Inside Ford’s private off-road track where it tests its wildest electric machines

Ford ’s latest high-performance special edition, the Mach-E Rally, is an electric version of the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck.

Ford 's mission to spice up its EV efforts has resulted in some other, much wilder machines in some unusual shapes, so-called “demonstrators” that offer levels of performance so outrageous they’re decidedly illegal for the street.

While EV demonstrators are just one facet of Ford 's motorsports efforts, they're an increasingly important part of its marketing efforts.

The Mustang Mach-E Rally is Ford ’s first performance edition of a performance Mustang .

The test facility is located in Romeo , Michigan , a rural village with a population of less than 4,000 .

It's one of several test facilities Ford operates around the world.

The goal was 500 hours of serious testing.

The Mach-E Rally is a rally-hardened version of Ford 's electric car.

It's hard to look at the car’s rally-style wheels, big wing, and running lights without getting some bad ideas about hooning your way down the closest gravel road.

Rallycross is a wonderful pursuit, but it's hardly mainstream.