FORD has shown off its rally-inspired Mustang Mach-E in near production trim for the first time and the car looks very capable of living up to its name.

The Mustang Mach-E Rally is designed to take the all-electric model onto dirt roads and comes with raised suspension and a special powertrain developing 487bhp.

Riding some 20 millimetres higher than the Mustang MachâE GT it comes with a two-motor set up driving all wheels.

Performance details are still to be announced but it is likely that the car will not be quite as brisk as the GT which has a 0 t0 62mph acceleration of 3.7 seconds.

The Mustang Mach-E Rally features a dramatic rear spoiler that takes inspiration from the FocusRS, with contrasting accents including upper and lower body mouldings, a special front splitter, black painted steel roof, and a distinctive nose that houses built-in rally-inspired fog lights.

Ford says that every Mustang Mach-E Rally will come as standard with two racing stripes that complement a bold colour palette.

It is also fitted with Ford's first RallySport Drive Mode which is designed for off-road driving and adapts electronic control systems to allow bigger slides, a linear throttle response for better control, and more aggressive damping for better handling in loose corners.

The set up is said to help the Mustang Mach-E Rally to perform in snow and other slick on-road conditions as well as off-road.

To test the Mustang Mach-E, Ford developed an all-new rally course at its Michigan Proving Ground which was specially designed by rallycross veterans to simulate just what the vehicle might experience in the real world.

Engineers and technicians then drove Mustang Mach-E Rally prototypes in 500 mile tests simulating rally-cross durability trials.

"Mustang Mach-E Rally puts Ford's decades of passion for rally championships around the world right in the hands of our customers," said Jim Farley, Ford chief executive officer. "It takes Mustang where it hasn't been before - to gravel and dirt roads. Inspired by true driving enthusiasts, a driving experience like never before for the pure joy of driving."

The car was seen without camouflage for the first time at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich and Ford says the Mustang Mach-E Rally will be available early in 2024.