• The Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT is the primary electrical automotive to be modified by Shelby American, and solely 100 models might be accessible solely in Europe.
• Modifications embody a carbon fiber hood, grille, and entrance splitter together with solid aluminum wheels and new springs that decrease the crossover by over an inch.
• Shelby American additionally added the Borla Lively Efficiency Sound System, which emits internal-combustion noises that correspond with the automobile’s velocity and RPM.

Carroll Shelby’s final title rose to fame because of V-8-powered muscle automobiles just like the Cobra and Mustang GT500, however now Shelby American is getting into a brand new period with its first electrical automotive, a modified model of the Mustang Mach-E GT. The package deal follows an idea from the 2021 SEMA present and focuses on weight discount and improved dealing with. Solely 100 examples might be accessible, celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of Carroll Shelby’s start.

A Shelby for Europe Solely

Surprisingly, the Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT might be solely supplied in Europe. Shelby American says the choice was primarily based on quickly rising EV gross sales and a better variety of public chargers within the Previous World in comparison with the U.S. The package deal might be added to a brand new Mach-E GT or retrofitted to an present automobile, including €24,900—the equal of $27,483—to the general value.

Whereas the idea automotive wore a singular entrance finish, the manufacturing Shelby Mach-E retains the unique design intact, however substitutes carbon fiber for the hood, grille, entrance splitter, mirror caps, and decrease door trim in an try to shave off a number of kilos. The corporate did not specify how a lot weight was saved, however the carbon parts additionally give the Mach-E a sinister look, accentuated by the stripe graphics operating down the hood and alongside the facet of the electrical crossover.

Shelby American additionally fitted the automotive with light-weight solid aluminum wheels and efficiency springs that decrease the automobile by over an inch. The cabin options customized Shelby-branded ground mats, whereas a Shelby badge on the tailgate and a serialized plaque on the dashboard function reminders that you just purchased the unique Shelby model of Ford’s efficiency EV.

A Controversial EV “Exhaust”

Essentially the most controversial characteristic of the Shelby Mach-E, nonetheless, is the Borla Lively Efficiency Sound System. We received a style of the system on the 2022 SEMA present, and Shelby’s new Mach-E GT is the primary manufacturing automobile to be fitted with the equipment, which matches the automobiles velocity and RPM with a “hyper-realistic ICE soundtrack.”

The SEMA system included three choices that mimicked completely different V-8s, and Borla had stated it was engaged on EV-specific sounds, though Shelby did not specify which tones the Mach-E GT can be able to. Shelby American describes sound as “an necessary visceral element to motoring for fans,” however it stays to be seen whether or not the car-obsessed will approve of synthetic noises which are starting to proliferate throughout the EV market.

Shelby American left the powertrain untouched, which means the all-wheel-drive efficiency SUV nonetheless places out as much as 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque. In Automobile and Driver testing, a 2021 GT Efficiency Version ripped to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and accomplished a quarter-mile run in 12.7 seconds at 101 mph.

Whereas the Shelby Mach-E GT will stay forbidden fruit for now, we hope Shelby American begins exploring the U.S. market quickly and manages to eke some additional efficiency out of no matter EV it modifies subsequent.

Affiliate Information Editor

Caleb Miller started running a blog about automobiles at 13 years outdated, and he realized his dream of writing for a automotive journal after graduating from Carnegie Mellon College and becoming a member of the Automobile and Driver staff. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to sooner or later personal one thing weird like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.