Sophie's Electric Shift: From Skeptic to Rally Enthusiast

Sophie Dower wasn't looking for an electric vehicle. She was a diehard adventure enthusiast, ready to order a new 4X4 for off-roading adventures.

But fate, or perhaps Ford's design team, had other plans. While at the Ford dealership with her eyes on a Ford Bronco, a black Mustang Mach-E electric SUV caught her eye. A test drive later, and she was sold on going electric with her first electric Mustang.

It wasn't just the thrill of driving an electric vehicle that hooked her. It was the sheer fun and community connection that sparked her passion. That love affair deepened when Ford announced the Mustang Mach-E Rally, destined to be her next ride.

"Once I had an opportunity to test drive the Rally at DirtFish, it was some of the most fun I think I've ever had in my entire life," she says, describing the iconic rally school in Northwest Washington. "I knew that I needed to get that next."

And that’s exactly what she did, trading in her black electric pony for a Grabber Yellow dirt demon in the summer of 2024. Dower was one of the first owners of the Mustang Mach-E Rally, which is differentiated by its white, rally-inspired wheels, rear spoiler, front grille fog lights and an inch more ground clearance than the GT variant.

As a commuter vehicle, it effortlessly handles her drive between Santa Clara and Redwood City, Calif., and when needed, can DC fast charge from 10-80% in around 36 minutes. "The Mustang Mach-E Rally is a great daily driver because, in Rally Sport mode, it does a great job of absorbing all of the road debris and potholes. You just don't feel anything on the road while you're driving," she explains.

But it's off the beaten path where her Mustang Mach-E Rally, with fog lights and distinctive stripes, shines.

"The car knows exactly what it wants to do and what you want to do on the dirt, and it just makes it so easy for anyone who's new to it to really rip it out there. When I've done rallycross competitions, I've had competitors get in the passenger seat, and they've said that it feels like it's cheating because it's so comfortable to drive while on the track."

And even with its off-road credentials, Dower believes the Mustang Mach-E truly deserves the Mustang name because of the connection it fosters between driver and machine.

"A lot of people say that electric vehicles don't have souls, and that's just simply not true," she said. "You get in that car and you have the same type of connection to the vehicle as you do when you're in an internal combustion engine version of the Mustang.”

And to top it off, her transition to electric has been a financial game-changer. Switching from her old 4X4 SUV, she went from spending hundreds a month on gas, to a fraction of that on electricity.

More importantly for Dower, her Mustang Mach-E Rally has helped her to build a community of like-minded individuals. As an active member of the Mustang Mach-E community, Dower runs the NorCal Mustang Mach-E chapter of the Mustang Mach-E Club of America. She organizes events, from Ford-sponsored gatherings to scenic cruises and off-road skill-building courses.

Dower is also involved with Mustang Mach-E Girls Club, helping women customize their vehicles and gain confidence in car maintenance.

"Helping other women become comfortable with modifying and doing maintenance on their own car is really important to me because there's never really been a lot of women in that community," she said. "Mustang Mach-E Girls Club really helps bring more women into that community, as a safe space.”