Mustang Mach-E 2026 Receives ‘California Special’ Treatment
The 2026 version of the Ford Mustang Mach-E will feature a special trim level that the blue oval brand has dubbed GT California Special.
This package combines a classic special edition with the innovation of modern electric vehicles and is distinguished by a design inspired by the Mustang heritage of the newest member of the family.
“The idea of the California spirit has always been associated with the Ford Mustang, and now the Mach-E joins the family,” said Kristen Keenan, color and materials designer at Ford.
Why California?
In the 1960s, California dealers accounted for a large portion of Ford Mustang sales and wanted their contribution to the vehicle's success to be commemorated with a unique package, so they collaborated on the birth of the original California Special in 1968.
Both the original red and black accents and the aerodynamic features defined the package for years. Just over 4,000 units of the original California Special were manufactured.
With the launch of the seventh generation Ford Mustang coupe in 2024, Ford was inspired to rethink what the California Special could be.
“We made some bold changes,” said Stefan Taylor, exterior designer at Ford.
The executive explained that they wanted to visually capture what California represents from a more modern perspective.
“We are creating something new for the Mustang brand today, while ensuring we respect its heritage,” he explained.
That year, Ford eliminated the side air intakes, modified the vehicle's graphics, and left behind the red and black details to make way for a new color.
“With California and its beautiful coastline, blue is a natural choice,” Keenan said.
"We developed a new color called Rave Blue. It transitions from light to dark, like ocean water, and is extremely chromatic, even reaching a violet blue in some cases," he said.
Rave Blue is the cornerstone of the California Special package, a very distinctive badge for the package's appearance, which was featured on the Ford Mustang coupe package and will now be available for the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Design duo
The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E incorporates design elements similar to those of its coupe sibling, but both Keenan and Taylor say they are not meant to be identical.
“We didn't want to copy and paste what we did with the Ford Mustang coupe,” Taylor said.
“The design honors the Ford Mustang Mach-E's place within the Mustang family, while giving it its own identity,” he insisted.
Both vehicles feature Rave Blue accents on the wheels, grille, exterior emblems, and interior, and feature updated “California Special” lettering, replacing the classic 1960s style with a modern block design.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E adds additional elements, such as 20-inch charcoal gray wheels with the GT/CS logo printed on them and gloss black aerodynamic covers.
It also features an illuminated Rave Blue front emblem and a special graphic on the hood inspired by the California coast.
“It has the words ‘California Special’ on the hood, with sunset stripes in layers of gray, black, and a blue accent representing the ocean,” Taylor explained.
Inside, the high-performance seats are upholstered in Navy Pier ActiveX and Miko material, with reflective blue and silver stripes.
The center console and steering wheel are also covered in the same Navy Pier ActiveX, while the floor mats replicate the blue and silver stitching.
The Mustang Mach-E GT California Special is based on the GT series and offers an EPA-estimated range of 410 kilometers, 480 horsepower, and up to 700 lb-ft of torque.
The starting price for this version in Mexico has not been announced. However, in the US market, the package will cost an additional $2,495 on top of the Mustang Mach-E GT, which has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $53,395.
Just a few days ago, Ford opened orders for the 2026 Mustang Mach-E with the base version starting at $37,795. The company said deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2026.
