Testing of the Mustang Mach-E Rally: Getting Down and Dirty
The Mustang Mach-E Rally is a testament to innovation, passion, and the relentless pursuit of performance. It all started as an idea tossed around in an engineering breakroom, and it has evolved into a high-performance, rally-inspired vehicle that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the automotive world.
Conception and Development
The journey of the Mustang Mach-E Rally began with a simple question: “Can we make a rally-inspired version of the Mustang Mach-E?” This question set the wheels in motion for product planners Peter Schultz and Craig Migliori, who took on the challenge with unwavering determination. They started by taking a hand-me-down Mach-E GT, adding off-road tires and wheels, and putting it to the test at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds. The resounding success of this initial test paved the way for further development.
Engineering Marvel
The Mustang Mach-E Rally is not just about looks; it boasts real rallycross-inspired capability. With a 1-inch lift from normal Mustang Mach-E GT suspension height, RallyCross-tuned shocks and springs, gloss-white 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin CrossClimate2 rubber, and underbody shielding, this vehicle is designed to tackle uneven and rough terrain with ease. The team also incorporated contrasting accents, including upper and lower body moldings, a front splitter, and a rear spoiler, as well as built-in rally-inspired fog lights, to highlight its high-performance personality.
Rallycross Testing and Validation
To ensure that the Mustang Mach-E Rally could truly handle rallycross driving, Ford’s off-road attributes engineer, Chris Berchin, and vehicle engineering supervisor, Jay Kistler, led the way. Extensive drive testing, informed by the rallycross experience of the Ford team, included a rigorous 500-combined mile torture test at Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds. The team tested the vehicle in various weather scenarios and temperatures, with conditions ranging from muddy to dry, to simulate the challenges of rallycross racing.
Course Development and Validation
The Mustang Mach-E Rally wouldn’t be complete without a purpose-built rallycross testing course. Before construction began, the team attended rallycross events and interviewed drivers to ensure that the course was a true analog of real rallycross racing environments. Ford’s engineers completed a full computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis of the course, mapping elevation, expected speeds, timing, and more to ensure that the course was truly representative of rallycross racing environments.
Recognition and Validation
The in-house development of both the vehicle and the testing course not only helped keep costs and development time down but also aided in the secrecy of the Mustang Mach-E Rally project. The team’s success was recognized with a Vehicle Engineering Validation award from Ford, celebrating the project’s success, which was designed and realized entirely in-house.
Performance and Capability
The Mustang Mach-E Rally boasts a modified powertrain calibration, traction control, and MagneRide suspension that are tuned for dirt-track and rallycross capability. The raised suspension ensures top-tier dirt-track and rallycross performance, while the RallySport drive mode, designed for dirt-track driving, unlocks the vehicle’s full capability for dirt roads without compromising on-road behavior.
Kenny Ross Ford
The journey of the Mustang Mach-E Rally, from a simple idea to a high-performance reality, is a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and engineering excellence. This rally-inspired vehicle is set to make its mark on dirt tracks and in the hands of customers, showcasing the relentless pursuit of performance and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the automotive world. Stop by Kenny Ross Ford to discover more about this amazing vehicle.