Shelby Mach-E GT Concept Hits SEMA 2021
The iconic Mustang tuner creates a very special version of the electrified pony car.
Future Snake
Ford quite literally shocked the world and angered a handful of purists when it revealed the Mustang Mach-E some time ago, placing its beloved pony badge on an EV crossover. Thus, we imagine that those folks will be even more shocked to see this - the new Shelby Mustang Mach-E concept, which just made its debut at the 2021 SEMA Show. This electrified snake is undoubtedly not what we're used to seeing from Carroll Shelby's namesake, but the company believes that such a machine is the future.
Photos: Shelby American
Fulfilling a Dream
"My grandfather, Carroll Shelby relentlessly experimented with new technologies to gain a competitive edge," said Aaron Shelby, Board Member of Carroll Shelby International. "He researched everything from exotic materials to alternative propulsion systems, including electrification. Before his passing, Carroll told me that he hoped to see the future of EV from a performance perspective. Working closely with the team at Ford, our Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT was built in Carroll's spirit of innovation as we strive to fulfill his visionary dreams."
Photos: Shelby American
Same Tricks
Shelby started with the ultimate version of the Mach-E - a GT Performance Edition - and to that solid base, added a host of upgrades to make it truly unique. The focus was on weight reduction, as well as boosting performance and adding strength, the same sorts of hot rodding tricks have employed on ICE vehicles for decades now.
Photos: Shelby American
Shedding Weight
To shed some weight and increase performance, Shelby added Graphene-infused carbon fiber body pieces including the front fascia assembly, front fender panels, and hood, select composite suspension components, custom one-piece forged Monoblock wheels, and EV specific lightweight tires.
Photos: Shelby American
Unique Touches
Of course, none of that matters if you don't make the vehicle your own, and Shelby did exactly that by adding a host of its own unique touches that make the Shelby Mach-E instantly identifiable. These include racing stripes, custom Recaro leather seats, Shelby badging both inside and out, and an official Shelby CSM identification number.
Photos: Shelby American
Business of Performance
"From the stunning exterior to cutting edge materials and powertrain enhancements, we explored every element to improve function and performance," said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. "We leveraged lessons learned while secretly testing many of the leading EVs on the market over the past several years. Our concept Mustang Mach-E is a glimpse into a new generation of extraordinary vehicles planned for 2022, alongside our V8-powered cars and muscle trucks. At Shelby American, performance continues to be our business."
Photos: Shelby American
Making Production?
The Shelby American team will use this concept Mach-E to gauge public interest and serve as a testbed for a possible production version. "Next year, Shelby American will commemorate an important milestone," Patterson said. "We'll celebrate our 60th anniversary with the broadest range of performance vehicles in our history. From continuation Shelby Cobras to EV's, sports cars, SUV's and muscle trucks, this is a golden era at Shelby American."
Photos: Shelby American
