For years, self-driving cars were just something cool that science fiction writers made up. It sounds great to have a vehicle that could drive itself, but that isn’t something that could happen in real life, right? Well, not exactly. Automakers like GM, Ford, and Tesla like the idea of a self-driving car and see potential in the idea. There is no true “self-driving car” yet, but there are some out there that can do a lot on their own. The Ford Mustang Mach-E has just made a huge leap toward that lofty goal with the hands-free Mach-E technology, according to MotorTrend. But is it enough to compete with the legendary Tesla Model X?

What is the Ford Mustang Mach-E?

What do you get if you cross the Ford Mustang with an electric SUV? According to Ford, you get the Mach-E. 

The 2021 Ford Mach-E is an electric crossover SUV that seems to pull out all the stops. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds, gets a battery range of 210 miles, and offers a comfortable ride. It can also be charged at home.

Sounds great, right? Well, it gets even better. According to MotorTrend, “An advanced driver-facing infrared camera tracks the driver’s eyes and head position in Hands-Free mode, as well as when hands-on Lane Centering mode is engaged, which works on any road with lane lines.”

So is this really too good to be true? Some think so. 

What’s wrong with the name?

There are many people who are confused about the name and the connection the Mach-E has to the Mustang. Some die-hard fans are even somewhat offended by the connection. After all, the Mustang is a muscle car. It’s a gloriously fast and attractive example of what a “real” car should look like.

Still, the Mach-E was based on the Mustang, so why shouldn’t Ford reflect this in the name? It’s simply a hybrid in more ways than one. 

Are we about to live like the Jetsons?

Not exactly. The 2021 Ford Mach-E is not a true self-driving vehicle, which is why Ford is being very careful with how it names some of the features. They don’t want to fall into the same trap Tesla did of naming its hands-free system “Autopilot.” While this may not seem like a big deal, many drivers literally thought that the Tesla models could drive themselves. Needless to say, this resulted in some devastating wrecks that set Tesla back.

Ford is now using this to their advantage by learning from Tesla’s mistakes. The American automaker has decided to name its hands-free system Active Drive Assist, which seems to imply that the system will assist you while you drive, not that it will do it for you. 

The Mach-E system will also be easier to use. Unlike the Tesla hands-free system which can be somewhat difficult to cut off, the Ford Mach-E will be simple to activate and deactivate. Or that’s what Ford is claiming, of course.

Much of the focus on the Mach-E will be keeping the driver engaged, even if their hands aren’t on the wheel. This will include issuing warnings to pay attention and even slowing down until the driver takes over. 

The Ford Mustang Mach-E costs how much?

Ford promised that the Mach-E would be competitively priced, but it didn’t discuss that with its numerous dealers. Owners who pre-ordered the Mach-E online were shocked when dealers jacked up the price by $15,000. Considering there are vehicles out there that sell for that much, this is a huge deal-breaker for many owners. 

Ford seems uninterested in regulating the prices and simply stated that owners are always welcome to change dealerships. Considering the number of dealers who are price gouging, however, that’s not a satisfactory answer. Given the great number of questions regarding the Mach-E and the price gouging, it remains to be seen if the Mach-E will stand strong with the likes of the F-150 and Mustang, or if it will quietly shut down like so many other failed vehicle lines.