Recap: Ford Reinvents the Mustang — But Does It Deserve the Pony Badge?
It takes a certain kind of madness or courage to revolutionize an iconic brand.
Ford did just that with the Mustang – the classic muscle car reinvented as a standalone electric vehicle, combining breathtaking performance with practicality and everyday usability.
Surely the idea of turning a super coupe into a crossover SUV is going too far?
Well, Alfa Romeo did just that with the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, Lamborghini with the Urus, and just recently Ferrari jumped on the bandwagon with the introduction of the Purosangue.
It seems our love affair with the SUV knows no bounds and the tinkerers at the Blue Oval Badge have truly made a choice to “go big or go home”.
At 4.7 meters long, this little pony is far from it, and would rival the now-defunct Edge, which has a wheelbase of 2,972mm.
It looks every inch like the Mud Plugger – it sits on 20-inch rims, further complemented by a thick rubber trim that runs from the diffuser at the rear around the wheel arches to the front fascia.
Distinctive LED headlights hint at its Mustang DNA, as does the galloping horse on the solid front grille, massive hood with sharp creases and bulging haunches.
From the rear, it’s a similar affair with signature tri-bar taillights and deep roof spoiler.
Get in with the push of a button on the door pillar – there are no handles – or by phone recognition or with a unique PIN number and you will be amazed.
The only thing known is the logo embedded in the steering, the rest of the cabin comes straight from Ford’s premium division.
Luxurious soft leather seats welcome passengers into the sumptuous cabin, which is bathed in natural light thanks to the panoramic glass roof.
The real talking point is the 15.5-inch iPad-like screen in the center console, which houses the latest Sync4 technology, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for music, phone and a host of apps.
The graphics are crystal clear and easy to navigate, and since the selection menu is at the bottom, sunlight never obstructs your view.
The system is standard across the range, as are the heated seats, heated steering (a godsend during the last icy snap) and color rear camera.
The boot is also a decent size, thanks to the battery running flat on the floor, and can swallow 402 liters of luggage, which expands to 1,420 liters with the seats folded flat.
There’s also an additional 81 liters in the frunk (front trunk) with no engine.
Irish customers can choose from standard range (400km), extended range (610km), 4WD versions and a stunning GT model.
The entry-level Mach-e is powered by a single motor attached to the rear axle and connected to a 70kWh battery that produces 266hp.
We tested the AWD model with the larger 91kWh battery pack with the same grunt, but the added weight of the extra motor at the front had little or no impact on performance.
As with all high-performance single-speed electric vehicles, the power is instantaneous and unrelenting, propelling this nearly 2.3-ton beast from 0-100 km/h in just over five seconds.
In terms of range, the quoted 400km is closer to 300km (heating, wipers and lights on) when you factor in motorway trips.
The only gripe I would have is the Mustang badging, which I think pushes the envelope. Anyone who has ridden a pony will not be nearly as thrilled or excited.
Prices for the Mustang Mach-e start at 61,493 euros.
The new Volkswagen Amarok is bigger, bolder and badder
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The new Volkswagen Amorak is available in five equipment lines: Amarok, Life, Style, PanAmericana and Aventura.
After more than 830,000 sales worldwide, it is safe to say that the Amarok was a mega success for VW.
So it’s no wonder that the second generation pickup is bigger, better and worse than its predecessor.
Thanks to a payload of up to 1.19 tonnes, a trailer load of 3.5 tonnes and a sophisticated cargo box, the new Amarok proves itself on the construction site as well as at the weekend when transporting surfboards to Lahinch.
This baby is powered by a choice of four or six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines, producing between 187 and 237 hp. All-wheel drive is standard on all models.
At 5,350mm, it’s 96mm longer than the old truck.
The wheelbase has been lengthened by 173mm – now at 3,270mm – providing more space in the crew cab. Ramp angles have been increased to 30 degrees in the front and 26 degrees in the rear. The new Amarok It will come in early summer next year.
Mercedes heralds the year 2023 with a new line-up
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The Mercedes-Benz EGS SUV. Photo: Mercedes Benz
Despite a hectic year, Mercedes-Benz will continue its assault on the luxury car market with even more new models in 2023.
First up in February are facelift versions of the compact A- and B-class models, accompanied by their high-performance siblings – the AMG A35 and A45.
Hot on their heels is the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 S e Performance plug-in hybrid – which is the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world with an incredible 670 hp.
At the all-electric front are the EQS SUV (pictured below) and EQE SUV Sports Utility versions of the acclaimed EQS and EQE sedans.
Built on the same platform as the S sedan, the wheelbase will be similar (3,210mm), as will the 108kWh battery unit, which produces up to 536hp (4WD version) and has a range of 600km – over 110km less than the wagons. Expect a summer arrival for the EQS SUV – just in time for the 232 registration.
Also in the second quarter will be a powerful plug-in hybrid version of the S-Class from AMG – the S 63 e Performance.
The new sedan of the 11th generation of the E-Class will be available in the third quarter – as usual with petrol, diesel and hybrid.
A super-fast E53 with 571 hp is also planned
Also planned for Q3 are three facelift SUVs – the GLE, the GLE Coupé and the larger GLS. They are followed by first versions of a new three-door coupe, which remains top secret.
https://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-reviews/review-ford-reinvents-the-mustang-but-is-it-worthy-of-the-pony-badge-42318165.html Recap: Ford Reinvents the Mustang — But Does It Deserve the Pony Badge?