Connect with us

News

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT tests its 1/4-mile mettle

Credit: 0t60-3.5 | Mach E Forum

Published

on

Now that Ford has started delivering the Performance variant of the Mustang Mach-E all-electric crossover, the GT configuration is heading to the drag strip to test its mettle in the all-too-common proving ground for performance vehicles.

On the heels of taking delivery of their own Mach-E GT in mid-August, Ford Mach-E Forum member 0t60-3.5 hit the Cedar Falls Motorsports Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The all-electric Mach-E ran a 12.657-second 1/4-mile at 100.02 miles per hour, according to a receipt given to the owner at the track. Impressive, to say the least, the Mach-E GT undoubtedly is living up to the name of its Mustang predecessors. However, this time the powertrain was fueled by electricity and not by gasoline, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly performance run.

The vehicle was not in Ford’s advertised “Track Mode,” which actually is called “Unbridled Mode.” Ford described it as “an exhilarating drive experience that pays homage to the legacy of Mustang sound in a unique package designed for an all-new electric vehicle.” This may have limited its performance slightly, but that is speculative. Additionally, the car was charged at 72%, and its tire pressure was slightly high at 42 PSI. Ford recommends it to be at 39.

Splits for the Mach-E were as follows:

  • 1/4-mile: 12.657 seconds @ 100.02 MPH
  • 1,000 feet: 10.433 seconds
  • 1/8-mile: 8.03 seconds @ 86.67 MPH
  • 330 feet: 5.26 seconds
  • 60 feet: 1.99 seconds

Additionally, Dragy, a speed tracking device, found the following acceleration rates:

  • 0-10 MPH in .58s
  • 0-20 MPH in 1.20s
  • 0-30 MPH in 1.80s
  • 0-40 MPH in 2.44
  • 0-50 MPH in 3.21
  • 0-60 MPH in 4.12
  • 0-60 MPH with 1-foot rollout in 3.89

Credit: 0t60-3.5 | Mach E Forum

Electric cars have a comparative advantage over their gas-powered opposition, especially during 1/4-mile drags. The lack of energy transfer from the motor to the transmission in an EV, which is present in a combustion engine vehicle, allows an electric car to take off significantly quicker than a gas car. This is where EVs have a substantial competitive advantage, and it shows. While the Mach-E certainly did not run the fastest 1/4-mile drag ever, it certainly did a good job, even with limited battery power and being Ford’s first electric car. This could be utilized as a benchmark for future models.

The Tesla Model S Plaid still has the record, and it doesn’t appear that Ford will dethrone the all-electric flagship sedan from Tesla anytime soon. However, there is plenty to build on, especially as Ford was not necessarily focused on high-end, record-breaking performance for the Mach-E. However, the vehicle still performed reasonably well, and there is plenty to be proud of moving forward.

Check outΒ 0t60-3.5’s video below.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below, or be sure to email me atΒ joey@teslarati.comΒ or on TwitterΒ @KlenderJoey.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

Advertisement
Comments

Elon Musk

SpaceX announces new Starbase for ‘thousands of Starship launches annually’

Published

on

Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX announced today that it would expand its launch capabilities into a new U.S. state: Louisiana.

Today, SpaceX, in conjunction with the Louisiana Economic Development Office, said that it will establish a new launch facility, which it will call Starbase, Louisiana. It will be located near Vermilion Parish, supporting thousands of launches each year, at least eventually.

CEO Elon Musk commented by stating, “Starbase Louisiana will ultimately have over a dozen launch towers, enabling more than 30 Starship flights per day and making it the biggest launch site on Earth!”

The expansion is SpaceX’s latest move to push its launch cadence to be more frequent than ever. SpaceX said that Starbase, Louisiana, will be built to “support thousands of Starship flights a year,” with the first coming in 2029.

SpaceX announced the new facility in partnership with the Louisiana Economic Development Office as it will bring a major influx of jobs and investments into the area. Currently, it will produce more than 3,000 new jobs in Louisiana, and SpaceX plans to invest at least $100 billion into the entire facility, ensuring that many jobs are created as a result.

Environmental Responsibility

SpaceX acknowledges the impact launches could have on marshlands, local wildlife, and water sources. Here’s how the company plans to help with the issues in Vermilion Parish:

  • Restoring the Shoreline: “In Vermilion Parish, the shoreline is eroding between 3.3 and 23 feet per year. We’re partnering with state and federal agencies to expand Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act projects, including Gulf shoreline protection breakwaters designed to reduce wave energy and slow loss along the Gulf edge.”
  • Rebuilding the Marshlands: “In working with the state, we’re planning thousands of acres of marsh creation using beneficial-use placement of dredged material and offshore sediment sources. Restoration will also include interior marsh bank stabilization and rebuilding marsh in remnant canals. These projects can reconnect fragmented wetlands, restore natural buffers against storms, and return habitat that has been lost to erosion and historic canalization.”
  • Preserving Coastal Wildlife: “Pecan Island and nearby wetlands are high-value habitat for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and other coastal wildlife. SpaceX is not developing the full footprint of the land and will preserve wetlands and wildlife habitat. At existing launch sites, waterfowl and other birds continue to use nearby habitat during operations. Working with wildlife agencies, landowners, and conservation groups, SpaceX will support monitoring and management so this habitat stays productive and hunting, fishing, birding, and other recreational activities that are part of this coast’s culture can continue.”

SpaceX shares rose about 2.5 percent on the news.

Advertisement
-
Continue Reading

Cybertruck

Tesla just made Cybertruck more expensive

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Cybertruck trims saw a big price change, at least on two of the three available to consumers, as demand for the all-electric pickup appears to be increasing.

Tesla bumped up its Base All-Wheel-Drive trim level up to $74,990 from $69,990 and the Premium All-Wheel-Drive configuration from $79,990 to $84,990. The Cyberbeast price remains unchanged at $99,990.

Despite questions of demand for the truck, Tesla is bumping its two least expensive trims up $5,000 to signal that there are plenty of buyers. Although SpaceX has been buying Tesla Cybertruck units to utilize as company vehicles, it is no secret that the Cybertruck is among the most sought-after Tesla models out there.

The issue has always been pricing, at least for the most part. When Tesla initially launched the Cybertruck AWD at $59,990 a few months back, the company stated that price would remain intact for just ten days due to the influx of orders it received.

Cybertruck Sales: Is It the Product or Pricing?

Depending on who you ask, you will likely hear one of two explanations for relatively low Cybertruck sales: either the product itself or the pricing.

Yes, this is the best-selling all-electric pickup on the market. However, there are people who simply hate the look of it, which I understand, but do not agree with. Look is totally subjective, and I love the look of the Cybertruck.

Some people will not buy the Cybertruck because of the look, but I am under the impression that sales would be much better if this truck were priced lower; something that might not be possible considering Tesla’s need to make money on its products. When it was unveiled in 2019, its most expensive trim level was $69,990. Now, the cheapest trim level is more expensive than that.

Advertisement
-

I would be in a Cybertruck if it were more affordable. I LOVE my Model Y, but Cybertruck is the best vehicle Tesla makes, and it’s not particularly close. Even in the base model, the steer-by-wire, the space, storage, and performance make it more desirable than the Model Y to me. I cannot be the only Tesla owner without a Cybertruck who feels this way.

If you’re interested in buying a Tesla vehicle, use my referral link.

Continue Reading

Energy

Tesla Semi factory is getting a celebration nobody expected

Tesla will inaugurate its Nevada Semi factory September 24, five months after production quietly began ramping.

Published

on

By

Tesla says it will officially inaugurate its new Semi factory in Nevada next month. The Tesla Semi account posted the announcement on X, sharing a graphic titled “Semi Rollout” with a date of September 24. No further details were given about the format of the event or who would attend.

While Tesla’s dedicated Semi plant in Sparks, adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada, opened back in April, with the first trucks rolling off the high volume line on April 29, the timing for the factory inauguration comes at a surprise. The ribbon cutting event five months into production is a break from how Tesla has usually handled its other factories, where the first truck or car off the line typically served as the milestone moment.

The 1.7 million square foot factory was built as part of a $3.6 billion expansion Tesla announced in early 2023, and it shares a site with the battery cell lines that feed the Semi’s structural pack, a decision meant to remove the supply bottleneck that delayed the truck for years. The plant is designed for 50,000 trucks a year at full ramp. Semi program director Dan Priestley has said production “is now ramping” rather than claiming it has reached scale.

Nine years passed between the Semi’s 2017 unveiling and this stage of production, with the truck slipping from an original 2019 target through hand built pilot units for PepsiCo and a slow build out of the Nevada plant. An inauguration event now gives Tesla a stage to talk up that ramp and reset expectations for how many trucks it can begin delivering at scale.

The September date also lines up with the Semi’s next milestone. Tesla confirmed the truck is heading to Europe with a full unveiling at the IAA Transportation trade show in Hannover, Germany, running September 15 through 20. Between the Nevada event and the Hannover reveal, Tesla has roughly a week and a half in September to make the case that the Semi is now a truck being built and sold on two continents rather than tested in a handful of fleets.

Continue Reading