WATCH: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E demo its drift mode

Ford has released a new video of its upcoming battery-powered Mustang Mach-E drifting at a private test facility, suggesting it will come with a dedicated drift mode.

Filmed at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research and posted by YouTube user 'Carolina Guy', the video is thought to have been staged by the Blue Oval's marketing department in an attempt to go viral.

It's rumoured that gymkhana stunt driver, Ken Block, was doing the driving -- including going very sideways in concentric circles -- in what what looks like an early experimental test mule.

The video backs speculation that Ford Performance will offer a drift mode option with the production Mustang Mach-E that reconfigures (read hacks) the electric car's torque vectoring system to allow lurid drifts.

As previously reported, Mach-E chief engineer Ron Heiser told carsales that over-the-air updates will allow for plenty of fun and games with the new EV, and even a tyre shredding burnout mode.

"Our powertrain control module, ABS module, our power steering control module, our infotainment modules, [instrument] cluster [are all adjustable], so we have a lot of a capability for over-the-air enhancements over time.

"It’s been an exciting project," said Heiser.

As well as drifting, some are suggesting the Tesla Model Y rival will also have a 'line-lock' mode that will allow the rear driven axle to perform a burnout.

Both the drift mode and burnout features will be judged by many as completely pointless but are evidence that Ford has designed, developed and engineered for the Mustang Mach-E to appeal to enthusiasts and drivers of the regular Mustang.

As well as being fun to drive, the pure-electric Ford SUV should also be fast, given a recent leak that suggests the Mustang Mach E will produce even more power and torque than originally thought.

Instead of the promised 190kW and 414Nm power and torque figures for the standard rear-drive Mach-E, the production model has had its outputs boosted to 198kW and 429Nm.

It’s a similar story for the rear-drive Extended Range model, which has had its power output wound up slightly, to 216kW (+6kW), while delivering the same 429Nm of torque.

The faster all-wheel drive Standard Range version, meanwhile, will now come with an extra 8kW/15Nm, while the AWD Extended Range variant gets the biggest power bump, with an extra 10kW and 15Nm, raising total power to 258kW and torque to 580Nm.

It’s not known whether the range-topping Mach-E GT has also received an upgrade from its already-punchy 342kW and 830Nm figures.

Ford has confirmed the Mustang Mach-E will eventually be offered to Australian buyers following its US launch in early 2021.