As a huge fan of the Mustang’s entire glorious history, from the original 1964-½ fastback to the seventh-gen Dark Horse, I’ve been eagerly following along with the Mustang Mach-E’s ongoing development. I must say, when Ford announced the EV in 2019, my curiosity was piqued by the decision to attach the Mustang name to a compact crossover SUV rather than the traditional pony car. Still, it’s proven a rousing success, with steadily rising sales and numerous honors that include the 2021 Car and Driver Electric Vehicle of the Year Award.
With the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, the automaker has demonstrated a commitment to pleasing traditional performance gearheads like me while continuing to satisfy EV and crossover enthusiasts. This isn’t the first time I’ve written about the Mustang Mach-E for CarLifeNation, but with more information now known about the 2024 model, I thought it was a good time to revisit the vehicle. Has Ford succeeded in its goal? Let’s look at the performance upgrades to the 2024 Mach-E and see what thrills they’re ready to offer.
The Mach-E GT Performance Package Goes Pedal to the Metal
When Ford first unveiled the 2024 Mustang Mach-E, it teased the potential for a performance package that, among other things, would give the vehicle its fastest ever 0-60 mph time. After months of waiting on details, the word is now out. This Performance Upgrade is being offered as an option for the 2024 Mach-E GT—and it’s everything I hoped it would be.
The full explanation of this upgrade is rather science-y, involving new powertrain control algorithms, unique thermal models, and a redesigned rear electric motor. The important thing to know is that adding the Performance Upgrade gives your Mach-E GT an eye-popping 700 lb-ft of torque. That’s 100 lb-ft more than the regular Mach-E GT and 66 lb-ft more than the 2023 Performance Edition. Horsepower remains the same at a still-impressive 480 hp; compared to the 2024 Mustang Dark Horse, that’s only 20 fewer hp and an astonishing 282 more lb-ft of torque.
Suffice it to say the difference is profound. By adding the package, the official Mach-E GT 0-60 mph time drops from 3.8 seconds to 3.3 seconds. The quarter-mile time dips significantly as well, from 12.4 seconds to 11.8 seconds. In testing, the Mach-E GT Performance Upgrade beat out the Porsche Macan 4 Electric and the Tesla Model Y Performance to 60 mph, cementing the Mustang name as being just as strong with electric power as internal combustion power. You don’t have to buy the package when you purchase the vehicle, either—Ford says you can start with the regular GT and integrate the Performance Upgrade later if you like.
More Standard GT Features
Although the Performance Upgrade does cost extra, certain enhancements no longer do. Ford has taken the 2023 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition and made nearly all its features standard on every 2024 Mach-E GT, meaning you’ll receive:
- The MagneRide Damping System is an adaptive front and rear suspension that adjusts to current road conditions in real-time.
- Brembo front brake calipers provide superior stopping power with a bright red finish.
- Machine-faced 20-inch aluminum wheels with pockets painted in high-gloss black.
- ActiveX upholstery in a performance gray color that includes perforated reflective accents and silver metallic stitching.
- Fixed position front row headrests.
In other words, the Mach-E GT is better than ever. By adding the GT Bronze Appearance Package, you can even give it the old-school Mustang look with a bronze finish on the retro-style aluminum spoke wheels and front grille, plus bronze badging.
The Rally Joins the Fray
Even with the GT Performance Upgrade and the newly standard features, the Mach-E GT is no longer the only big kid on the block. The 2024 model year brings us the new Mach-E Rally. Inspired by Ford’s success in the rally racing world, this is the first time a vehicle with the Mustang name was explicitly designed for having fun on unpaved roads and trails. It’s a strange association for sure, but Ford has managed to pull it off, and it’s even better than when they previewed the first look.
It starts with the GT Performance Package, which Ford decided to include standard on the Mach-E Rally, resulting in even better performance numbers than when it first announced the trim and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds. It also added the Brembo brakes and MagneRide Damping System but gave the suspension a Rallycross-specific tuning to better handle rough terrain and uneven, sloppy surfaces. The Michelin CrossClimate2 all-season performance tires on the Mach-E Rally are taller and narrower for less wheel spin, and by using the new RallySport Drive Mode, you’ll make the handling even more dynamic.
The exterior received a makeover as well, with the 2024 Mach-E Rally sporting a front recovery hook, a dark gray front splitter and matching rear spoiler, aluminum skid plates, LED fog lamps, and clear film to protect the paint. You even get a sport-style accelerator pedal. Although the Mach-E Rally is now officially the top trim in the lineup, I think of it as the off-road counterpart to the on-road Mach-E GT, with both putting on a breathtaking show in their preferred driving environment.
More Performance Across the Board
The GT and Rally aren’t the only Mach-E trims raising the bar, though. When announcing the particulars of the Performance Upgrade, Ford casually noted the new rear electric motor that helped power the GT Performance Upgrade would be included on every trim level. This means a substantial torque increase on the Mach-E Select and Premium. Torque with rear-wheel drive on these trims has surged from 317 lb-ft to 387 lb-ft, and with all-wheel drive, it jumps from 427 lb-ft to an even 500 lb-ft. Those are huge gains that you’ll feel whenever you’re coming up to speed.
Power on the Select and Premium is up as well when you choose all-wheel drive. It goes from 311 hp to 325 hp with the standard-range battery and from 346 hp to 365 hp with the extended-range battery. When combined with the added torque, you’ll practically fly wherever you want to go.
Finally, Ford has made two other upgrades to the Mach-E Select to make it more attractive for performance enthusiasts on a budget. First is making the extended-range battery an option to experience the fun of your Mach-E for longer, though you can only pair it with all-wheel drive on the Select trim (it’s available with rear-wheel drive on the Premium trim for a range of up to 320 miles). Second, Ford switched the Select to the same 19-inch wheels as the Premium, giving you improved traction and cornering versus the previous 18-inch wheels.
A Stout Performer Gets Even Stronger
Every year, Ford continues to build up the Ford Mustang Mach-E as a high-performance electric crossover. The 2024 lineup is the best yet, with more torque and horsepower, the GT Performance Package for next-level acceleration, the new off-road Rally, and many other upgrades. Ford clearly wants the Mustang Mach-E to be the king of electric SUVs, the same way the original Mustang is the king of pony cars. In my estimation, Ford is already there. When you add in the family-friendliness that has landed it awards like the AAA Best Overall Car and KBB Electric Vehicle Best Buy, you truly have everything a person could want in one EV package.
