Skip to main content

Ford's electric mini-Mustang brings traction control to the world of kiddie cars

Fisher-Price Ford Mustang GT
Ford has introduced an all-electric version of the Mustang GT, but there’s a major catch. It’s just a fraction of the size of a real pony car because it was developed by Fisher-Price for kids aged between 3 and 7.

The Blue Oval promises the newest addition to Fisher-Price’s Power Wheels lineup is more advanced than any kiddie car to date. That’s partly because it features a built-in sound system with a large speaker that plays the symphony of the ‘Stang’s 5.0-liter V8 engine, a feature that makes the driving experience more realistic for young drivers. Kids who would rather sit back and enjoy the ride can play three preloaded songs, or listen to their favorite playlist by plugging in an MP3 player.

Recommended Videos

The Mustang GT inaugurates Fisher-Price’s new computer-controlled powertrain. Named Smart Drive, it brings features such as a traction control system that adjusts the speed of the electric motors if it detects wheel slip so that kids can power through wet grass or bumpy roads without getting stuck, and a stability control system that turns the motors off if it senses the car is about to roll over.

The electric drivetrain gives the GT a top speed of 5 mph forward and 2.5 mph in reverse. Five speed settings accessible via a touch screen on the dashboard allow parents to control how fast their kids go. There’s even a feature named Smooth Start Technology that reduces the car’s tendency to jerk while accelerating at low speeds.

The Smart Drive Mustang carries a base price of $360, and the first deliveries are scheduled for next month. It’s only available as a convertible, as you’d expect from a Power Wheels car, but parents can order it in either blue or pink.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
The Ford Mustang could ditch its V8 and eventually go fully electric
ford mustang lithium electric muscle car concept shown at sema 2019

Previous

Next

Read more
One version of the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E is already sold out
Ford Mustang Mach E front view

Ford ruffled more than a few feathers when it decided to call its first purpose-designed electric car the Mustang Mach-E. While some argue it's not worthy of wearing the hallowed Mustang nameplate, its target audience doesn't seem to mind one bit, and one of the five Mach-E variants announced during the model's unveiling is already sold out.

The trim-level hierarchy include five models named Select, Premium, California Route 1, First Edition, and GT, respectively. The Blue Oval's official website notes that every First Edition model has already been spoken for. It sounds like a limited-edition model, and it might be, but Ford chose not to disclose how many units of the model it will make. It might cap production after manufacturing a predetermined number of First Edition variants, or it might build the model for a certain amount of time. We've reached out to the company to learn more, and we'll update this story if we hear back.

Read more
Ford Mustang vs. Ford Mustang Mach E
The Ford Mustang takes on the electric crossover it inspired
2020 ford mustang vs 2021 mach e family photo

Whether you like it or not, Ford has started the process of turning the Mustang into a full family of models to capitalize on the nameplate's decades-old popularity. Called Mustang Mach E, the first off-shoot is an electric, four-door family-hauler that slots into the crossover segment. We're taking a look at how it stacks up against the coupe that inspired it.
Design and tech

The Mach E is Mustang-inspired, not Mustang-based, and the two models share no parts whatsoever. While the Mustang has historically been offered only as a coupe and as a convertible, the Mach E arrives as a tall, four-door crossover. The two models share a handful of styling cues such as swept-back headlights, a long hood, and triple-bar rear lights, but no one will ever mistake a Mustang for a Mach E, or vice versa. Nameplate aside, each model as its own identity.

Read more