SEMA: Electric Ford Mustang Lithium EV shocks!
New electrified ‘Stang hits SEMA with – wait for it – a six-speed manual gearboxFord has sent the SEMA show in Las Vegas into overdrive by unveiling an electric Mustang with a six-speed manual transmission.
While strictly a one-off at this point, the Mustang Lithium EV prototype provides a clear portent to the Mustang’s long-term future, laying the foundations for the forthcoming arrival of the Mustang-inspired Mach E electric SUV next year.
The absence of a V8 petrol engine might seem sacrilege to some, but elements of the Mustang Lithium’s driveline are not: 671kW (over 900 horsepower) and 1356Nm under the hood and a six-speed manual transmission. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a heavy duty differential and Ford Performance half shafts.
The one-off prototype was a creation between Ford and Webasto, bringing a Phi-Power dual-core electric motor with dual power inverters, powered by an 800V battery that can displace a mega-watt of electrical energy.
The six-speed manual transmission’s fitment is slightly more puzzling. Since electric cars have torque everywhere, the modified Getrag MT82’s installation might be seen as a slight impediment, but in an era of increasingly hum-drum white goods, the driver involvement factor here is priceless.
Elsewhere there’s lowered suspension with the Ford Performance Track Handling Package, strut tower brace, and six-piston Brembos borrowed from the Shelby GT350.
The Mustang Lithium is not just a show car, “but a testbed for battery and thermal management technologies in ultra-high-performance electric vehicles”, according to Ford.
“Ford has made no secret of the fact that we are electrifying our most popular nameplates,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford's chief product development and purchasing officer.
“This one-off Mustang prototype is a great opportunity … to showcase to our customers what new electrified powertrains can do for performance in a car they already know and love.”
Withstanding the lack of sound - let's be honest, it's the Mustang's true calling card - there’s a lot to like here.
With 671kW and a six-speed manual box, the Mustang Lithium EV certainly has our attention.
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