Inside Ford's Intensive Mustang Mach-E Rally Testing & Development

[DesignMatters]

“
To answer that question, they took a hand-me-down Mach-E GT, added some wheels and off-road tires, and headed up to Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds to see if it could handle some laps in the dirt.

Their verdict? A resounding yes.
“

When they lie to us, we don’t trust them.

This is as bad as the original GT video “so fast it made me sick.”

We know you can’t take a 2022 Mach E GT, change the wheels and tires, and “handle some laps.”

The power reduction means after the first lap you would slow to a crawl. Or you could be “slow all the time” with unbridle extend.

No chance any driver would take that car around a track and give a “resounding yes.”

We do know they fixed the 1/4 mile problem for 2024. Will be interesting to see how a 2024 GT and Rally “handle some laps.”

Somebody has never worked big corporate. ?

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[User100723]

GT wheels ?

Thanks for the confirmation!

Great, this looks like a model that’s not available for order, as I see neither those wheels nor that paint color as options on the Rally’s build configurator.
Unless I’m missing something, this looks like a case of FE Grabber Blue.

 

[smunro622]

Or the software developing new features, or a test plan for OTA consistently? Ford misses that the Mach E is software which the big 3 suck at.

 

[Electric Goat]

Somebody has never worked big corporate. ?

This still isn't an excuse for Ford. The Mach-E is literally a 95% perfect SUV. Unfortunately they got 5% of the car really really wrong. This vehicle could have been a top-tier flagship performance EV but they really dropped the ball on the performance aspect of the vehicle. This could have come down to 1 or 2 people that really shouldn't have been on the MME development team.

 

[spgordon57]

any pics of Ford testing the HVBJB?

Great question. Since I had mine replaced my one-pedal driving feature almost always cut out while driving - incredibly unsafe when you’re not used to using the brake. Can’t use it now. Any software fix in sight? Ridiculous

 

[spgordon57]

This still isn't an excuse for Ford. The Mach-E is literally a 95% perfect SUV. Unfortunately they got 5% of the car really really wrong. This vehicle could have been a top-tier flagship performance EV but they really dropped the ball on the performance aspect of the vehicle. This could have come down to 1 or 2 people that really shouldn't have been on the MME development team.

Glitchy Software continues to be a problem, more so than driving performance which is fine for most buyers.

 

[Stu H]

Stock Mach-E has about 5.7" of ground clearance before the 1" lift with the Rally. This factory WRC car from Subaru has 5.5" of ground clearance...

Most rally races are on fairly smooth dirt roads so a lot of clearance and suspension travel are not necessary...

Having driven a WRX on events, the front air damage on it is a bit too low (and expensive to replace).

 

[Stu H]

Having driven a WRX on events, the front air damage on it is a bit too low (and expensive to replace).

Error. Air dam...

 

[blkadr08]

Glad to not read anything about testing via a simulator like with 2021 models. Just imagine where we'd be if ford put that much effort into the 2021 GT & GTPE from the very beginning.

500 miles of testing is better than nothing, meanwhile Porsche claims to have logged 3 million miles of testing for their new 911 hybrid.

So, a Brain twister math problem: How long does it take to complete 500 miles of testing in 5 second increments?

 

[Snakebitten]

???

But honestly, off-road might be a much better environment for the HVJB than the billiard smooth tarmac on sticky tires.

I raced IMCA Modifieds in my younger days. Saturday Night Dirt Ovals.

There was no reason to throw money at exotic horsepower because you were not going to "get it to the ground", so to speak.
I can easily imagine how much less than WOT I would be at while trying to hook-up in my Mach-E on gravel/dirt/mud.

And I gotta admit it sounds like a hoot!

 

[HuntingPudel]

Great question. Since I had mine replaced my one-pedal driving feature almost always cut out while driving - incredibly unsafe when you’re not used to using the brake. Can’t use it now. Any software fix in sight? Ridiculous

The software that fixes that has been in FDRS for about 2 weeks. ??

 

[HuntingPudel]

So, a Brain twister math problem: How long does it take to complete 500 miles of testing in 5 second increments?

500 miles over the last year. So it’s obviously a year to go 500 miles! ??

 

[Gil McC]

Once again the car has to go in for "diagnostics" to verify the malfunction" even though the online history verified by the technician I spoke with at Landmark Ford in Tigard Oregon confirmed there is a code for a 1 pedal driving error mode is in their database!

I'm not using the 1 pedal mode due to the VERY scary near misses, (twice) when the system shut off unexpectedly.

Why the Tech couldn't find the TSB or whatever it is that addresses the problem is not acceptable!

Ford you need to do better than this!

Case Number: CXH02184998

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