What's this then?

This is the long-gestating Ford Mustang Mach-E - an all-electric crossover that has Tesla's Model Y (and, really, the Model X) firmly in its crosshairs.

Is it a Mustang, though?

Well, actually, it's more closely related in mechanical terms to the new Kuga (some of the platform is shared) although it very definitely has Mustang styling connections - the headlights, the grille, the pony logos, the three-bar tail lights) so I guess you'll have to make your own mind up. Is the Mustang brand elastic enough to encompass an electric crossover? Well, it once encompassed the truly awful Mustang II so, sure, why not?

What's under the hood, man?

Well, what's actually under the hood is a 100-litre storage area, or 'frunk' (front-trunk) which augments the 402-litre boot. The batteries are, of course, stored under the floor, and you can choose from 75- and 99kWh battery packs. There is a choice of single or dual-motor layouts, with rear- or four-wheel drive, and power outputs run the gamut from 255- to 335hp with 0-62mph times of around seven to eight seconds.

Not a lot of power, is it?

Well, be patient. There will, eventually, be a top-spec GT model with 460hp, 830Nm of torque and a sub-four-seconds 0-62mph time, so that could be worth waiting for.

How far will it go?

We're still waiting for the official WLTP figures, but estimates peg the basic versions as having a 280-mile range, with as much as 370 miles for the longer-range large battery version. Rear-drive versions will have longer ranges than four-wheel-drive versions, and all will be able to fast-charge from the latest 150kW ultra-rapid chargers.

What's it like inside?

Very Tesla-ish, unsurprisingly. There are a few Mustang visual cues on the inside, but mostly it's dominated by the massive central 15.5-inch touchscreen (which has a cool little click-wheel built into the bottom of the screen). That's running Ford's new SYNC4 infotainment software, which comes with over-the-air updates. You'll be able to use your phone as a key, and there's a 10.5-inch all-digital instrument panel too.

"At the first-ever Detroit auto show, Henry Ford said he was working on something that would strike like forked lightning," said Bill Ford, the company's eponymous executive director. "That was the Model T. Today, the Ford Motor Company is proud to unveil a car that strikes like forked lightning all over again. The all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E. It's fast. It's fun. It's freedom. For a new generation of Mustang owners."

"The Mustang Mach-E wholeheartedly rejects the notion that electric vehicles are only good at reducing gas consumption," said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford's chief product development and purchasing officer. "People want a car that's thrilling to drive, that looks gorgeous and that can easily adapt to their lifestyle - and the Mustang Mach-E delivers all of this in unmatched style."

When can I have one?

Early 2021 is being given as the earliest delivery date for now (and Ford is already accepting US$500 deposits) and the UK price is likely to be in the realm of £40-45,000.