The Ford Mustang, along with the Chevrolet Corvette, have become icons of the American performance market, although approaching their legendary tenures with two very different groups of people.  The Corvette has generally been a higher priced model, and has generally been a used as a benchmark for automakers around the world, although the Corvette has gained the reputation of an elite vehicle.  The Mustang has long been the “bang for the buck” American sports car, with huge sales figures reflecting the popularity of this pocketbook friendly model.  Although originally offered with a six cylinder engine (which was done away with in 1956) the Corvette has since been equipped with an American V8. While the horsepower and sales figures were severely impacted at times due to new emission standards in the 1970s as well as a new horsepower calculation regulation, the Corvette has stayed on the cutting edge of styling and performance technology without straying from their reputation.  The Mustang, on the other hand, has done as much bending as it could to continue to “fit” into the low price end of the performance spectrum.  Like the Corvette, the Mustang entered the world with a six cylinder option, and throughout the first 10 model years of the Mustang, there was always an economy minded V6 model.

When the Mustang went through its first major change for the 1974 model year, the country’s concern over the looming fuel crisis was reflected in the new Mustang II engine lineup, as there was no V8 option.  The V8 would return for the 1975 model year, but over the next 30+ years, the Ford Mustang offered a balance lineup of both high performance and economy models.  While other cars tried to roll with the punches, no other model in American history was able to introduce various engine configurations and sizes to attempt to make a sports car that could fit almost every new car buyers needs, and this includes a few years where one of the most powerful engines available in a Mustang was a turbocharged 4 cylinder.  The Mustang has lasted as long as it has, servicing the same basic demographic because of Ford’s ability to make the car bent without breaking out of the mold which has made it so popular; an affordable, fast, fun 2-door, 4-seat car.

The United States as of 2008 is now seeing the highest average fuel price ever, and with those rising prices are the concerns that the continual climb will eventually force out performance cars that focus more on power than on efficiency.  Ford Motor Company has continued to work with the Mustang to improve economy while not compromising power, but one California company has taken strides to make the Mustang the most efficient performance car in the world.

Enter the 2008 Ronaele Mustang 300EV. 

300 horsepower, 1000lb-ft of torque starting at idle. 

0-60 miles per hour in less than 4 seconds. 

Top speed of 130 miles per hour.

Yearly annual fuel price? $0.00

The Drivetrain

It sounds like the perfect performance car, so what’s the catch?  The 300EV only has a range of 100 to 125 miles when driven conservatively, as the Ronaele Mustang runs completely by electric power.  The motor, which is typically either a gas powered 4.0L V6 or 4.6L V8, which then turns the internal workings of the transmission to send power to the wheels is gone, and in the place of the engine and transmission are a simple set of batteries and a modified forklift engine.  The batteries, which are mounted under the trunk area, power the drive motor, which looks more like a homemade computer than a performance engine.  The drive motor is a very plain stainless steel box with three cooling fans mounted on the top, and this layout makes around 300kW, and the buyer of a new 300EV gets to select the performance output; either 350, 450, or a whopping 550 horsepower.  The process begins by buying a Ford Mustang, then sending it to Ronaele to have every accessory relating to the combustion engine removed, from the fuel tank and fuel lines, to the engine and transmission. Under the hood is where the electric motor sits, with the power cables running to the rear mounted battery packs.  Those batteries are produced by K2 Energy Solutions, and utilize lithium-iron-phosphate technology. The most common issue with the electric cars is the fact that the batteries are heavy and very large, taking up a great deal of interior and/or trunk space, but these compact battery packs from K2 mount under the trunk lining to preserve cargo space, and they weigh slightly less than a full tank of fuel.  This drivetrain modification is done without altering the cars weight balance ratio, which can often cause a car to handle very poorly if changed due to uneven weight addition during modification.  The 300EV in its base form will move out from 0 to 60 in roughly 4 seconds and it will hit a top speed of 130mph, but when driven hard, the mileage suffers.  During testing, the 300EV averaged only 5 dragstrip passes before the batteries needed recharging; a process that can take from 3.5 to 8 hours depending on the charging source (110V versus 220V).  If you want twice the kick, you can also order a 600E, which comes with dual motors, producing 600 horsepower and an amazing 2000 lb-ft.

Suspension, Brakes, and Wheels

This Ronaele Mustang is surely on the cutting edge of performance technology, but when the 300EV was put on paper, the designers made sure that they made the car looks and handles as well it moves.  The handling department is dealt with by a Ford Racing suspension package which includes:

-Lowering Springs

-Dampers

-Upper and Lower Control Arms

-Front and Rear Anti-Sway Bars

-Panhard Bar and Brace

-K-Member Brace

-Front and Rear Strut Tower Braces

-Caster/Camber Plates

Combined with that extensive suspension package, the 300EV comes with a full Baer brake kit with 14” slotted/driller rotors and body colored brake calipers.  Power is put to the ground by a set of High Performance Nitto tires (255-35-20 front, 275-35-20 rear), wrapped around two-tone gun metal 20 inch rims.

Appearance

The 300EV is a unique Mustang, so it has been given a unique look to match.  This begins with the custom Ronaele designed hood with stainless steel hood pins and front fascia which carries 6 inch Super-white Halogen fog lights amidst a custom powder coated billet grille.  The side of the car is upgraded with new side skirts, window scoops, and side scoops, as well as a vintage look Mustang stripe holding the 300EV logo.  The back end has a body colored duckbill style spoiler and a Ronaele designed rear fascia.  The interior also got some upgrades, mainly the custom two-tone leather seats, offered in a variety of colors and embroidered with the Ronaele logo.  The final appearance upgrade is a wide spread of badging, from the engine by to the dash plaque, Ronaele makes its presence known, which brings up the question of such an unusual company name.  Think about the styling of the 300EV, and then consider that if you spelled Ronaele backwards, it spells Eleanor.

The information about this car that comes as being the most shocking, is the price.  If you want to own your own Ronaele 300EV, you have to first buy a new ford Mustang, then ship it off to Ronaele with the expected price for the base package to set you back around $80,000 USD. While this seems high, think about the amount of aftermarket upgrades in this vehicle, and with the rising cost of fuel, the cost of the car can be offset by the expensive premium fuel typically needed for this type of performance. While this Mustang, coming in around $100,000, might be out of the reach of many new Mustang buyers, this certain shows the capacity and reliability of an electric powered car in the performance market.