Ford has unveiled a new app feature for its upcoming Mustang Mach-E that will save you the hassle of setting up navigation, climate control, charging stations and other personal settings once it’s delivered. “Remote Vehicle Setup,” will instead let you pre-configure vehicle settings from home and save them in the cloud, then apply them once the car arrives.

According to a video supplied by Ford, you first enter the FordPass app and create a profile with your address. From there, it finds charging stations nearby and lets you select them from a map, or you can program one manually if it doesn’t appear. Then you can set times and days that you usually depart, program your ideal cabin temperature (cool, medium or warm) and select the type of drive performance (“engage,” “unbridled” or “whisper”).

Ford’s all-electric Mustang Mach-E hasn’t rolled out yet, but someone is working on a special one-off, judging by a video posted to YouTube a few days ago. As noted by Autoblog and Jalopnik, this stripped down machine is obviously a Mach-E, but with body panels removed in the front and rear, seemingly to make room for extra cooling and suspension bits as well as extremely thick tires.

It needs those, because the video — posted by a user who only goes by “Carolina Guy” but seems to have impeccable timing and a suspiciously good ability to frame the action — shows the vehicle burning rubber on a skidpad with a few donuts. Road & Track pointed out that an F-150 appears briefly that looks like one customized by RTR Vehicles, and could indicate that this is a test vehicle for Vaughn Gittin Jr. Gittin is a likely choice to appear in a promotion, as he drives Mustang in the Formula D series, and helped introduce its 2010 revision to the world.

Ford’s upcoming 2021 Mustang Mach-E is one step closer to making its way to consumers. On Tuesday, the automaker said anyone who has already reserved the EV in the US can convert their reservation into an order starting today.

In the same post, Ford also confirmed the leaked specs that came out in April. All four versions of the EV will feature improved power and torque than initially expected. To start, Ford says the standard range RWD model will output the equivalent of 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, up from its previous estimate of 255 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the standard range AWD variant has 11 more horsepower. Similarly, the extended range RWD version will deliver 290 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, up from 282 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque.

If the update needs to take longer than that or requires the vehicle to be parked, though, owners can schedule it to take place in the middle of the night or whenever is convenient for them. Ford explains that Mach-E’s OTA capabilities go beyond the updates its SYNC platform can deliver. It can be used to provide not just performance enhancements, but also completely new features that might not exist when the vehicle first becomes available.

The automaker also wants to ensure interested buyers that the Mach—E and its OTA feature are on track despite the coronavirus pandemic. Its engineering team has set up remote access to the vehicle’s components and is currently working from home. In addition, Ford promises to start equipping its redesigned vehicles in the US with OTA capability for wireless upgrades this year.

While Ford hasn’t revealed exactly how many people are lining up to pre-order the Mustang Mach-E, the company has released some stats showing which versions people prefer so far. Apparently battery life is important to buyers of the sporty electric SUV, with 80 percent opting for versions with the long range battery that lets it go up to an estimated 300 miles between charges. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version is also popular, at 55 percent of orders, and 30 percent of those interested have opted for the GT trim level.

The First Edition vehicles are already sold out, but, as Autoblog notes, if you find the Mustang-branded crossover appealing, you can order one with $500 down. You’ll have to wait until 2021 for a GT, but other trim levels may ship before the end of this year.

By Byron Hurd

​​​​​​The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric crossover was one of the biggest hype magnets of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, but with deliveries still a year away, would-be buyers have been waiting patiently (or perhaps not-so-patiently) for any production and delivery updates. Thanks to a Ford dealer in Colorado, we have our first glimpse of what’s in store for Ford’s early adopters.

A screenshot shared with members of MachEforum.com (and spotted by Motor1.com) reveals Ford’s plans for converting online reservations into firm orders and, eventually, customer deliveries, promising monthly email updates to buyers throughout the process.

Starting in the spring, dealers will reach out to customers who have placed online reservations, at which point they can confirm trim configurations and pricing. The dealer will then place a final order and refund the $500 reservation deposit.

By summer, Ford will begin finalizing its production schedule, and dealers will reach out to customers to discuss charging options as the assembly line gears up. By fall, production should be underway, and dealers will begin scheduling test drives and finalizing sales.

Ford still has no concrete timeline for the availability of the range-topping GT model. The shared image states explicitly that GT orders will be placed “at a later date,” and the company has previously acknowledged that we probably won’t see that variant until spring, 2021—when the first deliveries of lower-trim models are slated to begin.

This information will be of particular interest to those holding reservations for the Mach-E First Edition which sold out in a matter of days after the new crossover’s announcement. As the trim name implies, it not only inaugurates the Mach-E model, but also indicates its production priority; these will receive dealer attention before reservations for other trims.

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According to the site, the Mach-E is scheduled to debut in late 2020, but you may have to wait until 2021 for the GT version. A base Select model starts at about $43k, before jumping to Premium, then California Route 1, then the $59,900 limited First Edition, and finally the top of the line GT model that costs about $60k.

For that you get up to an EPA-estimated 300 miles of range with an extended battery, while the GT model drops down to 235 miles with its performance tweaks and 20-inch rims. The base select model makes do with RWD and an estimated 230 mile range. The fastest versions are expected to lay down a “mid 3-second” 0-60 MPH time, while the battery is capable of adding 47 miles of charge in about 10 minutes. If you want more details, then tune into the livestreamed unveiling on Sunday night at 9:30 PM ET.

We know that the Mach-E will have a 370-mile range and support fast-charging. Ford has bragged about its acceleration, handling and all-weather ability. The company is clearly hoping this will appeal to both EV enthusiasts and diehard Mustang fans. The fact that this will exist under the Mustang name speaks to the confidence Ford has in the vehicle.

We’ve seen Ford pack a 900-plus horsepower electric motor and six-speed manual transmission into an EV project car, but we’ll have to wait for the reveal event for more details on the Mach-E motor. That event begins Sunday, November 17th, at 9:30PM ET, and the livestream will be hosted by actor Idris Elba. The EV is expected to arrive in 2020.

Ford has also announced the 2020 Ford Escape and Explorer, both of which will come in plug-in hybrid variants. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to invest $850 million in its Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant, in hopes of making the plant home to its EV production. It’s also developing a fully electric F-series pickup truck, and it may partner with Volkswagen on commercial vans and pickups.