What is it?
As new electric vehicles continue to arrive on the American marketplace, consumers ready to forgo the internal combustion engine have more choices than ever. Available vehicles range from basic transportation to luxury models to extreme-performance machines, and there are even large trucks and SUVs with fully electric powertrains. But until now, there hasn’t been an EV set up for rally-style off-pavement performance. Ford has addressed this missing element by introducing the powerful and fun Mustang Mach-E Rally.

New Areas of Performance
Shortly after the Mustang Mach-E came to market, engineers were asked to look at building a rally-inspired version of the Mach-E. That request quickly became a directive, and now that special EV has arrived. “We have always explored new areas of performance, and the combination of a rally-tuned suspension, dual motor electric powertrain, and wicked styling makes the Mustang Mach-E Rally a different kind of performance vehicle that will excite customers chasing their next adventure.” Said Donna Dickson, chief engineer, Mustang Mach-E.

Rally Style
While the new Mach-E Rally carries the same basic look as the rest of the lineup, some features help this unique model stand out. Up front is a carbonized gray grille featuring two integrated fog lamps as well as a unique front splitter. Dual racing stripes are standard, as are the Mach-E Rally decals on the front doors and the black roof.

Rally Colors
The Mach-E Rally already stands out with its racing strips and unique grille, but for those who really want to be noticed, Ford offers this new variant in a range of bold colors, including Grabber Yellow, Grabber Blue, Eruption Green, and Star White. A new Glacier Gray is also available for a more subtle look.

Rear View
A performance rally-inspired model like a Subaru WRX would often be recognized as special by its large, dual exhaust – well, the Mach-E doesn’t have an exhaust. Surprisingly, this Mach-E doesn’t say Rally on the rear either; however, the larger rear spoiler inspired by the powerful Focus RS certainly telegraphs that the Rally is not a typical Mach-E.

Special Wheels
The Mustang Mach-E Rally also stands out with 19-inch Oxford White rally-style alloy wheels, inspired by Ford’s long history of competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The wheels are shod with 235/55 R19 Michelin CrossClimate2 tires, which provide excellent traction on pavement and in the dirt.

Inner Space
While the Mach-E Rally’s exterior features bold design elements, the inside differences from other variants are a bit more subtle. The dashboard gets a unique applique, and there are white accents on the dashboard with white stitching throughout, as well as a white lower spoke of the steering wheel.

Performance Seats
The Mach-E Rally comes standard with performance seats embossed with “Mach-E Rally” on the seatbacks. The tops of the front seats are gloss white. The seats are comfortable and provide great support, and side bolsters work well to hold passengers in place during enthusiastic driving.

Good Space
The Mach-E features a roomy interior highlighted by the large 15.5-inch vertical display screen running the latest version of Ford’s SYNC infotainment system. There’s good storage for front-seat passengers, while the rear seat offers up plenty of legroom and headroom. With a spacious cargo area in the rear and additional space under the hood in the frunk, the Mach-E delivers plenty of utility.

Big Power
Ford introduced a new rear motor for the 2024 Mustang Mach-E lineup. Lighter and more powerful, this new motor is built in-house by Ford and is an integral component of the new Mach-E Rally. The Rally’s dual-motor drivetrain delivers 480 horsepower and an impressive 700 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.

Rally Performance Features
The new Mustang Mach-E Rally gets more than just sporty styling and a powerful drivetrain. Ford engineers set this EV up for rally-style performance driving with an additional inch of ground clearance, a rallycross-tuned suspension, MagneRide damping system, an aluminum underbody shield, and a Rallysport drive mode unique to this model.

Rally Driving
Ford invited me to the DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, WA (just west of Seattle) to properly test out the new Mustang Mach-E Rally. Situated on the site of an old lumber mill, DirtFish has multiple courses with varying terrain on its 315-acre wooded property. This venue was a perfect place to showcase the new Rally’s capability, and not surprisingly, the Pacific Northwest lived up to its reputation with heavy rain that lasted all day.

My Test Vehicle
For my day at DirtFish Rally School, Ford gave me the keys to a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally painted in eye-catching Grabber Yellow—complete with racing stripes. There aren’t many options available for the top-of-the-line Rally, but my test vehicle did have a three-year subscription to BlueCruise, Ford’s advanced hands-free driver assist system. The total price for this vehicle was $64,490.

RallySport Mode
Dirtfish set up a proper rally course with fast straightaways, sweeping curves, and hairpin turns. Thanks to the rain, the surface was gravel and dirt mixed with mud and standing water. Before setting out, I selected RallySport mode, which delivers a smoother throttle response and stronger damping. The stability control is also adjusted to allow for more yaw, letting the rear end slide around.

Amazing Control
At the start of the course, I put my right foot to the floor, and the Mach-E Rally took full advantage of its plentiful torque and all-wheel drive and blasted over the starting line, spewing a trail of gravel and mud behind. Even on the loose surface, the Mach-E provided a confident ride, and my speed climbed very quickly.

Fun in the Corners
As I approached the first tight corner, I let off the throttle, transferring the vehicle’s weight to the front. Turning to the left, the rear end of the Mach-E slid out, helping to pivot the car to be pointing in the right direction. Once the nose was heading down the track, I hit the throttle, and once again, all that torque and grip sent me flying down the straight.

Easy to Control
With all the sliding and drifting around turns with wheels spinning and mud flying, the Mach-E never felt out of control. Steering is precise, the throttle is easy to modulate with predictable results, and there’s never a situation where you wish for more power. Brakes also work quite well, dropping speed quickly and smoothly when needed.

Nothing Broke
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this Mach-E Rally is that the assembled journalists flogged these cars on the rally course for several hours, and there were no reports of any mechanical issues or anything breaking. However, the cars clearly needed a bath.

On the Road
As much fun as the Mach-E Rally is to drive in the mud and gravel, owners will likely spend most of their time driving on pavement. Luckily, the Rally delivers excellent performance on the road as well. With the same powertrain as the Mach-E GT, the Rally can sprint to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds – just 0.1 seconds slower than the GT with the Performance Upgrade. The Rally’s suspension is softer than the GT, so while it may not offer up handling as crisp as the sportier version, the overall ride is more comfortable. Still, the Mach-E Rally feels quick and agile on the road, with a solid, quiet ride when cruising at freeway speed.

BlueCruise
All versions of the 2024 Mustang Mach-E are available with the latest version of BlueCruise with the option of a 90-day free trial or a three-year subscription. I tested BlueCruise during rush hour on I-405 outside Bellevue, WA, and the advanced hands-free system worked flawlessly. Once on the freeway, I set the adaptive cruise control to the speed limit, and the digital display indicated that BlueCruise was active. Traveling for several miles in a mix of clear roads as well as stop-and-go traffic, I never had to touch the pedals or steering wheel. The system even brought me to a complete stop, then started forward again when traffic moved.

What Else is New for Mach-E?
Several updates have been made to the entire 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E lineup. The new rear eMotor mentioned earlier makes the Mach-E GT the quickest version ever offered, boasting a 0-60 time of just 3.3 seconds with a ¼ mile time of 11.8 seconds at 114 mph. The GT is now available with a Bronze Appearance Package, which features a bronze mesh front grille, bronze door badges, and 20-inch Sinister Bronze alloy wheels.

Improved Range and Charging
Ford has also improved the Mach-E’s charging speed for the 2024 model year. The Mustang Mach-E with the extended-range battery can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 36 minutes—almost nine minutes faster than the previous version. The range is slightly longer, with the Mach-E Premium rear-wheel drive with the extended battery leading the pack with 320 miles of range. The new Mach-E Rally is rated at 265 miles of range. Earlier this year, Ford announced that Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models would have access to more than 15,000 Tesla Superchargers as part of the BlueOval Charge Network. Ford is offering a free Tesla charger adapter to customers who join the network before June 30, 2024. I charged the Mach-E at a local Tesla Supercharger, and not only did the system recognize the car and start charging immediately, but it charged very quickly. In less than ten minutes, the Mach-E gained 45 miles of range.

Rating: 9.0
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is one of the bestselling EVs in America. With its excellent performance, comfortable interior, efficient powertrain, and good utility, its popularity doesn’t come as a surprise. The high-tech features and advanced driver assist systems are an added bonus. With the introduction of the new Mach-E Rally, Ford bumps up the fun factor, providing a thrilling experience on or off the pavement. It may be the most expensive version in the lineup, but it is the one I want.

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