Design review Ford Mustang Mach-E: ‘It would have been better with larger wheel arches and larger wheels’

Ford designers presented a model in the summer of 2017 that fulfilled the initial briefing to draw the first electric-engineered vehicle in Ford history. However, top management was not convinced. They thought the design was not representative enough for Ford. So back to basics, with a blank sheet of paper.

Everything had to be redone. The new basis for Ford designers: into history, to find the right direction forward. The goal was to design a more exciting electric car, where heritage was central. It goes without saying that most of the Ford passion was found in the Mustang range. The proportions of this most iconic Ford were the starting point for the creative search for an electric newcomer that is as relevant as it is appealing.

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The wheelbase of the rejected design was increased, the dash-to-axle ratio – the distance between the dashboard and the front axle – extended, as well as the hood. Another important intervention was the way in which the black roof panel unobtrusively rises above the sloping roofline painted in the body colour. This method creates a visual dynamic fastbacksilhouette – and thus links to the Mustang heritage – and also sufficient headroom in the back.

The design with three vertical graphics, the taillight bars, is another obvious Mustang quote. Also the Down the Road Graphic is a clear connection.

With the premium gap distinguishes the Mach-E from mainstream E-SUV. Similar products from Audi, BMW, Skoda, Volkswagen and even Lotus only have front wheels that practically live against the dividing seam of the front door. This cab rearward body design is characteristic, especially in this sector and budget class. The overhang is compact both front and rear. With detail styling and surfacing linked to the current regular Mustang sports car, that part of the design is also done.

Mustang Mach-E has nice basic proportions

Nevertheless, the Mustang Mach-E is not a beautifully drawn car. Not even mirrored to designs within the spectrum of electric SUVs. Although the Mustang Mach-E has nice basic proportions in front of the A-pillar, with the longer nose and the space after the front wheel, the body behind it is a bit too heavy.

And there are four reasons for this: one on each corner of the car. After all, the correct proportions between wheels and body are at the root of the problem. The chosen surfacing shapes, the special roofline and the creative application of the Mustang theme are seriously violated by it.

And that’s a shame. Never a second change for a first impression. The rich Mustang history tells of strong choice wheel-to-body ratios. The visual vertical weight brought about by the crossover body makes visually lowering it the number one priority, especially if Mustang aesthetics are the end goal. Large wheels within ditto wheel arches are the only, but costly, remedy.

Core Ford features respected

Ford’s designers respect the brand’s core characteristics in this design. The Mach-E proportions are many times better than those of competing Volkswagen EVs, for example. The Mach-E could actually have been a compelling proposition with properly proportioned, beefier shoes.

There is a rival that shows how strong the whole thing becomes with the right size wheels. Under 50 centimeters shorter Megane E-tech Electric mounts Renault 20-inch wheels. They reduce the extra visual weight! With 21 or 22 inch wheels in larger wheel arches, the Mach-E had come close to the sketch below.