard to find an answer to my question without scrolling thru tons of pages. And there wasn’t a thread asking what I’ve asked.

The only answer to this question is who knows, so far all Ford have done is maintain radio silence on the subject so until we get some serious press reviews and comparisons that point out issues that approach will no doubt continue.

For people on the fence the honest non sugar coated approach is to assume what you see now is what you get, see if it fits your needs and make your purchasing decision based on that reality rather than basing it on the hope that in the future it may get better.

 

[sotek2345]

I posted this in another thread, but there is a video out there showing how the Mach-e performed in police testing. It did not go well. It barely beat out an F150 and a V6 Durango around a track and lost to everything else (Including a V8 Durango) note, this wasn't just acceleration, but a full track lap with average speeds on the 70's.

I expect Ford pulled out all the stops to get good performance on that test, so I would not expect an update to do anything significant for performance.

That said, I am just an average guy and have no access to anything beyond public information, so this is just a guess.

 

[Progress]

Ford has recently announced upgrades to battery use and fast charging because increasing the range and decreasing the time spent fast charging will help sell more cars. Specifically, they were initially very conservative on battery usage to ensure that the warranty guaranteeing 70% of initial battery performance after 8 years was not going to be an issue. Now they have data that they were being overly cautious. They will increase the amount of the 98.8 kWh battery that is available from 88 to 91 kWh. The maximum fast charging rate will be increased above 150 kWh, and the maximum SOC that can be reached by fast charging will be increased from 80% to 90% of maximum. I will make 2 assumptions. Ford's marketing group believes that having faster 1/4 mile time and trap speed will help to sell more cars. Extrapolating from new software allowing quicker and more aggressive fast charging implies that software allowing quicker and more aggressive fast discharging of the battery, i.e. more than 5 seconds of boost, could be around the corner.
However, the GTs and GTPEs have only been out in the real world for about 8 weeks. I think Ford needs to see significantly more data from these vehicles before it makes any changes to the software nannies that limit the maximum acceleration to protect the battery and motors.

 

[chrisGT]

In my opinion the GT has plenty of power and doesn't need more at least for street driving. It is already spinning the wheels when pushed hard and it doesn't put all of its power down as smoothly as possible.
Where it is lacks to be at next level (i.e compete with Porsche instead of Tesla) is

- suspension (i.e. offer MagnaRide as option for all trims)
- it needs wider tires in the back with staggered setup. (But that would hurt range)
- with wide rear tires it can send more power to the rear than the fronts (because now it spins the front wheels which affects steering)
- highway speed range
- faster DC fast charging especially after 80%.

Unfortunately only the last two items can be somewhat improved by a software update.

 

[dkmatter]

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

If a 12.2 et is slow you must think your C450 @ 13.2 is positively Glacial

 

[Mach1E]

In my opinion the GT has plenty of power and doesn't need more at least for street driving. It is already spinning the wheels when pushed hard and it doesn't put all of its power down as smoothly as possible.
Where it is lacks to be at next level (i.e compete with Porsche instead of Tesla) is

- suspension (i.e. offer MagnaRide as option for all trims)
- it needs wider tires in the back with staggered setup. (But that would hurt range)
- with wide rear tires it can send more power to the rear than the fronts (because now it spins the front wheels which affects steering)
- highway speed range
- faster DC fast charging especially after 80%.

Unfortunately only the last two items can be somewhat improved by a software update.

A note about the front vs rear power.

There is no “put more power to the rear” as they are completely separate motors. It’s not like an ICE awd system that can put more power to the front or rear.

And I don’t want less power to the front. Being able to spin the front tires at 30 mph is fun and it’s not even remotely enough wheel spin to be dangerous.

Haven’t messed with unbridled extend, but I imagine the wheel spin isn’t an issue.

 

[Mach1E]

I posted this in another thread, but there is a video out there showing how the Mach-e performed in police testing. It did not go well. It barely beat out an F150 and a V6 Durango around a track and lost to everything else (Including a V8 Durango) note, this wasn't just acceleration, but a full track lap with average speeds on the 70's.

I expect Ford pulled out all the stops to get good performance on that test, so I would not expect an update to do anything significant for performance.

That said, I am just an average guy and have no access to anything beyond public information, so this is just a guess.

I was really disappointed with that police video too.

Then I test drove my GTPE.

Absolutely zero chance a Durango v8 or v6 is even remotely as quick as a GTPE unless it’s a hellcat. And an F150? Hell no. None of those should come anywhere close in terms of handling, braking nor acceleration, even when in conservative unbridled extend. I mean in extend it’s still a full second or more faster on the 1/4 mile.

 

[Caramel]

I was really disappointed with that police video too.

Then I test drove my GTPE.

Absolutely zero chance a Durango v8 or v6 is even remotely as quick as a GTPE unless it’s a hellcat. And an F150? Hell no. None of those should come anywhere close in terms of handling, braking nor acceleration, even when in conservative unbridled extend. I mean in extend it’s still a full second or more faster on the 1/4 mile.

So what do you think was going on in the video?

 

[HuntingPudel]

Sorry I’m not reading thru 500 or more replies for this answer

but do you all think Ford will do some kind of software update to make the GT faster like Tesla does every now and then?
Or are the stuck with a slow 1/4 mile time

The short answer is: Nobody who can talk knows.

We hope there is a bit of help coming, but we don’t know.

 

[Mach1E]

So what do you think was going on in the video?

Bad driver? Crappy tires? Wrong settings? Different tune for police vehicles?

Who knows?

But I can tell you with absolute certainty that the police vehicle in that video is not representative of my GTPE.

Never once has anyone driven a regular F150 or v6 Durango and said, “holy crap, this thing feels faster than our friends 2021 M5 competition.” We all know it isn’t faster, but to even be compared to that car……

“The GTPE feels like our friends v6 Durango…..” said no one ever.

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