Ford unveils one-off Mustang Mach-E SUV with a tyre-smoking 1400bhp 

Teslas are proof enough that electric cars are quick – but even Elon Musk will be left jaw-scraping at the performance of the latest zero-emission vehicle revealed by Ford.

The US car-making giant has teamed up with American tuning specialists RTR to create a one-off prototype version of its Mustang Mach-E – an all-electric SUV that will be sold in the UK from next year.

But this one, built specifically for the track, takes electric vehicle performance to another stratosphere even Musk and his Space X project would find difficult to contemplate – giving it 1,400bhp of power to create seven times the power of a Nissan Leaf.

Electric shock: This is Ford’s one-off Mustang Mach-E 1400 – a 1,400bhp drift car that can also be used as a racer

It’s been called the Mustang Mach-E 1400 – for obvious reasons – and is designed to be a zero-emission racer by pro-drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr, who owns RTR. 

While the standard car – which will cost from £40,270 – has four electric motors, the 1400 has seven of them.

Three motors power the front axle and four are dedicated to the rear – which also allows the drivers to flutter between all, front and rear-wheel-drive at their own desire, with the latter providing the best powersliding performance. 

‘Getting behind the wheel of this car has completely changed my perspective on what power and torque can be,’ said Vaughn Gittin Jr.

‘This experience is like nothing you’ve ever imagined, except for maybe a magnetic rollercoaster.’

To deliver the energy to these seven motors is a 56.8kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery in place of the lithium-ion one in the production road car.

To prevent the battery overheating, Ford has installed a heavy-duty cooling system.

Ford says it has been built to 'demonstrate the performance possibilities of electric propulsion'. It certainly does that!

Ford says it has been built to ‘demonstrate the performance possibilities of electric propulsion’. It certainly does that!

While the standard Mustang Mach-E SUV - which is aimed at eco-conscious family-car buyers  - has four electric motors. This one-off creation has has seven of them

While the standard Mustang Mach-E SUV – which is aimed at eco-conscious family-car buyers  – has four electric motors. This one-off creation has has seven of them

The enormous rear diffuser and wing combine to produce a claimed 1,000kg of downforce at a speed of 160mph - which we now assume the Mustang Mach-E 1400 is capable of

The enormous rear diffuser and wing combine to produce a claimed 1,000kg of downforce at a speed of 160mph – which we now assume the Mustang Mach-E 1400 is capable of

To show its potency, Ford released footage of the Mach-E 1400 (centre) up against a selection of highly-strung Mustangs, including the current Nascar stock car (second right) and pro-drifter-turned-rally-driver Ken Block's Hoonicorn RTR V2 conversion (far left)

To show its potency, Ford released footage of the Mach-E 1400 (centre) up against a selection of highly-strung Mustangs, including the current Nascar stock car (second right) and pro-drifter-turned-rally-driver Ken Block’s Hoonicorn RTR V2 conversion (far left)

Ford says it has been built to ‘demonstrate the performance possibilities of electric propulsion’ – though don’t expect to park up alongside one in a Tesco car park anytime soon.

Away from the zero-emission powertrain, there has also been an overhaul of the components with fully-adjustable suspension, more potent Brembo brakes and a hydraulic handbrake instead of an electronic version, specifically to make it skid on demand. 

There’s also a new steering system with adjustable settings for either track of drift modes.

Inside, there’s a full roll cage and a dashboard-mounted tablet that allows for the driver to switch between modes. It’s also worth pointing out that Ford has retained the two rear seats, just in case the kids want to come along for the tyre-shredding ride. 

The US car-making giant has teamed up with American tuning specialists RTR to create a one-off prototype version of its Mustang Mach-E (pictured right), which is an all-electric SUV that will be sold in the UK from next year

The US car-making giant has teamed up with American tuning specialists RTR to create a one-off prototype version of its Mustang Mach-E (pictured right), which is an all-electric SUV that will be sold in the UK from next year

Inside, there's a full roll cage and a dashboard-mounted tablet that allows for the driver to switch between modes

Inside, there’s a full roll cage and a dashboard-mounted tablet that allows for the driver to switch between modes

An electronic handbrake has been replace with a manually operated one, to allow for bigger skids and powerslides (in the right hands, of course)

An electronic handbrake has been replace with a manually operated one, to allow for bigger skids and powerslides (in the right hands, of course)

Ford has retained the two rear seats, just in case the kids want to come along for the tyre-shredding ride

Ford has retained the two rear seats, just in case the kids want to come along for the tyre-shredding ride

It looks the part of the outside, too, with an aggressive body kit, exaggerated wheel arches and a massive rear diffuser and wing combination. 

The aerodynamic benefit is a claimed 1,000kg of downforce at a speed of 160mph – which we now assume the Mustang Mach-E 1400 is capable of.

If so, it will be just 10mph slower than the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 dragster, which the car maker revealed in April of this year.

'Getting behind the wheel of this car has completely changed my perspective on what power and torque can be,' said Vaughn Gittin Jr, who has co-developed the vehicle

‘Getting behind the wheel of this car has completely changed my perspective on what power and torque can be,’ said Vaughn Gittin Jr, who has co-developed the vehicle

Ford and American tuning specialists RTR have not only fitted an aggressive new body kit and front splitter but also fully-adjustable suspension and more potent Brembo brakes

Ford and American tuning specialists RTR have not only fitted an aggressive new body kit and front splitter but also fully-adjustable suspension and more potent Brembo brakes

There's also an advanced steering system, which is also adjustable. This allows the driver to switch between settings for either track of drift modes

There’s also an advanced steering system, which is also adjustable. This allows the driver to switch between settings for either track of drift modes

Ford worked alongside pro-drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr, who owns RTR, to built the one-off car

Almost the entirety of the drift car includes new high performance parts

Ford worked alongside pro-drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr, who owns RTR, to built the one-off car

To show its potency, Ford released footage of the Mach-E 1400 up against a selection of highly-strung Mustangs, including the current Nascar stock car and pro-drifter-turned-rally-driver Ken Block’s Hoonicorn RTR V2 conversion.

Ron Heiser, chief programme engineer for Mustang Mach-E said the high-performance racer will help the brand to ‘leverage electric technology, learn from it, and apply it to our portfolio’, with Ford set to invest more than $11.5billion in zero-emission technology across global markets.

‘Mustang Mach-E is going to be fun to drive, just like every other Mustang before it, but Mustang Mach-E 1400 is completely insane, thanks to the efforts of Ford Performance and RTR,,’ Heiser added. We certainly agree that it will absolutely bonkers.

Smoking: While the car might not produce any emissions, the burning rubber emits plenty of pollution

Smoking: While the car might not produce any emissions, the burning rubber emits plenty of pollution

Ford is set to invest more than $11.5billion in zero-emission technology across global markets in the coming years as it looks to move away from internal combustion engines

Ford is set to invest more than $11.5billion in zero-emission technology across global markets in the coming years as it looks to move away from internal combustion engines

The Mustang Mach-E  1400 is just 10mph slower than the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 dragster, which the car maker revealed in April of this year

The Mustang Mach-E  1400 is just 10mph slower than the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 dragster, which the car maker revealed in April of this year

Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 front three quarter

Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 rear three quarter

Don’t expect to see a Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 parked alongside your car in a Tesco car park anytime soon – it is only a prototype built purely to show the capabilities of electric vehicle technology

1965 Shelby GT350R becomes most expensive Mustang of all time

Most expensive Mustang EVER: A collector bought the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R prototype at the weekend for a massive $3.85million - eclipsing the price paid for the Mustang Bullitt film car earlier this year

Most expensive Mustang EVER: A collector bought the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R prototype at the weekend for a massive $3.85million – eclipsing the price paid for the Mustang Bullitt film car earlier this year

A new record was set at the weekend for the highest price paid for a Ford Mustang in history.

At the Mecum Auctions’ Indianapolis sale, a collector bought the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R prototype for a massive $3.85million.

This is the same car that was dubbed the ‘flying Mustang’ in the hands of Ken Miles – the man who helped Carroll Shelby develop the Le Mans winning GT40, which became the storyline of the film Ford V Ferrari, released last year.

Flying Mustang: Ken Miles photographed in 1965 at Green Valley Raceway

Flying Mustang: Ken Miles photographed in 1965 at Green Valley Raceway

Why the flying Mustang? The iconic picture taken in 1965 at Green Valley Raceway, with Miles getting airborne in the test mule.

Having been sold to a Ford employee in 1966 for $4,000, it disappeared from records until the late ’80s, when it was bought, restored and later victorious in US car awards such as Pebble Beach. 

The $3.85million figure paid eclipses the $3.4milion for the Bullitt Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the hit film. 

It also sold in the US – in Florida – earlier this year having seemingly disappeared from existence for years and feared scrapped.

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