Enlarge / Ford's latest Mach-E variant is designed for fun on or off the tarmac. (credit: Ford)

Ford has a long and successful history with rallying, having won numerous races with motorsport-modified versions of more mundane machines like the Escort, Sierra, and Fiesta. Now it's applying some of that know-how to the electric Mustang Mach-E with a new version that goes on sale early next year, the Mustang Mach-E Rally.

Until now, the Mustang Mach-E to purchase if you were looking for some fun has been the Mach-E GT, particularly if you opted for the $64,900 Performance Edition, which comes with magnetorheological dampers and better tires . Ford reckons the Mach-E Rally will cost about the same as that version, and it, too, rides on those magnetic fluid-filled dampers, together with new springs that give it a 20 mm higher ride height than the Mach-E GT.

The rear wing is inspired by the Ford Focus RS, and all Mach-E Rallys will have a black-painted roof. (credit: Ford)

There are big front brake discs and 19-inch wheels shod in Michelin CrossClimate2 tires that have bigger sidewalls (and therefore absorb more bumps) than the 20-inch wheels and tires fitted to the GT. Ford has also added some underbody shielding to protect the front and rear motors from rocks, and there's protective film to help prevent stone chips on the doors and wheel arches.

Enlarge / This may become an increasingly common sight from next year. (credit: Ford)

Ford's CEO Jim Farley took to a Twitter Space on Thursday afternoon with some pretty big news. Ford and Tesla have agreed to give Ford EVs access to Tesla's Supercharger network. Current Ford EVs will require an adapter to connect what Tesla has called the "North American Charging Standard" (NACS) cable to its Combined Charging System (CCS) ports . But Ford's next series of EVs will feature native NACS ports, removing the need for an adapter.

"This is great news for our customers who will have unprecedented access to the largest network of fast-chargers in the US and Canada with 12,000-plus Tesla Superchargers plus 10,000-plus fast-chargers already in the BlueOval Charge Network," Farley said. "Widespread access to fast-charging is absolutely vital to our growth as an EV brand, and this breakthrough agreement comes as we are ramping up production of our popular Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, and preparing to launch a series of next-generation EVs starting in 2025."

Many words have been written these past few years about the poor state of the US's DC fast-charging infrastructure. EV drivers of all stripes have horror stories about inscrutable charger errors, out-of-order stations, and hours-long delays to road trips... except Tesla drivers, who have access to an expansive DC fast-charging network that seems to just work.

Enlarge / It's not been designed to be a Nürburgring taxi, but switch the Mach-E GT Performance Edition into Unbridled Extend if you're going to autocross it. (credit: Ford)

If you've been on the fence about buying a new Ford Mustang Mach-E , good news: Ford has dropped prices across the lineup of its first battery-electric vehicle. At the low end, there's a $900 drop on the RWD standard-range base model, listed at $45,995. At the other end is a $5,900 decrease for the GT Extended Range, which now carries a $63,995 MSRP.

In addition to the price cuts, Ford will also increase production of the Mustang Mach-E. The carmaker now plans to build 130,000 BEVs for the North American and European market, a massive increase from the previously planned 78,000. The production increase will in turn decrease wait times for new cars, a sticking point for drivers ready to trade hydrocarbons for electrons. Those who have already ordered new BEVs from Ford will get the lower prices as well.

Ford's move comes just two weeks after Tesla discounted some of its models by as much as 20 percent. At the bottom of the lineup, the Model 3 RWD is now $43,990—$3,000 cheaper than it was last year. The Model Y has been heavily discounted as well, with the Long Range and Performance models seeing a $13,000 discount.