New Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally to debut at Rebelle Rally

As automakers proceed to embrace electrical energy, Ford Motor Firm‘s personal route has taken it into the off-road realm. The 2024-bound Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally is a brand new addition to the Mustang Mach-E sequence that integrates the spirit of Ford’s World Rally Championship challengers, and can race for the primary time on the Rebelle Rally on 12–21 October.

The Mustang Mach-E, a crossover SUV that’s in any other case a cousin within the Ford Mustang household, went on sale in 2020. The Rally mannequin is a variant of the Mach-E GT Efficiency Version, each able to 480 horsepower although the Rally is meant to be quicker and stronger with the intention to run on non-pavement terrain. By comparability, the usual rear-wheel-drive Mach-E generates about 266 or 290 horsepower (the latter if it has an prolonged battery pack) whereas the AWD model tops out at 266 or 346 hp.

The automobile’s battery can run for about 250 miles (402.33 km) on a single cost, although Ford has emphasised that the common every day drive is barely thirty-seven miles (59.54 km).

As an off-road mannequin, it takes heavy inspiration from the Ford Focus RS that competed within the World Rally Championship within the 2000s and on two constructor’s titles. It has a raised suspension of 20 mm with MagneRide shocks and specialty tuned springs, whereas the nineteen-inch alloy wheels use 235/55 R19 Michelin CrossClimate2 tyres. Different rally-inspired parts embrace built-in fog lights within the entrance fascia, a entrance hook for towing and restoration, a Focus-based rear spoiler, and underside defend.

Ford examined the automobile on a brand new purpose-built rally course on the firm’s Michigan Proving Floor, designed by rallycross drivers.

“Mustang Mach-E Rally places Ford’s a long time of ardour for rally championships all over the world proper within the fingers of our clients,” acknowledged Ford CEO Jim Farley. “It takes Mustang the place it hasn’t been earlier than: to gravel and grime roads. Impressed by true driving fans, a driving expertise like by no means earlier than for the pure pleasure of driving.”

Kaleigh Miller and Bailey Campbell will pilot the Mach-E Rally on the Rebelle Rally, competing within the X-Cross class for automobiles with out a two-speed switch case. Miller is a three-time champion of the Rebelle 4×4 class, with victories coming in 2016, 2017, and 2020. Hailing from an off-road racing pedigree, Campbell is an Ultra4 Collection and King of the Hammers veteran who has additionally raced the Baja 1000 and Mint 400 alongside her father Shannon.

Ford has dominated X-Cross with the Ford Bronco because the thrice defending class winners, with Melissa Clark and Chris Benzie claiming the 2022 race. The Bronco additionally competes in 4×4 with 2020 X-Cross winners Shelby Corridor and Penny Dale; the previous’s grandfather Rod Corridor was a Baja 1000 legend whose 1968 race-winning Bronco is without doubt one of the most iconic automobiles in desert racing historical past.

“Ford has entered automobiles within the Rebelle Rally for the final three years and now could be the proper time for an electrical effort,” commented Mach-E lead engineer Donna Dickson. “We’re excited to see Mustang Mach-E Rally tackle 1,500 miles of the superb grime roads, trails, and two tracks of California and Nevada.”

The Rebelle Rally is a regularity race, that means navigation expertise take precedence over setting the quickest time as in conventional rally racing. It’s the first women-only rally raid in the US, whereas comparable occasions exist globally such because the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc in Morocco and the Rally Jameel in Saudi Arabia.