The Mach-E the first Ford vehicle to use animal-free and sustainable materials.
Finding the right materials and keeping with the Mustang vide is not an easy task.
Check out the B&O audio system’s speakers!
We might take interior design somewhat for granted – we like the style, and we like how the various surfaces activate our sense of touch. For others, namely Brittany Moss, Advanced Color and Materials Designer at Ford Motor Company, every square centimeter matters, especially when it comes to the look and feel of all the materials on board. And more importantly, where the materials come from.
Moss sources her inspiration and gains knowledge from other global industries such as fashion, product, and interior design. She is also very environmentally minded. These varied interests and her passion for sustainability have allowed her and her team to create a completely animal-free interior in the new Mustang Mach-E electric SUV.
Using sustainable and synthetic materials, the Mach-E’s cabin is just as environmentally friendly as its electric powertrain. Like the batteries and electric motors, there’s far more work that goes into pleasing the senses that meets the eye.
As the first vehicle from Ford to rely on animal-free and recycled fabrics, the challenge to get everything right was twofold – this vehicle also bears the Mustang name after all. The team managed to curate and pair the materials and were able to maintain that all-important premium feel and appearance.
Without a doubt, after speaking to Moss, the Mach-E’s fabric-wrapped B&O speakers are the center-piece of all these efforts. If it wasn’t for the anodized aluminum badges identifying the B&O sound system, most would never realize that the large expanses of B&O’s Kvadrat textile-inspired fabric were actually speakers. Said fabric is sourced from 25% recycled materials and if you like the look, know that they required an immense amount of time to get right. Not only was presentation important, but the audio system also had sound good. This is but one example of the work that went into the Mach-E’s cabin.
Another such piece that Moss and her team developed was a first-to-market synthetic steering wheel for a Ford vehicle. The difficulty here was coming up with a material that is as tactile and durable as leather without, of course, using hide. With an engineering team, they came up with their Sensico steering wheel.
During the whole process, Moss had to keep in mind the Ford Mustang’s heritage without forgetting what her primary goal was. The result of all this collaborative work is a vehicle that is quite nearly as eco-friendly as can be.
What we like specifically, from a consumer standpoint, is that all 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E trims are delivered with these materials. We’re not the only ones impressed with Ford’s and Moss’s work as the B&O audio system and speaker grilles won an iF Design Award.
You can reserve your 2021 Mach-E now on Ford’s website. Pricing starts at $50,495.