Ford has built another all-electric prototype racecar. On January 30, the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker unveiled the new Mustang Mach-E NASCAR demonstrator vehicle, a hopped-up EV that follows closely in the tire tracks of the automaker’s F-150 Lightning-based SuperTruck, the absolutely wild-looking SuperVan 4.2, and, of course, the
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What We Know So Far
So, here’s what we know about this new prototype racecar, and, unfortunately, it’s not much. This Mach-E SUV is enhanced by a host of parts from Ford’s current Cup Series car. This includes the suspension system, brakes, steering components, and even the wheels. Aside from all that, this machine also features a full carbon fiber tub to protect the driver.
As for performance, the Mustang Mach-E NASCAR demonstrator vehicle has a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack that, curiously, is larger than the standard battery the stock Mach-E offers but smaller than the long-range one. How much range this energy reservoir can provide during a race is not mentioned, though it’s probably not very much. Providing big performance is not one, but three electric motors.
We’re Yet To Hear About The Performance Specs
Unfortunately, Ford does not appear to have published any tangible figures about this race-ready all-electric SUV. Reportedly, this vehicle tips the scales at around 4,000 pounds, which isn’t insanely heavy for an EV. Additionally, that trio of electric motors supposedly puts out 1,360 horsepower when the vehicle is in qualifying mode. Dialing things back, there should also be a race mode, which drops the output to just 816 hp.
The most powerful Mustang Mach-E you can buy today is the GT model. It has a dual-motor powertrain and standard all-wheel drive, a setup that’s rated at a stout 480 horsepower and up to 700 pound-feet of torque with the optional performance upgrade.
Studying the photos, we can see this NASCAR prototype looks mostly like a Mach-E you’d see sitting on the lot at your local Ford dealer. The overall shape is similar, and the front end looks pretty much stock, but the devil’s always in the details. This SUV features some sort of internal cage structure, there’s a gigantic wing on the rear and if there were doors on this car, it looks like it’d only have two, not four like a conventional Mach-E.
Electrifying NASCAR
With this prototype racecar, it seems that Ford is trying to teach its NASCAR enthusiasts about electric vehicles, but it remains to be seen whether the fanbase will be receptive to this message. NASCAR is all about the drama of bumper-to-bumper competition and the cacophonous noise produced by dozens of large-displacement V8 engines running at their limits. EVs can provide the former, but they will fail to provide the latter since, you know, they’re nearly silent while being driven.
