The Ford Mustang 2024 uses evolved sheet metal and brings a suite of advanced technologies and features aimed at enthusiasts. But some things, well (hopefully), some things never change. There’s still the available 5.0-liter V8, six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and all the attitude that made the Mustang an icon.
The aforementioned 2.3-liter turbocharged base and 5.0-liter engine remain part of what, on the surface, appears to be a carryover powertrain lineup. But there’s more going on under the hood than meets the eye, even though Ford refuses to give up horsepower, torque, or fuel economy for either engine. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is “all new” according to Ford, while the 5.0-liter represents the fourth generation of the popular Coyote V8, which now offers twin air boxes and dual throttle bodies.
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On the transmission front, the four-cylinder Mustang is now automatic only after only 10 percent of customers raised their hands for the EcoBoost/six-speed combo in the last years of the sixth-generation Mustang. But while 10-speed is now standard there, a manual trans will be used as the base gearbox in the V8-powered Mustang (this represents more than 40 percent of GT sales). And as previously reported, both gearboxes send power to the rear axle only.
Alongside the revised powertrain, there’s new, fan-focused technology. One of the funniest is probably the remote revving, which allows customers to start their car and turn the engine via a key fob. The new electronic drift brakes are just a little more practical. Co-developed with acclaimed Mustang enthusiast and drift master Vaughn Gittin, Jr., it takes the look of a traditional mechanical handbrake, but according to Ford but can make a novice drifter look like a pro. There aren’t many details on how it works, but we hope to give it a try.
Aside from the mechanical changes, there’s no shortage of updates elsewhere. We will leave it up to you, dear reader, to judge the exterior. But there is a new emphasis on customization. Ford will offer 12 different wheel designs, multiple caliper colors for the Brembo Performance Pack brakes, and a choice of signature Mustang exterior paint. The Bronze Design Series is a refreshing change from the usual pack of black accents, dyeing the badge and wheels a rich hue.
The cabin adopts a smoother texture and finish in leather and plastic, with a wider focus on overall material quality. A variety of seat upholstery, a choice of colored seat belts or belts with asymmetrical stripes, and available accent stitching add to the welcome style. But the interior design saw more substantial changes, with a flat-bottom steering wheel and slab-style look taking center stage on most trims.
The 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster above the steering column is attached to a 13.2-inch touchscreen that tilts toward the driver. The software is a combination of Ford’s preferred and fast-responding Sync 4 system, but runs the Unreal Engine. Like the GMC Hummer EV, Unreal delivers the Mustang’s stunning graphics infotainment with excellent animation thanks to its impressive frame rate. In the Sync view, there are new and more varied options for the MyColor system, and drivers can also move additional gauges there instead of storing them in the instrument cluster.
The Ford Mustang 2024 will launch in dealerships in the summer of 2023, while we will launch it in late spring next year. Before that, expect plenty of updates to the seventh-generation Mustang, including full technical specifications and pricing details.
